Adam Adamovich Menelas
(1753-1831)

The Scottish stonemason Adam Adamovich Menelas helped Russia discover Gothic architecture. The Russian government invited him to St Petersburg in 1784, where British construction technology and expertise were much appreciated at the time. Having initially joined his compatriot Charles Cameron in Tsarskoe Selo, Menelas left the job in mid-1785, and took an apprenticeship under N.A. Lvov, who would become his patron and mentor. For nearly 18 years after that, Menelas would build exclusively to Lvov's design. From 1794 on, Menelas was officially listed as an architect; in 1798, he found a job as an architect with the School of Practical Agriculture in Tsarskoe Selo. Joining forces with the draughtsman I. Ivanov, Menelas created several magnificent structures in the landscaped part of the Alexandrovsky Park in Tsarskoe Selo, some of which still stand. His buildings include the pavilion, dairy and cow shed at the Tsarskoe Selo farm, and the White Tower, Lamskoy and Arsenal pavilions in the park. Menelas' penchant for Gothic architecture would become even more pronounced in his later buildings at Tsarskoe Selo, created during the reign of Nicholas I.

Along with Gothic and austere Classical buildings, Menelas created a number of structures amply decorated in the Empire style. One example are the cast-iron eagle statues on top of the Alexandrovsky Gate, which had originally been built at the Lamskoy Pavilion.

Although Adam Menelas has not given St Petersburg any grandiose architectural masterpieces, the romantic ambience of Tsarskoe Selo's gardens and parks would not be the same without his buildings.