Floorplans of the Alexander Palace

[EmmyLee]

You're right about the proposed facade plan for the palace had it been built in St. Petersburg. I just found it.

[G.Michael]

From what I understand it was budget and space that was the ultimate deciding factor but I also understand that Catherine by that time in her life largely lived at Tsarskoe Selo and she preferred Alexander to be close. His mother lived at Yelagin in the city. Also the Alexander Palace was meant to be a Summer residence. I think in the city Alexander lived at the Winter Palace or at Kemensotrovsky (traditional home of the heir) but I could be wrong.

Also, from what I understand, the design was watered down to avoid overshadowing the heir's relatively modest palace at Pavlovsk. Some members of the court didn't think it was appropriate for Alexander's palace to outshine his father's.

Am I right to assume that the original site in St. Petersburg would've been the location of the old Summer Palace, where Paul eventually built the Mikhailovsky Castle?

[Maria the Beautiful]

Wow!  I just spent the entire afternoon re-reading this entire thread from when I first joined this forum in 2009.   Since that time, after learning so much more about AP and it's story, these plans and legends mean so much more to me.   You folks are truly incredible!  I can't wait to print out all these plans tomorrow.

I have a question - hope this is the correct thread to post this.   What is the story of Alexandra's balcony.   At what point did it cease to exist?   Was it also one of the "victims" of the Nazi occupation?  I know it wasn't original to the palace, but since it was so much a part of the IF's daily lives, are there plans to restore it?    I apologize if this was answered somewhere else on the forum.

[Maria the Beautiful]

I have found reference to my question of the balcony.   Please disregard my last post.   

[Brassov]

I'm not sure where to ask this question, so I am putting it here.
How many doorways were, or are, there in the Palace ? I can only find 5, excluding balcony doors in both wings, which are of course now gone. Entrances to the right and left wings, the collonade entrances, and the Circular Hall. Surprisingly few.
I am assuming that the " back" door to the family wing was the one most often used, and used by the family only ?
I am not sure who used the collonade entrances. Possibly as entry and exit for dinners and receptions. I cant imagine guests using the family entrance.
The door onto the steps of the circular hall must have been used as a means of getting to that part of the garden. Of course this was the door through which the family left for the last time, as opposed to their usual exit out the back. Possibly because it was the only room big enough to contain all the luggage they took with them to Tobolsk. Also I wonder which door was used by Nicholas as exit and entry when he went on his daily walks. Must have been the family entrance perhaps.   
Just an interesting thought.   

[Sarushka]

I have the impression there was also a doorway out the back of the semi-circular hall, although it's not marked as such on the AP plans I have. I believe it was this entrance that was unlocked for the family's daily walks while under house arrest in 1917. Is this the one you're referring to as the family entrance?

[Brassov]

No I'm referring to the door which exits the family quarters at the back end of the left wing. The middle door of the semi circular hall was the one used for their departure to Tobolsk.

[Kiwi]

Can we go back to the "ice machine" question for a moment. 

I was told by my mother, that my grandfather was sent by his father, representing a Chicago/Northern Illinois firm, as a lead machinist to install refrigeration equipment at the summer palace in St. Petersburg.  The installation (supposedly) began in late summer 1916, but was interrupted in 1917 ...

The family was originally Danish, but were apparently polyglots (including Russian).   The refrigeration equipment company was represented in Russia by Y. Sommersalo & Co. (Helsinki), and W. O. Lucas Co. of Chicago, Riga, Berlin, Helsinki, Oslo and St. Petersburg.  I wish I had more details, and a complete paper trail.  I only have applications to the U.S. State Department, asking for a specific visa to travel to Russia (as was needed by all travelers during WWI),. 

[Alexandre Mikhaelovitch]

Futures floorplans of Alexander Palace for 2018 after the restoration : (for high resolution click on once , and once again)







2 sectional drawings :





Marble paving plan of the courtyard behind the columns :

[Reco]

[Joanna]

Documents from the beginning referred to the Alexander Palace as the “New Palace”. It was only in August 1856 that Alexander II ordered that the palace be officially called “Alexander”.

Y.V. Zakharzhevsky told officials that when the Emperor when in Tsarksoe Selo on August 7th, “His Majesty has deigned to command that the New Palace of Tsarskoe Selo to be called Alexander Palace”. [RSHA F. 487]

At that time it was decided to name the wings – left facing private garden, right facing road. (English readers are familiar with the opposite descriptions – a bit confusing when reading Russian)

Joanna

[pers]

Is there a sectional drawing of the "courtyard side" in comparison to the "garden side" of the Palace?

It would be great to see that as well...

[TheLionandTheEagle]

Since a lot of the images and links on this thread are older, they often no longer work. I was wondering if anyone has a floorplan of the second floor of the left wing as it was when the IF lived there.

Thank you so much!

[EmHarms]

Bumping this old thread in hopes it will become active again...

I'm hoping to find more about these floor plans, particularly the rooms of Derevenko & Nagorny. Anyone able to help or point me in the right direction?