A decorated hall in Grand Palace in Peterhof. Near Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 22, 2005
Decorations of White Hall of Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 8, 2009
Marble decorations in Pavilion Hall in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 19, 2015
Decorated ceiling of the Large Italian Skylight Hall in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 22, 2005
Details of a decorated metal shield in Knight Hall in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 1, 2010
Decorated brass shield in Knight Hall in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 1, 2010
Decorations of White Hall in Gatchina Palace. Gatchina, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 17, 2015
Decorated ceiling of Twenty-Column Hall in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 10, 2009
Decorated hall in Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 4, 2013
Decorated waiting hall in Vitebsky Vokzal (train station). Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 10, 2010
Decorated dome in Pavilion Hall in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 19, 2015
Side decorations of a hall of Vitebsky Train Station. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 29, 2007
Decorated wall of entrance hall in Vitebsky Vokzal (train station). Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 10, 2010
Decorations of Armorial Hall (Gerbovy Zal, Emblem Hall) in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 19, 2015
A decoration in Alexander Hall in Hermitage museum (Winter Palace). Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 22, 2005
Decorated hall in Gatchina Palace. Gatchina, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 12, 2013
Decoration of Armory Hall in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 17, 2014
Prayer hall decorated by geometric patterns of Education City Mosque. Doha, Qatar, June 28, 2016
Decoration over the entrance of Agricultural Engineering Building (Scoates Hall, 1932) on campus of Texas A and M University. College Station, Texas, October 21, 2012
Decorated tiles in ceramics hall in Stieglitz Museum of Applied Arts. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 18, 2016
Hall on the Island in Catherine Park, view from Ferry Crossing. It was originally built in the late 1740s by the architect Savva Chevakinsky in the Baroque style, with decorations based on sketches by Rastrelli. In 1794, under Catherine the Great, the architect Giacomo Quarenghi completely rebuilt it in the Classical style. He simplified the decor, giving it the restrained, elegant appearance seen today--white walls, large arched windows, and a modest green roof. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
So~prus Cinema (Kino So~prus). The building is a striking example of Stalinist Empire style (Socialist Classicism) architecture, completed in 1955. Its grand fac,ade features a curved colonnade of octagonal columns and decorative reliefs symbolizing various arts and industries. Originally designed by architect Friedrich Wendach, the project was completed by Peeter Tarvas and August Volberg after Wendach was repressed by Soviet authorities. The name "So~prus" means "friendship" in Estonian. Some sources suggest it was named to mark improved relations between the Soviet Union and China at the time. In the 1990s, financial difficulties led to the closure of one hall, which was converted into a nightclub and casino. Today, the building houses both the cinema and the popular Club Hollywood. Tallinn, Estonia, October 16, 2025
This wide-angle view of Pikk Street (Pikk ta"nav) showcases a striking contrast of architectural styles, featuring two of the street s most notable buildings at addresses Pikk 18 and Pikk 20. The Dragon Gallery (Pikk 18): To the right stands one of Tallinn s most eccentric Art Nouveau masterpieces, designed by architect Jacques Rosenbaum and completed in 1910. Its fac,ade is a riot of symbolism, featuring two large dragons flanking the ground-floor window (hence the name "Draakoni Galerii") and Egyptian-inspired sphinxes and female figures on the upper levels. The curved bay window and elaborate curvilinear gable are hallmarks of Rosenbaum s highly decorative style. It currently houses an art gallery run by the Estonian Artists Association. On the left is the St. Canute s Guild Hall (Kanuti Gildi Hoone). This complex facade, with its statues of St. Canute (King of Denmark) and Martin Luther, dates to a major reconstruction in the 1860s in the Tudor Gothic style. Historically, this was the headquarters for the Guild of St. Canute, which organized the city s master artisans (goldsmiths, hatters, bakers, etc.). Today, it functions as the Kanuti Gildi SAAL, a contemporary performing arts center, October 16, 2025
Estonian Theatre for Young Audiences (formerly known as the NUKU Theatre), located at the corner of Lai 1 and Nunne streets. This corner building is a fine example of early 20th-century architecture (completed in 1907), originally built for the Nobility Club. It blends Neo-Renaissance elements (like the balcony) with Art Nouveau influences (evident in the curved corner and roofline). The warm uplighting emphasizes its elegant proportions and decorative cornice. The building houses Estonia s only professional puppet theatre, founded in 1952, and the Museum of Puppetry Arts. The museum entrance is typically around the corner or through the main glass doors seen here. The theatre complex has expanded over the years to include modern performance halls while retaining its historic fac,ade. The view looks down Nunne Street towards the Toompea hill area. To the right, you can see the edge of the city wall fortifications. The street is paved with traditional cobblestones, and the scene is quiet, likely captured in the late evening or early morning. Tallinn, Estonia, October 16, 2025
