In a previous publication, we talked about the Peter’s time grotto in the Summer Garden. Link: https://igardens.ru/summer_garden_grotto/

Let’s continue our story about the rebuilding of the Grotto into a garden pavilion. During the flood of 1777, the grotto was badly damaged. They turned to the restoration of the dilapidated building only in 1788. A decree was issued “to inspect and correct the dilapidated grotto”, but nothing concrete was done.

In 1801, Pavel I instructed the architect Fyodor Demertsov to dismantle the grotto and build a music pavilion in its place. Before Paul’s death, they only manage to remove sculptures and vases from the roof of the grotto, dismantle the roof, and remove fountains, stucco molding and panels from shells inside the grotto. Everything of value is transported to the warehouses of the Hofintendan office.

Alexander I stops the destruction of the grotto and gives orders for its restoration. The architect Pyotr Pistsov presents projects for the restoration of the grotto that have not been completed. A temporary wooden roof is made over the grotto.

The flood of 1824 further destroys the grotto. In 1825, Emperor Nicholas I gave an order to restore the grotto. Ludwik Charlemagne, the architect of the Hofintendan office, presents two projects for the restoration of the grotto. But these projects did not like the emperor. Then Carl Rossi shows his project to Nicholas I. And, having received the highest blessing, begins to implement the project.

During the reconstruction of the grotto Rossi preserved not only the foundation, but also the brick walls (almost to the roof) of the Peter’s grotto. The shape of the roof has been changed. And the facades are made in the style of classicism. The sculptor Vasily Demut-Malinovsky took part in creating the stucco that adorns the garden pavilion. The work was completed in 1826.

Why the pavilion began to be called the Coffee House and about its further fate – in the following publications.

Enjoy your walks through the gardens of the Russian Museum with new knowledge.

When creating the publication, materials from the book by V.A. Korentsvita.

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