House 12 is the fourth building that was restored in the New Holland: Cultural Urbanization project. It was built later than the rest of the Island’s buildings, in
House 12 consists of two buildings: the corner building 12a, which overlooks Truda Square and the Admiralteysky Canal, and building 12 that stands along the Kryukov Canal. The two buildings are adjoined and according to the new plan will have a through walkway. The total area of the building is 15,900 m2.
The restoration and renovation work on the building took three years. The same technology was used for the restoration of the facades and brickwork as for the previously restored buildings of the Foundry, the Commandant’s House and the Bottle House. The restoration work on House 12 included more than 20,000 m2 of brick facades, interior walls and vaults, using about 400,000 historical bricks. More than 300 m2 of historical granite and limestone elements were restored, as well as over 4,500 m2 brick seams. Work was also carried out to restore and renovate the Monier vaults with a total area of more than 6,000 m2.
The building is equipped with modern energy-efficient engineering systems. A fully mechanized parking area for the residents of the building has been installed at the pedestrian bridge across the eastern canal, which allows the Island to maintain a car-free approach.
The interior of public spaces is designed to fit in with the style of other buildings of the Island: the “thermometer” lamps on the interior facades repeat the lamps of the courtyard of the Bottle House, a cast-iron canopy at the main entrance to House 12 echoes the entrance groups of the Foundry and the Commandant’s House. There are also new elements in the design — limestone and brass on the walls of the stairwells, black granite and metal in the cladding of the steps. The walls of two staircases of House 12 are decorated with gray sandstone, a natural stone resembling concrete, with brass strip inserts running through the entire height of the staircase. Black flights of stairs are separated from the main space by light, creating a soaring effect, while numerous lines emphasize the geometry and airiness of the space.
Special attention was paid to the gate fillings of the building’s facade. These are giant wooden structures with doorways on the ground floor which completely replicate the original drawings. Twenty-one such “windows”, all eleven meters high, have been installed alongside the Admiralteysky and Kryukov Canals. The constructions are made of oak in accordance with modern high-tech production standards. Modern energy-saving windows have a triple glazing, which provides improved heat and sound insulation indoors.
The interiors of House 12’s public spaces (entrances, halls, staircases) as well as all decorative elements of the facades were created by Ludi Architects bureau.
The architectural illumination of the buildings was designed by the British design studio PJC Lights.
LANDSCAPING
Along with the building, a new part of the park was also added to the open territory. Now the building can be bypassed on the side of the Kryukov Canal, where new trees are planted and soft paths and places for rest are introduced.
In the new part along the inner facade of House 12 there is a Garden Walk with apple trees and shady shadberries, as well as more than 10 species of ornamental shrubs and perennials, including hydrangea, mahonia, spirea, snowball trees and willows that change their colour shade from season to season. To improve this area, 26 apple trees, 33 maple trees, 119 Lamarck shadberries and more than other 20 different grown trees were brought from European nurseries. As part of the landscaping work, paving was carried out on an area of 3,000 sq. meters, 1,000 sq. meters of soft paths were introduced as well as 4,500 sq. meters of lawn.
The project was designed by architectural firm West 8, along with the landscape architect Linda Bird (bureau Linda Bird Ltd).
RESIDENTS
Residents of House 12 are the Gazprom Neft Zifergauz Digital Transformation Centre and Gallery, Cococouture and Cococo bistro restaurants by Matilda Shnurova and Shulz bicycle shop.
COMMUNITY CENTER
12 pm – 9 pm
Community Center is an urban lounge for those who like to spend time on the Island, a place where you can meet interesting people, work, attend lectures, watch movies, and hold an open event.
Workstations are equipped with comfortable desks, wireless Internet and outlets for charging gadgets, the Reading Room has a large selection of modern and classic literature put together with the help of partners, including special editions for the visually impaired, and in the Lounge you can play board games or ping pong. There is a checkroom and lockers at the entrance, as well as food and beverage vending machines.
COCOCOUTURE
WED – SUN: 1 pm – 11 pm
+7 (965) 020 20 60
Cococouture opened by Matilda Shnurova and her team is the first fine dining restaurant at New Holland Island and a new chapter in Cococo’s history. The first restaurant Cococo opened in 2012 in Nekrasova Street and in 2016 moved to the W Hotel on Voznesensky Prospect. Over the 8 years, Cococo managed to become one of the most influential restaurants of St. Petersburg, occupied 104th position in the prestigious world ranking The World’s Best Restaurants, and in 2020 settled in New Holland Island with two projects, Cococouture and Cococo bistro.
The elegant halls of Cococouture are located in the corner part of House 12 and resemble the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Novgorod. The illuminated vaults of carefully restored and gilded masonry from the 19th century solemnly glow at the eight-meter height. The mirrored stained glass repeats the layout of the giant arches of the facade windows. Murals placed across friezes tell the story of time years of the Russian hand painted style: changing from ornaments in the Byzantine tradition to the modern patterns of Ivan Bilibin. Flowers and grass, endemic to the Northwest are immortalized in epoxy resin on the panel at the entrance to the restaurant. The painting Altare Vanitas by St. Petersburg artist Igor Baranov resembles a sacred mural in its LED frame. The heavy oak frames of the bay windows open into the new postcard view of Truda Square and the Nicholas Palace.
Igor Grishechkin, the chef of Cococouture, continues to develop ideas of haute cuisine with a Russian twist, combining traditional local ingredients, nostalgic notions and modern culinary technologies in his recipes. The menu consists of sets, a small one with 10 courses and a large one offering 15 courses. The composition of both will be updated three times a year. Each course will appear on the menu just once and will never be offered again. All dishes involve scrupulous work from Igor Grishechkin and his team where they painstakingly develop each aspect of the layout and the service that play an important part in this gastronomic theatre. For those who do not have the time to enjoy the theatrical action, there is an opportunity to try a few appetizers and desserts at the bar, located in the heart of the restaurant, surrounded by impressive wine racks with unique wines collected by the sommeliers of the restaurant.
COCOCO BISTRO
9 am – 11 pm
+7 (905) 200 70 10
Cococo Bistro is located next to the central entrance of House 12.
Simple interiors with vintage furniture resemble a living room, furnished with vintage
Cococo Bistro is a restaurant for everyday life where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner, without much ado or fanfare. It also has its own bakery with a variety of pastries and breads with thick crispy crust.
The menu is designed by the chef of the Cococo restaurant group Igor Grishechkin and is updated according to themes that inspire him. The café is a way for the chef whose name is listed in all Russian and international ratings to take time off and serve such simple dishes as pizza or Russian Olivier salad.
SHULZ BICYCLES AND SCOOTERS
11 am – 9 pm
A bicycle shop Shulz has opened on the first floor of House 12. Since 2008, this St. Petersburg brand has been producing perfect city bicycles, simple, reliable, and suitable for everyone — couriers, fashionistas, athletes, and pensioners. The model range includes foldable, children’s, city, and tourist bikes and scooters. You can also choose from a range of accessories, tools, and spare parts.
ZIFERGAUZ GALLERY
TUE–SUN: 11 am – 9 pm
Digital Art Gallery Zifergauz on the third floor of House 12 is a new space for exhibitions of foreign and Russian media artists, film screenings, lectures and creative master classes.
The Zifergauz Gallery was opened by Gazprom Neft in the digital transformation centre of the same name which became a resident of New Holland Island at the beginning of the year. The high-tech public space is equipped with projection screens of various shapes, innovative shuttle projectors and a concert hall sound system.
The mission of the gallery is to show the works of talented Russian media artists and the best art projects from around the world. Admission to the exhibitions is free with prior online registration.
