Russia culture mogul calls skyscraper an eyesore

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, Nov 28 (Reuters) One of Russia's most respected cultural custodians urged gas giant Gazprom to drop its plans to build a 300-metre-high skyscraper in St Petersburg's historic centre.

Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the world-renowned Hermitage Museum, said yesterday if the skyscraper is built it will wreck the ''unique aura'' that brings millions of tourists each year to a city know as the ''Venice of the north.'' Piotrovsky is a formidable opponent even for Gazprom, a state-run monopoly worth 0 billion. Russian President Vladimir Putin decorated him this month for services to the state and he is at the heart of the Russian establishment.

''In the (United Arab) Emirates they build new skyscrapers, and then 15 years later pull them down. This architecture ages very quickly. Is this really what we want?'' Piotrovsky wrote in the St Petersburg Vedomosti newspaper.

''Our historical centre is unique, it is small ... and we have an obligation to protect it.'' ''Visitors get pleasure from the unique aura of St Petersburg...

If we destroy its aura, we will loose the economic foundation for our future existence,'' said Piotrovsky, whose father also ran the city's Hermitage.

Gazprom is opening a new headquarters in St Petersburg, Putin's native city.

It has shortlisted seven celebrated architects including Britain's Richard Rogers, and Germany's Daniel Libeskind, who is collaborating on a new tower on the site of the World Trade Centre in New York.

The St Petersburg project, called ''Gazprom City,'' has provoked a storm of criticism from people who say such a tall building -- it will be only about 24 metres shorter than the Eiffel Tower in Paris -- would not fit in with the city skyline.

The centre of St Petersburg is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site and is made up almost entirely of low-rise 18th and 19th century buildings.

Supporters of ''Gazprom City'' say St Petersburg needs investment and cannot afford to turn its back on change.

Piotrovksy's reputation was dented this year when it emerged hundreds of artefacts had gone missing from the Hermitage, though there is no evidence he was involved. The husband of a curator is awaiting trial for theft.

REUTERS SP PM1122