Market Friday: Passage Shopping Gallery

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(Edited)

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The gray sky hung low overhead, and no sooner had I taken a hundred steps down Italian Street than it started to rain. I didn't have my umbrella with me, I hoped to get through before it started to rain. I didn't want to get wet, so I had to find a temporary shelter. I ran quickly past the theater entrance and ducked into the warm light of the Passage shopping gallery.

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If it hadn't rained, it was unlikely I would have made it out to this store anytime soon. Jewelry, perfumes, and souvenirs are not an assortment of goods that apply to my daily needs. But this store is very beautiful, with historic interiors.

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A short historical background.

The department store building was built in 1846-1848 years, architect R.Zhelyazevich. On the first floor of the building warehouses were located, on the second - shop premises, on the third - apartments. In 1899 - 1901 the building was reconstructed by architect S. Kozlov. The fourth floor was added, the area of trade premises increased. During the Soviet period the Passage became the state department store. In 1934 the building was partly re-planned according to the project of N. Trotsky. Stairs and bridge-junction between the galleries were installed, as well as the hall on the third floor with light windows was reconstructed. In 1961 the first department store for women in the USSR was opened in Passage.

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Alexey Kanis. A colossal bull's head

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After reading the historical reference it seems that everything inside has been greatly rebuilt many times, but if you look at the drawings and old photographs, it becomes clear that all the architects worked very carefully, trying to preserve as much as possible. As a result of the changes, the building became much more comfortable, more modern engineering solutions were applied, specially equipped warehouses appeared, elevators and escalators were built, other improvements were made, but the interior has changed very little. In the middle of the nineteenth century this gallery looked almost as it does now.

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As a place to shelter from the weather, the Passage is ideal. The central hall is not even really a hall, it looks like a covered street. From above, through the glass ceiling, light pours in, but it doesn't rain. Instead of the usual urban linden trees, palm trees grow in tubs. There are wooden benches along the hall and a small café on the second floor. And right near the entrance you can admire the art and study the theater posters.

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Upstairs you can take the elevator or one of the stairs. The central staircase, wide and with gentle steps, is in the center of the hall. In the back of the smaller stores, you can consider passageways to other staircases, not as wide, but also beautiful.

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But my favorite way to get to the upper floors in this building is the escalator under the personal glass roof. To get up that way, I had to turn into a perfume store and walk through all those sweet scents that make me dizzy.

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I went down the central staircase. On the wide stairwells found a place for a store selling fabrics, souvenirs, and funny dolls.

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SmartphoneGoogle Pixel 3a
LocationSaint Petersburg, Russia

This is my entry for the #marketfriday challenge by @dswigle.



15 comments
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Thank you so much!

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In the middle of the nineteenth century this gallery looked almost as it does now.

Then the maintainers are very good in preserving the interior of this narrow passage building, while also modernizing it over time. This building is an architectural art. Hopefully they will preserve it for many more centuries.

The central hall is not even really a hall, it looks like a covered street.

Which is one of the unique and special features of this building. And also the look and the detailed design of the wall and of the staircase boundaries. Many modern buildings has much more simple looks. Most of the old buildings are much more detailed than the new, modern buildings.

I went down the central staircase. On the wide stairwells found a place for a store selling fabrics, souvenirs, and funny dolls.

Furries. I like both the eagle-headed human doll, and also the deer-headed human doll.

Have a nice day and have a nice weekend.
All the best. Greetings and much love from Hungary.

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There are no useful items in this store for me, but these beautiful interiors are so nice to stroll through! Thank you so much! Have a great weekend!

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That shopping gallery looks really fancy. But I don't know about those dolls, though. I'd be a little creeped out if I saw them out of nowhere while shopping. 😅

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No need to be afraid of these dolls they are cute, not creepy! They sit peacefully on their steps and don't try to attack you while shopping and demand your wallet:) Thank you so much!

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What a wonderful passage with many shops. The architecture is stunning. The glass roof.
Thank you so much for showing us your walk through it and giving us more information.
Happy weekend! 👋🏻☀️

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Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked my story about this wonderful place!

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The architecture of the Passage Building is absolute elegance! It is more than just aesthetics! I sigh just looking at the beauty of it, the lines that have stayed the same over time, an admired work of art.

The stairs are gracious and many, even the escalator that has no place in this century that it was built, fits in, without being loud. The harmony of all the updates kept everything in proportion and rhythm - it is like I just stepped out of time, and yet, it fits perfectly well into the upscale, genteel world.

This is a true gem and there are not many that haven't been changed as this has not been. They look the same, we have many of those, but, fires and the tear-down mentality have lost some of the old buildings. Thank you so much for taking us there. I know it has nothing for you and most likely, not me either. But, it just made me remember what an absolutely beautiful country you live in.

Thank you for being a part of #MarketFriday!

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Rules of the Road to Join #MarketFriday!

  1. Go to the market, or anywhere that you pay money for a service.
    Take pictures! Be creative!
  2. Tell us a little bit about the market or the event. What brought you there? What did you buy? How much did it cost?
  3. Post the picture(s) Of course, you should tell a little bit about the ones you post
  4. Use the MarketFriday Community Platform to post #hive-196308 (this is not required, but appreciated)
    5. Drop the link into the MarketFriday comment section so I can find it
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Upped and reposted

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I especially love the way the escalator is inscribed in this building, the photo doesn't fully describe it. It must have been the service corridor behind the retail space before. You can't see it at all from the center gallery. You have to go through one of the stores to get to the escalator.

Thank you very much!

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