Russian Historian Launches Virtual Tours of “Lost” St. Petersburg
Hard-to-access or already demolished buildings in Russia’s cultural capital can now be explored online.
An unusual virtual project has been launched in St. Petersburg, offering digital walks through historic buildings that have been lost or are currently closed to the public. The initiative was created by local historian Aleksandr Treugolnikov, who shared the idea with journalists.
The project lets users take online tours of architectural landmarks that are under reconstruction or no longer exist. Visitors can not only explore these sites virtually but also save a digital copy of a building. Several VR tours are already available.
Panoramas Made From Thousands of Photos
The idea emerged while Treugolnikov was studying historic buildings. He initially photographed them to document architectural details, then decided to make the material publicly accessible.
He assembles 360-degree panoramas from 15 to 20 individual images, which are combined into a single scene using digital graphic-editing software. Treugolnikov has already created 20 tours and continues to expand the project.
Individual panoramas are linked into routes, creating a strong sense of presence. Users can examine facades, interiors, and even attics. One tour, Krasnyi Treugolnik (Red Triangle), includes around 800 panoramas, while the Myasokombinat Imeni Kirova (Kirov Meat Processing Plant) site features roughly 1,500. The tours are available as open-access resources, showing how digital technologies can help preserve the memory of lost cultural heritage.
