ZAKHAROV, Andreyan Dmitriyevich
(b. 1761, St. Petersburg, d. 1811, St. Petersburg)

Exterior view

1806-23
Photo
Admiralty, St. Petersburg

Andreyan Zakharov was already considered the Admiralty's own architect when he began construction of his monumental complex in 1806. The function of the building was - and remains - unusual in the context of St. Petersburg town planning: the tower with its golden "needle" was preserved from the original building and today serves as an oriental point and terminus for the three main roads of the metropolis.

The Admiralty building is the former headquarters of the Admiralty Board and the Imperial Russian Navy in St. Petersburg, Russia and the current headquarters of the Russian Navy.[1]

The edifice was re-built in the nineteenth century to support the Tsar's maritime ambitions. The original design was a fortified shipyard which was later surrounded by five bastions and further protected by a moat.

The photo shows the main façade.