Singer House: where Valkyries guard Durov’s secrets and the globe has been shining for 120 years

In the heart of St. Petersburg, at the intersection of Nevsky Prospekt and Griboyedov Canal, stands an unusual building. It resembles an elegant jewel box decorated with glass and steel. This is the Singer Building, although many know it as the House of Books. Its openwork globe on the roof, crowning the glass dome, has been one of the symbols of the city for over a century.

The building is shrouded in stories, like the pages of an old novel. They say that once upon a time, its walls held the secrets of the famous adventurer and creator of the telegraph, Pavel Durov. And the massive sculptures of Valkyries — ancient warrior maidens from Scandinavian mythology — stand silently on the facade, as if guarding these secrets from prying eyes.

Today, as 120 years ago, a special atmosphere reigns here. Under the light of that very historic globe, people wander in search of new books, drink coffee while admiring the view of Kazan Cathedral, or simply feel the pulse of the northern capital. This building is not just an architectural monument, but a living space where the past meets the present.

History of the place: from an opera house to an American skyscraper

Theatrical past

Life was already bustling at this corner of Nevsky Prospekt and Griboyedov Canal (then Ekaterininsky Canal) in the 18th century. In 1742-1743, there was a wooden opera house here, designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli himself, where comedy performances were held. But in 1749, a fire destroyed the theater completely.

Later, the mansion of Archpriest Ivan Panfilov, confessor to Empress Catherine II, was built on this site. In the 19th century, the house was bought by pharmacist Karl Imzen, who turned it into a real cultural center of old St. Petersburg.

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Bohemian period

Imzen's house was a hub of creative life. It housed a music shop, a bookstore, the editorial office of the Birzhevye Vedomosti newspaper, and — most interestingly — the photo studio of Sergei Levitsky, Russia's first professional photographer. Writers, composers, actors—the entire St. Petersburg bohemian scene of the mid-19th century—were photographed there.

The American Dream

In 1902, the site was acquired by the American company Singer, which by that time had already captured the Russian market. The company had a large production facility in Podolsk and 3,000 stores throughout the empire. Now the Americans decided to build their own skyscraper in St. Petersburg — at least 11 stories high.

But they faced an unexpected problem: by law, no buildings in the capital could be taller than the Winter Palace. This ban had been in effect since Catherine the Great's time and was strictly enforced.

Pavel Syuzor's architectural trick

Architect Pavel Syuzor, who was entrusted with the project, came up with an ingenious solution. The restrictions only applied to the height of the facades — 23.47 meters. However, there were no strict requirements for decorative towers and attics.

Suezor designed a six-story building, but decorated it with an elegant corner tower with a glass dome. Formally, the building did not exceed the permitted height, but visually it looked like a real skyscraper — the first in the history of St. Petersburg.

Construction took two years, from 1902 to 1904. When the scaffolding was removed, the townspeople gasped in amazement. Something unprecedented had appeared on Nevsky Prospekt — true American Art Nouveau in the heart of the imperial capital.

Secrets of the glass globe and bronze Valkyries

Globe with advertising

The tower is crowned by a huge glass globe with a diameter of 2.8 meters — a symbol of the global scale of Singer's activities. It was illuminated from the inside by electricity (which was a novelty in itself), and on the outside it was surrounded by the advertising inscription “Singer & Co.”

It was the first illuminated advertisement in the history of St. Petersburg! In the evenings, the whole of Nevsky Prospect admired the unusual sight — a glowing ball above the rooftops.

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Valkyries with a secret meaning

The corner part of the facade is decorated with bronze Valkyries — the work of sculptors Amandus Adamson and A. L. Ober. In Scandinavian mythology, these warrior maidens were considered the daughters of Odin and personified courage, honesty, and justice.

But the Valkyries of St. Petersburg have a special meaning. Each one holds symbolic objects:

• The first clutches a harpoon — a symbol of seafaring and heavy industry.

• The second holds a spindle and rests her elbow on a sewing machine — a direct reference to Singer's products.

Valkyries stand on the rostra — the bow sections of ancient ships, emphasizing the connection between trade and sea travel.

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American eagle

An eagle, the symbol of the United States, sits on the globe. But its fate turned out to be dramatic. During World War I, when an anti-German campaign unfolded in Russia, the Singer company was accused of espionage. The original eagle was removed in 1917, and the one that adorns the building today is a reconstruction based on surviving photographs.

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The Singer Building in the center of St. Petersburg is not just a beautiful building with Valkyries on top, but a true legend of the city. Somewhere under its ancient arches, they say, secrets are hidden, including those related to Pavel Durov and his projects, although no one can prove it. And in the window on the first floor, a strange globe has been burning for more than a hundred years, shining without interruption, as if guarding time. This place seems to be frozen between myth and reality: on the one hand, there is the architecture of the early 20th century, and on the other, there are mysteries that still stir the imagination.

