Market Friday: Passage Shopping Gallery

The gray sky hung low overhead, and no sooner had I taken a hundred steps down Italian Street than it started to rain. I didn't have my umbrella with me, I hoped to get through before it started to rain. I didn't want to get wet, so I had to find a temporary shelter. I ran quickly past the theater entrance and ducked into the warm light of the Passage shopping gallery.

If it hadn't rained, it was unlikely I would have made it out to this store anytime soon. Jewelry, perfumes, and souvenirs are not an assortment of goods that apply to my daily needs. But this store is very beautiful, with historic interiors.

A short historical background.

The department store building was built in 1846-1848 years, architect R.Zhelyazevich. On the first floor of the building warehouses were located, on the second - shop premises, on the third - apartments. In 1899 - 1901 the building was reconstructed by architect S. Kozlov. The fourth floor was added, the area of trade premises increased. During the Soviet period the Passage became the state department store. In 1934 the building was partly re-planned according to the project of N. Trotsky. Stairs and bridge-junction between the galleries were installed, as well as the hall on the third floor with light windows was reconstructed. In 1961 the first department store for women in the USSR was opened in Passage.

Alexey Kanis. A colossal bull's head

After reading the historical reference it seems that everything inside has been greatly rebuilt many times, but if you look at the drawings and old photographs, it becomes clear that all the architects worked very carefully, trying to preserve as much as possible. As a result of the changes, the building became much more comfortable, more modern engineering solutions were applied, specially equipped warehouses appeared, elevators and escalators were built, other improvements were made, but the interior has changed very little. In the middle of the nineteenth century this gallery looked almost as it does now.

As a place to shelter from the weather, the Passage is ideal. The central hall is not even really a hall, it looks like a covered street. From above, through the glass ceiling, light pours in, but it doesn't rain. Instead of the usual urban linden trees, palm trees grow in tubs. There are wooden benches along the hall and a small café on the second floor. And right near the entrance you can admire the art and study the theater posters.

Upstairs you can take the elevator or one of the stairs. The central staircase, wide and with gentle steps, is in the center of the hall. In the back of the smaller stores, you can consider passageways to other staircases, not as wide, but also beautiful.

But my favorite way to get to the upper floors in this building is the escalator under the personal glass roof. To get up that way, I had to turn into a perfume store and walk through all those sweet scents that make me dizzy.

I went down the central staircase. On the wide stairwells found a place for a store selling fabrics, souvenirs, and funny dolls.

This is my entry for the #marketfriday challenge by @dswigle.