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Scotland-based firm Kettle Collective unveils plan for world's second tallest tower in Russia

2021-05-27T16:07:00-04:00

Scottish architecture firm Kettle Collective has announced plans to build one of the world’s tallest buildings. The tower will be located in St. Petersburg, Russia and stand at 703 meters, making it the second tallest building in the world.

While shorter than Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the 150-story Lakhta Center II will feature the highest occupied floor and viewing gallery of any building in the world at 590 meters. The tower will be located on the outskirts of St. Petersburg and will sit next to the Lakhta Center, Europe’s tallest building and the headquarters of Russian energy company Gazprom.

Design lead and Kettle Collective founder Tony Kettle was previously the design director for Edinburgh architecture practice RMJM and created the competition-winning design for the 462-meter-tall Lakhta Center. The project was later handed over to Russian architect GORPROJECT to complete.

Lakhta Center, Europe's new tallest skyscraper, now officially commissioned

2018-10-19T20:10:00-04:00

Local officials in Saint Petersburg, Russia have granted the RMJM-designed Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex the authorization for commissioning of the facility after it passed final inspections this week.

While the grand opening as Gazprom's new HQ is still another year out, the 462-meter/1,516-foot tower is already holding the title of Europe's tallest building, the world's northernmost skyscraper, and sporting the fastest elevators in Russia (wheee!).

Photo: Anton Galakhov

The list of remaining tasks before the Center can officially open to the public is still quite impressive, as the announcement lays out:

"The final preparation of the business and public space by operators and tenants will take at least a year: completion of the finishing, fit-out of the premises, installation of equipment and improvement works.

"In the meantime the following will be prepared for reception of visitors: the highest panoramic restaurant in Europe at the level of 315 meters and a sky deck at...

Authorship dispute erupts over Europe's tallest skyscraper in St. Petersburg

2018-08-08T15:57:00-04:00

A row has broken out between former RMJM international group design director Tony Kettle and a Russian architect over who designed Europe’s new tallest building – an 87-storey skyscraper near St Petersburg. Staff at Moscow-based firm Gorproject have accused Scottish practice The Kettle Collective of trying to claim ‘authorship’ over energy giant Gazprom’s mammoth tower, currently nearing completion on the Gulf of Finland.

As Europe's tallest skyscraper nears completion, a dispute has erupted over the authorship of the completed project. The Moscow-based firm Gorproject claims design authorship over the Lakhta Center, while Tony Kettle claims the delivered design is his concept while working at RMJM. Letters on the issue were sent to the RIBA, the RIAS, and the Union of Architects of Russia. A statement from the client, Gazprom, asserts the design was RMJM’s original 2011 concept with Tony Kettle as design director.

Europe's new tallest building, The Lakhta Center by RMJM, nearly completed in St. Petersburg

2018-07-31T13:30:00-04:00

For a brief period from 2011 until 2012 Renzo Piano’s 309.7m London skyscraper, The Shard, was the tallest in Europe. However, it has since been dwarfed by three new buildings in Moscow, and, this summer, the title has shifted to Moscow’s second city, St Petersburg, as one of Russia’s largest companies plans its relocation.

The Lakhta Center, designed by British firm RMJM, is set to be Europe's new tallest skyscraper. The nearly completed supertall, located on St. Petersburg's coast, will reach approximately 1,515 feet, which is about 50% taller than The Shard in London. The building will serve as the new headquarters for Russian energy company Gazprom, currently based in Moscow.

Lakhta Center rendering by RMJM, located in St. Petersburg, RU. Image: Lakhta Center.

With piles driven 270 feet into the ground, the 87-story skyscraper also boasts LEED Gold certification. The design features an energy saving ice storage facility, which can accumulate up to 1000 tonnes of ice during the night used to air condition the building during the day.