MOSCOW -- Historical conservation has a complicated history in Moscow. In 1931, Stalin destroyed the city’s most prominent cathedral, only for the site to remain empty for years, before ultimately being turned into a swimming pool.
These days, however, Russia’s political and business capital is making an effort to preserve its historical skyline by following Saint Petersburg’s lead and restricting the height of new construction.
The new regulations are based according to neighborhood, and would outlaw new buildings higher than 75 meters in 40% of the city. The height limit would apply to about 80% of the city center.
The regulations are not entirely unprecedented, as there are already some restrictions on tall buildings. In 2010, Moscow’s mayor demanded that the upper floors on a new 213-meter tower be lopped off, claiming that the construction’s height was illegal. The decision was later rescinded.
Although experts recognize that developers will not be happy with the news, they called the new regulations “logical and understandable.” They also noted, however, that it could lead to less new construction and higher rents for office space in Moscow.
Read the original article in Russian
Photo - **RS**2009
