Cyril Leonard goes Chinese in Russia

Posted: 20/07/2006

Cyril Leonard GmbH and Delney King International have been appointed by the World Monuments Fund in Britain to be responsible for the project management of the refurbishment of the historic Chinese Palace at Lomonosov outside St Petersburg in Russia.

The Lomonosov (originally Orianenbaum) complex of palaces was built by the Romanovs in the 1730s as a summer retreat from the city. It overlooks the Gulf of Finland, situated close to the Peterhof Palace, the Versailles of the North. It was considerably extended by Catherine the Great following her overthrow of her husband Peter III, who was captured at Oranienbaum by Catherine's guards and strangled later by her lover Alexei Orlov.

Cyril Leonard GmbH is the Munich office of the London property consultants and surveyors Cyril Leonard.

The Lomonosov Palace complex was the only royal palace not to be destroyed during World War II. Known as the 'malinkayakopeknik' the Little Kopoek, this peninsular held off the German assault on St Petersburg (then Leningrad) throughout the three year siege. The remainder of the palaces were razed to the ground, but were re-built after the War and some are still in the process of their restoration.

As such, the building is unique, in that it is the only example of an original 18th Century royal palace around St Petersburg remaining intact. Neglected and poorly patched up by the Soviets it is a gem of 18th Century rococo architecture.

The Chinese Palace was designed by one of Catherine the Great's favourite architects, Antonio Rinaldi, as a summer retreat for her to pursue her lovers throughout the hotter months. It remains to this day without heating or lighting and in consequence the originally inlaid floors and bead wall hangings remain undamaged by exposure to the drying effect of central heating or light exposure. The Chinese Palace is most certainly a 'hidden treasure' of European talent.

The World Monuments Fund in Britain has raised more than US$1 million (£555,000) for the project to date and has been working on the site for two years.

James Glerum, a partner in Cyril Leonard Germany and whose Munich Office will be responsible for the coordination of the works, said 'This is not only an honour and huge responsibility, but a job of great joy to be able to work in the country which I consider to be my second home'

The Chinese Palace is one of the palaces within the Lomonosov complex of palaces, which have been undergoing a major refurbishment programme over the last few years. The Chinese Palace is most certainly the most precious of these buildings. The works are at the Lomonosov will continue for another decade at least, before the whole complex will be restored to its former glory.