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In the centre of St Petersburg, Russia, there is a tiny island surrounded by the Moika River and the Kryukov and Admiralteisky canals. The island is called Novaya Gollandiya which translates to mean ‘New Holland.'

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Entrance to Holland Island

This little island, which for decades was closed to the public, opened as a public park last year. The triangular islet has a rich history. It was originally a lumber store for Peter the Great’s prodigious shipbuilding programme, which explains the red brick barracks and the giant warehouses that dominate the island. When Peter moved on, part of the island was converted into a prison known as the bottle because of its resemblance to a bottle neck.

The Bottle

Since then a number of people have tried to transform the site with varying success. Most recently, however, Roman Abramovich’s asset management company Millhouse LLC won the right to open it as a park and cultural destination and the result is fabulous.

The Bottle is now a multidisciplinary building. the first floor is home to bars, cafes and all things food. The second floor is dedicated to fashion and design projects. There is also a record store and a Garage book store.

Bottle House interior

The park includes an art museum which features contemporary work picked out by Abramovich’s wife, Dasha Zhukova. Art installations are commissioned to transform the park each summer. This year Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics created the Firebird Descent Art Installation. Giant multi-coloured wings span out over the park from a central point in the Island’s reservoir. In total, the installation occupies over 10,000 square meters of space and is the city’s first public art work at this scale.

Firebird Descent Art Installation

 A stage designed by architect Sergey Bukin hosts performances from bands and orchestras, theatrical troupes, performances and summer movies on the big screen. The stage is a work of art in itself. It is made from larch wood that has been treated using the special Japanese technique of shou sugi ban. This process involves charring timber, before coating it with oil and then tinting it with the desired colour.

For little ones, there is The Frigate, a playground designed in the shape of a wooden ship by West 8 architects in collaboration with Richter. The playground is inspired by the hull of the frigate ship The Petr and Pavel. The replica is a smaller version of the original ship and split into different play sections. Kids can pretend to be pirates and sailors by playing with ropes, steering wheels, telescopes and slides.

The Frigate

Parents wanting some rest bite from the excitement of the playground can relax in a sprawling herb garden located outside the Foundry Building. Dill, thyme, lemon balm, lavender, and mint all create a soothing ambience. Alongside the herbs, there is a large basin in the middle of the island which is now home to large water lilies but used to serve as the location where the first USSR submarines were developed.

The Foundry Building was originally designed by the architect Savva Chevakinsky and legend has it that it was the birth place of Peter the Greats first structures. Over the years it suffered significant damage but was restored for the park opening. Now it is known as Kuznya House club and restaurant. It is the heart of the islands social and cultural activity.

The Foundry Building

Visitors to the island can also enjoy yoga and ballet studios and a number of bars and restaurants. Over the summer there is a range of activities to get involved in, including exhibitions, a film festival and informative lectures.

One thing is for sure, you wouldn’t get bored if you were stranded on this little Island.