{"id":3493,"date":"2021-04-22T17:55:54","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T17:55:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/?p=3493"},"modified":"2021-04-22T17:56:06","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T17:56:06","slug":"architectural-surprises-on-the-zelenogradsk-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expatkaliningrad.com\/ru\/architectural-surprises-on-the-zelenogradsk-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"Architectural Surprises on the Zelenogradsk Coast"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Surprising but true<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Published: 22 April 2021 ~ Architectural Surprises on the Zelenogradsk Coast<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following photographs were taken whilst walking the Zelenogradsk coastal route, starting from the promenade end and heading away from the town. To the left lies the land; to the right, on the other side of the hedge, the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See: An Introduction to the Zelenogradsk Coastal Route<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The route is divided into two sections, as indicated by different shades of block paving. One of these is the pedestrian walkway; the other accommodates all manner of locomotion. Which one is which is given away slightly by the presence of broken lane markings that run along the centre of the narrower strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst this \u2018road\u2019 is closed to conventional vehicular traffic, among the roller bladers, skateboarders, bicycle and electric-powered scooter riders, small open-sided \u2018buses\u2019 can be seen trundling past at regular intervals crammed with tourists and those just unwilling to walk the not insubstantial distance that lies between the end of the prom and the white sandy beaches beyond. From one end of this route to the other is quite a trek, so if you are not much of a walker, all you need to do is hop onto one of these charabancs and away you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Architectural surprises on the Zelenogradsk coast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first building to be photographed was this modern hotel peeping through the silver birch trees from behind a rather impressive wall of brick and granite construction, which has a wrought-iron railing top backed by translucent polycarbonate privacy panels.  Such screens are ubiquitous in this part of the world, as is block paving. Whoever it was who introduced them it was not me, but, from a commercial viewpoint, I sincerely wished it had been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Architecture
Photograph 1: First hotel on the Zelenogradsk coastal route<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I suppose as modern buildings go, from the angle of this first photograph it all looks fairly prosaic, the functional attraction lying in those long, sweeping, curved balconies, which, I should imagine, guarantees discerning hotel guests a magnificent sea view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving along a little, it soon becomes apparent that what we have been looking at a moment ago is merely a wing extending from the main body of the building (photo 2). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hotel
Photograph 2: A wing of a very capacious hotel <\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photograph 2 is a shot looking back at the wing, detailing both the curved balconies mentioned earlier and, above them, in the roof, recessed balconies of the sort that feature extensively in the design of the Hotel Russ, Svletogorsk\u2019s premier hotel, which, sadly, if my informants do not deceive me, has recently closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Grand
Photograph 3: Hotel entrance<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photograph 3 reveals the front of the hotel, a solid-looking establishment with large arched windows, a tier of \u2018porthole\u2019 windows above and a grand entrance extension, the curved top an enclosed balcony in glass and below a recessed entrance hall fronted by a colonnade which supports the upper balcony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fourth photograph shows the cloistered effect achieved by the colonnades and gives some indication of the not inconsiderable space occupied by this building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Architectural
Photograph 4: Side view showing the cloistered extension of the entrance <\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photograph 5 is taken looking away from the corner of the last building depicted. The brick pier wall continues and behind a solid gate, accessible via intercom system only (they like that sort of thing here, as well), sits another hotel, set back from the road, its central tower and turret paying appreciable homage to the architectural Gothic legacy from which it is descended, a striking feature reflected in and harmonised by the pitched window gables surmounting the rooftop balconies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Modern
Photograph 5: In the Gothic style<\/span><\/strong> ~ Architectural Surprises on the Zelenogradsk Coast<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As in the first hotel, the second design also favours roundel windows, and these are apparent yet again, but on a much larger scale, in the massy and incomplete edifice looming out of the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Vast
Photograph 6: Windows aplenty through which to see the sea<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photograph 6 depicts the curvilinear glass and steel structure of the furthermost point of the first hotel, whilst 7 gives you a fuller perspective of the Gothicised structure as seen above the entrance gate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Modern
Photograph 7: Closer look at Gothic styling<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The hulking monolith captured in photograph 8 reminds me of the J-hangar still resident on the site of Polebrook Aerodrome in the UK,  a former US air base left over from World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hotel
Photograph 8: Big and yet unfinished<\/span><\/strong> ~ Architectural Surprises on the Zelenogradsk Coast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In this picture, the building takes on the appearance of two half segments of a giant arch but as a later photo reveals (photo 11), taken from the opposite end of the building, the effect is an illusory one, as the unfinished project is missing its central vertical section which, had it been in place, would have completed the visual aspect of single-span uniformity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the distance, it appears as if the hulk is wearing my Uncle Son\u2019s string vest, but at closer quarters it looks the same. The green string undergarment, which must have once been used, I presume, to screen the unfinished structure, is somewhat tattered and torn and now simply hangs there, adding to the forlorn neglect with which the building is heavily imbued. There is little doubt from the round tower, half risen at the front of the building (photo 9), that at its conception \u2018big\u2019 had gone hand in hand with grand, but unless something dramatic happens and happens fairly quickly, call me presumptuous if you will, I feel that there is little chance of booking a room in this hotel at any time in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n