Technical wonders of the early 20th century

Singer's house was a real technological breakthrough for its time. Pavel Syuzor, who was not only an architect but also an engineer, equipped the building with the latest technology:

• Three Otis elevators — in 1904, this was almost fantastical;

• Safes from the Berlin company Panzer for storing valuables;

• Steam roof cleaning system from snow and ice — developed by Franz San Galli's St. Petersburg firm;

• Hidden drainpipes — they are mounted in the walls so as not to spoil the aesthetics of the facades;

• Electric lighting — including globe lighting.

The book era and secrets of the siege

After the 1917 revolution, the house was nationalized. The American company left Russia, and Soviet publishing houses moved into the building. From 1919, Petrogosizdat (later Lenizdat) worked here, and in 1938, the legendary House of Books opened.

The feat of the blockade

During the siege of Leningrad, the store continued to operate. In early November 1941, a bomb hit the neighboring building, and the blast wave shattered all the glass in the shop windows. But within a few days, the House of Books was once again welcoming customers.

Rare editions from the Public Library's collection were stored in the basement of the building—this is how book treasures were saved from bombing. Employees said that sometimes people would come and just stand among the books — it gave them the feeling that normal life still existed.

Literary regulars

During the Soviet era, the House of Books became a place of pilgrimage for the intelligentsia. Daniil Kharms, Samuil Marshak, Olga Forsh, and Alexei Tolstoy were frequent guests here. Writers came not only for books, but also for inspiration—the atmosphere of the old house was conducive to creativity.

Modern legends: from Durov to secret passages

The IT revolution in the glass tower

Since 2006, the top three floors of the building have been leased by VKontakte. It was here that Pavel Durov and his team created Russia's most popular social network.

The office in the Singer Building became legendary. The meeting room was styled like a torture chamber, and the glass tower housed a relaxation area with Finnish furniture. From here, there was a stunning view of Kazan Cathedral and Nevsky Prospect.

Famous paper airplanes

One of the most vivid legends is associated with Pavel Durov. They say that in 2011, when VKontakte reached a billion-dollar valuation, he threw stacks of money folded into paper airplanes out of the windows of Singer's house. The crowd on Nevsky Prospect went crazy trying to catch the bills.

Durov himself later called it a “social experiment” and a “test of greed.”

Secrets and legends

There are many legends surrounding the building:

• The basements are said to still hold treasures hidden during the revolution.

• There are secret passages leading to Nevsky Prospekt and the Moika Embankment.

• The globe on the roof is not just a decoration, but a secret observatory.

• Valkyries sometimes turn their heads (no one has seen this, but many swear they have heard it).

Mystical coincidences

The Singer Building stands exactly on the Pulkovo meridian — Russia's zero meridian. Perhaps that is why it is crowned with a globe — a symbol of the whole world.

The building survived all the cataclysms of the 20th century: revolution, wars, blockade, perestroika. The globe was removed and restored several times, but it always returned to its place, continuing to shine over Nevsky Prospect.

The House of Books today

In 2022, after lengthy legal battles, the House of Books returned to state ownership and reopened to visitors. The interiors were restored, and the stained glass windows and Venetian plasterwork were repaired.

The new “House of Books” has placed its bets on independent publishers and St. Petersburg authors. Here you can find books that are not available in chain stores, meet young writers, and participate in literary gatherings.

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Architectural heritage

The Singer Building is listed as a cultural heritage site of federal significance. It is a rare example of commercial Art Nouveau architecture in Russia, combining American standards of comfort with St. Petersburg sophistication.

The building became the prototype for many apartment buildings in the early 20th century. Suezor was the first in Russia to apply the principle of multifunctional use: offices, shops, warehouses, and technical equipment were organically placed in one space.

The Singer Building is a real time machine in the city center. Behind its famous facade and glass globe lies not just history, but layers of different eras. This building has never been a frozen monument. It has always lived a full life: from sewing machines and insurance offices to bookshelves and secret IT laboratories.

Today, as a hundred years ago, this house remains a place of attraction. People come here for books, ideas, to simply climb onto the roof or feel the connection between times. It symbolizes the inseparability of the past and the present. Atlanteans and Valkyries still stand guard, watching modern life bustle beneath them.

This building is more than just architecture. It is the keeper of urban legends and living proof that true values never grow old. The Singer Building continues its journey, remaining one of the most recognizable and inspiring symbols of the city, where each era leaves its unique mark.