Author Topic: Grand Staircase?  (Read 3459 times)

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Architecture_Nut

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Grand Staircase?
« on: March 10, 2006, 03:35:10 PM »
I am very unfamiliar with the interiors of the AP...I was just wondering, does it have a grand staircase? If so, are there any images of it then and/or now?
« Last Edit: April 07, 2009, 07:13:37 AM by Sarushka »

Offline Ortino

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Re: Interior Question
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2006, 05:11:14 PM »
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I am very unfamiliar with the interiors of the AP...I was just wondering, does it have a grand staircase? If so, are there any images of it then and/or now?


Not that I'm aware of.....it has several smaller staircases that lead to the second floor.

Offline Sarushka

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Re: Interior Question
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2006, 05:59:15 PM »
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I am very unfamiliar with the interiors of the AP...

Some threads you may find helpful:
Floorplans of the Alexander Palace
Interior watercolors of the AP
Pictures of the Interiors as they were
Alexander Palace interiors

Offline BobAtchison

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Re: Interior Question
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2006, 09:45:43 PM »
There is no grand staiurcase because the Alexander Palace is unique among Romanov palaces in being built with the main floor at ground level.  The central entrance to the palace is quite modest, you walk right in - this was an intentional part of the design and Catherine's choice for Alexander's palace.  All the Imperial life of the palace was intended to take place on this ground floor - 'level' with the rest of mankind.

One should think of the space between the colonnade and the central entrance as an open air ante-chamber.  In fact this is how Catherine used it when she greeted Alexander and Elizabeth at the door when she presented the palace to them along wuth the traditional bread and salt in June 1796.