Liteyny Avenue 20, Federal cultural heritage building on Liteyny Prospekt, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Liteyny Prospekt 20 is a yellow-brown brick building with horizontal darker striping, built in the Russian Revival style. A tall dark spire with a steep roof rises at the left end above a rounded corner projection. The main facade has rows of arched windows framed by columns, balconies and a projecting balustraded ledge across the middle; a sculpted relief panel and a small canopy entrance sit near the lower left, and the roof carries several peaked dormers.
The present building was erected in 1895–1898 by V. K. Gauger and A. D. Donchenko to designs by A. I. von Hohen and M. A. Ivanov, supervised by military engineer N. V. Smirnov. It was built in the Russian style for the Officers' Assembly of the Army and Navy, opened on 22 March 1898 in the presence of Nicholas II. Until 1828 the corner site held Count A. A. Arakcheev's reception office, effectively used by His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancery. After the October Revolution it became the House of the Red Army; in 1950 the Leningrad Affair trials were held here.
The building was erected for the Officers' Assembly of the Army and Navy, opened on 22 March 1898 in the presence of Nicholas II to improve living conditions for officers serving in or visiting the capital. It later housed the Society of Zealots of Military Knowledge. Today it holds the Museum of the History of the Western Military District troops, a library and the council of veterans of the Road of Life.
The building is centrally located and easy to access, especially if you want to explore nearby attractions at the same time. The area has good public transport connections and plenty of shops and cafes in the immediate surroundings.
The building's rounded corner once held the reception office of Count Alexei Arakcheev, a powerful minister under Alexander I; until 1828 the premises were in practice occupied by His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancery. The present structure was raised in 1895–1898 for the Officers' Assembly opened by Nicholas II on 22 March 1898.
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