Roman Abramovich and Dasha Zhukova's Art Island Begins to Take Shape in St. Petersburg

The new profile of New Holland Island, the former St. Petersburg military base that art-loving billionaire couple Roman Abramovich and Dasha Zhukova plan to transform into a mini-art metropolis, is beginning to take shape. Last month, Abramovich ended his international search for an architect, settling on the New York-based Work AC's warehouse and landscape-heavy design. Meanwhile, the island has moved forward with a full roster of summer programming: having opened to the public this June for the first time in 300 years, it has already seen over 75,000 visitors, according to the Moscow Times

An aerial rendering of the redeveloped New Holland Island / ARRAY.

The development began last year, when Abramovich's Millhouse LLC investment company won a tender to invest at least $400 million in the revitalization of the triangle-shaped island. Since then, New Holland has reintroduced itself with a list of attractions -- art exhibitions, concerts, yoga, organic food, flea markets -- that sound a lot more Brooklyn than Russia. But what will the Russian hipster island look like once Work AC gets a hold of it?

The firm's winning proposal includes a hotel, education and exhibition centers, and plenty of outdoor space. The island's old warehouses will be renovated and a few new spaces will be built, including a triangular tent to house exhibitions in the winter and a sculpture garden in the summer. (Photos of the design on the firm's Web site also show some kind of ice skating rink/hot tub combination, but unfortunately, no additional description was provided.) All warehouses will be linked together by High Line-esque elevated promenades.

Russian model and art enthusiast Dasha Zhukova / © Patrick McMullen

Abramovich has also brought in Zhukova's Iris Foundation as a contractor for the project, according to the MT. A branch of the foundation established for the island, Iris New Holland, will be closely linked to Zhukova's Moscow exhibition space, the Garage Center for Contemporary Culture, according to the Art Newspaper. The multitasking art doyenne is planning to construct an outpost of the Garage on New Holland, according to previous reports.

Named after its resemblance to Amsterdam, New Holland Island is an artificial 18-acre island built by Peter the Great in the early 18th century for timber storage, shipbuilding, and later, a military prison. A previous project funded by an unnamed investor was scuttled when British architect Norman Foster's design was deemed too modern for the historic constructions on the island.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich / © Patrick McMullen

All in all, the fast-growing project sounds a bit like a privatized version of Governors Island in New York, the former military base that also fell into disrepair before the city converted it into a public park. New Holland's summer programs included an inflatable rat installation by the New York-based Bruce High Quality Foundation (which, coincidentally, has also completed projects for Governors Island) as well as a surprisingly controversial public vegetable garden. (Residents criticized the high price for a patch -- $85 per season -- complaining that only wealthy individuals or high-end restaurants can afford it.)

"If everything works out, St Petersburg will suddenly become a center of contemporary culture and contemporary art, and will go along the path of Venice," Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the State Hermitage Museum, said at a meeting of Russian government cultural advisors in July. "This is a good path."

-Julia Halperin, ARTINFO

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Comments

[halfassedfilms]

12:52 PM on 09/09/2011

All I can see is a hopelessly corrupt nation run by a few mega elites robbing the natural, historic, and cultural resources of their people in the most shameless money grab possible.

I hope and pray the Russian people can see past the flood of western consumerism to stand up and stop these monsters before its too late.

[who38]

06:32 PM on 09/09/2011

Speaking of corruption, I assume that you know how the Annenberg Foundation and Pew Foundation absconded with the Barnes Collection in Philadelphia.  Please netflix "the Art of the Steal".

[brownfrown]

12:03 PM on 09/09/2011

If you can afford 800 million dollar yacht.. you may as well make a nice parking spot for it in the middle of St. Pete :)

[GraphicMatt]

11:53 AM on 09/09/2011

This sounds truly amazing. I will definitely be planning a trip to St. Petersburg weithin the next few years!

[halfassedfilms]

12:53 PM on 09/09/2011

Just don't let all the poverty, suffering, and corruption slow you down on your way to party with the mega elite.

[GraphicMatt]

01:09 PM on 09/09/2011

What a bizarre comment. I highly doubt I'd ever "party with the mega elite" let alone be allowed within 100 ft. of them. Take your name and replace "films" with "comment" and that would perfectly sum up what you just said.

[Tree S-B]

03:48 PM on 09/09/2011

This is such a ridiculous comment!

[corre 8]

11:22 AM on 09/09/2011

Great article. You can see more about the design of the island through the video competition video by WorkAC and Eric Lane
http://vimeo.com/27318391

[robodawa]

11:11 AM on 09/09/2011

Roman and Dasha are to be praised for their desires and willingness to back these up with their own Money. This repurposed island, like St. Pete, seems too dreamy and improbable. I would like to know about the mechanicals. What will they do about the temperature variance? The humidity? What allowances will be made for the rise of the Baltic? These solutions, installed on a smaller scale at this island, could help all of mankind deal with the global warming narrative. Oh, one more thing! Please limit the amount of 'word art' the curators can put on display.

[brownfrown]

11:55 AM on 09/09/2011

Their own money... hahah

[halfassedfilms]

12:54 PM on 09/09/2011

Where do you think that money came from?

[BlindChance]

11:07 AM on 09/09/2011

Very cool, I'd like to visit it one day.

[kenhamlett]

10:42 AM on 09/09/2011

This sounds like a terrific idea, and since I am planning to visit St. Petersburg late next year, I will keep abreast of developments on the island. It is so much nicer to read about people spending money on this kind of thing, rather than spending it on war or division. Good for them.

[who38]

11:00 AM on 09/09/2011

St. Petersburg is a marvelous city;  you will need at least twice as much time as you have planned in order to see it.  The ethnographic museum is a delight and is the only museum in the city that won't be crowded.

[kenhamlett]

11:59 AM on 09/09/2011

I am curious about your comment. You say I will need twice as much time as I planned, but I did not tell you how much time I had planned. Is your rule just a general rule -- meaning that most people under-plan time? How much time would you recommend? Thanks.

[Fahrenheit 451 usedbooks]

10:14 AM on 09/09/2011

Sounds like a couple of Russians are on to something first again! Russian Billionaires creating jobs, culture, giving back some of what they have earned where are all those American Billionaires? Oh I remember there trying to get another tax break No job proposals here. Maybe that Gulag think is not such a bad idea after all, " Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the State Hermitage Museum, said at a meeting of Russian government cultural advisors in July. "This is a good path." I agree why aren't we on the same path. Lets see who steps up! Anybody? No ideas? To morally corrupted and politically bankrupt to lead. Now the Corporate Elite Oligarchy can only take and now all of a sudden they need the government to lead on jobs Where is our Rich when we need them? I'll tell you; There eating there young sending them to war and into moral deprivation!

[halfassedfilms]

12:55 PM on 09/09/2011

Just because they have accents doesn't mean you can trust them any more than any other billionaire.

You simply cannot accumulate that kind of wealth without breaking the backs of many people on your way to the top.

[gurukalehuru]

08:39 AM on 09/09/2011

Since then, New Holland has reintroduced itself with a list of attractions -- art exhibitions, concerts, yoga, organic food, flea markets -- that sound a lot more Brooklyn than Russia.

You can stop with the evil empire propaganda. That is SO 20th century.

[Jeffreygeez]

10:36 AM on 09/09/2011

Spot on comment.The evil empire is within.The pot calling the kettle black, as usual.

[who38]

11:01 AM on 09/09/2011

Hear, hear.