Hi, friends Steemians! I would like to invite you to a little cognitive walk and show you one building that resembles a medieval tower. This building is too different from other buildings in the area. This is an industrial zone of our city. In General, it is even surprising that such a tower could remain here to this day. It was built in 1898. At that time in St. Petersburg Gothic motifs were in fashion and I already showed you one of the knight's castles in this style. But this unusual building is not a castle at all. It had a different purpose.
![DSC09171 (2).JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmeg82T6xXWXpeM5LbDjzpbWgTtrnhehxspwWTnhu86KGJ/DSC09171%20(2).JPG)
It's a water tower. Unexpected architectural solution for industrial architecture of the late XIX century. This land area belonged to the steel mill and this tower had another name - "adjusted tower". The fact that on the other side of the Neva stood a weapons factory and this tower used to configure the artillery sights. It was so long ago and centuries passed...
![DSC09169 (3).JPG](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmRmBLwJ5Fz8VUuVf6rmNDvhYg8VwvzrkhydBeq7YrGud6/DSC09169%20(3).JPG)
Years passed and the tower was used for various purposes. As a result of continuous use, all internal premises were too worn out. The outer hull of the tower has survived to the present day and we can see that it is a hexagonal cone building that tapers at the top.The outer semi-circular extension has a spiral staircase. If you look closely, you will see that some parts of the facade remind us of the details of chess pieces. This is not an accident either. The thing is that the merchant, who was the first owner of this tower, he built it according to his drawings. He was a big chess fan and that's the way he immortalized his hobby.
![DSC09175 (2).JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbpDn4Lud9TdWvfe34iqbE47Qjwgz5xd7XdZD4fexZyLK/DSC09175%20(2).JPG)
At the end of the last century, the tower was reconstructed and internal updates. Now in the tower there are several office rooms, and nearby , in the attached building there is a small and cozy hotel.
![DSC09174 (2).JPG](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmcYfkVZSE2DGN8x9sfTXXthbYdDHy8uSCbQfxubGWJmUV/DSC09174%20(2).JPG)
Here is such a today urban history and cognitive walk for you, friends. I hope it was interesting. See you again soon.
Camera SONY DSC-W350
Location: St. Petersburg, Russia. Oktyabrskaya embankment
[//]:# (!steemitworldmap 59.884803 lat 30.352836 long Gothic motifs. Chess tower. d3scr)
Thank you for Your attention and Your visit. I appreciate Your feedback and comments.
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so beautiful tower!!! Every time I see a tower I immediatly think about some fairy tales ^_^
Oh! I completely understand these thoughts. I have, too, always such associations. The man who invented it, too, was a very extraordinary and creative person for that era. He surrounded himself with things that gave him pleasure. This draft tower is proof. Thanks, Sylvia!
What an interesting building @madlenfox. It looks as though the windows have always been there but, presumably, they were added once it stopped being a water tower.
@gillianpearce, I found a 1910 archival photograph for you. Here we see very well that it has always been. Such an extraordinary architectural solution for an industrial facility. Creative people here decided not to simplify, but to show a creative approach to such a simple object.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmWm8Xh4DMoqntdWBtiYac28CWaLwz1k2Wj2v6Cw3FKCd3/image.png)
So the windows were just for show then @madlenfox? The bricks must have been build around some sort of tank if it was filled with water.
We have some water towers in the UK that have been converted to dwellings but they had to put windows in later. Originally they were just empty towers filled with water.
Surely there was some equipment inside. Initially, he built it as a mini power station to provide energy to his estate. But later everything was converted many times. I read somewhere that even in 30-40 years of the last century it housed a women's prison, but then again -the pump. It has been so many times in the lifetime of this building.
Очень впечатляюще. Спасибо, я о ней ничего не слышала.
It is far from the Central and visited streets. This is an industrial area. Houses, too much far away from this place. Thank you for looking, @singa :)
That was interesting.
I see that your post has garnered some interest.
It should too I think.
Francis
Of course, I like to know the stories of my walks are of interest. I am ready to share different stories and photos. Thanks, Francis. :)
Thanks for showing something new to me. I love St Petersburg architecture.
Each building is an interesting story. I discover something new every day, too. Thank you for looking, @izzynoel :)
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Amazing post! I love it. Hey UPVOTE my post: https://steemit.com/life/@cryptopaparazzi/chapter-one-let-there-be-the-man-and-there-was-a-man-let-there-be-a-woman-and-there-was-sex and FOLLOW ME and I ll do the same :)