A Journey Through Time
It is an atmosphere that shapes the whole trip: comfort, thoughtful details, and access to special privileges make each day truly memorable.
The mansion where the hotel is now located stands on Mokhovaya Street, one of the oldest streets in the city. In the 18th century, this area was inhabited by weavers and craftsmen who worked for the Admiralty and civil shipyard.
During the second half of the 18th century, prosperous merchants settled here, followed by noble families. By the late 19th century, Mokhovaya gradually gained the architectural character we still admire today.
The Mansion
The history of the house begins in 1735, when a wooden estate with a garden stood on this site. Over time, the property passed through several owners from military and civil circles of the Russian Empire.
In 1854, the plot was acquired by Count Andrey Pavlovich Shuvalov. By his order, architect Hermann Paucker built a new three-story mansion and an additional wing.
In 1858, architect Luigi Ferracini redesigned the facade and enlarged the upper-level windows, giving the building a brighter and more ceremonial look.
In 1912, the mansion was inherited by Elizaveta Vorontsova-Dashkova, daughter of Count Shuvalov. She commissioned architect Ivan Fomin to create new interiors in an elegant neoclassical style.
The building on Mokhovaya was used as an income house. Among its residents was composer and musicologist Boris Asafiev, who lived here from 1909 to 1917. Ceremonial rooms remained in the family estate zone.
After a fire in 1913, Fomin carried out major restoration and redecoration works. The house received updated interiors, electricity, telephone lines, and an elevator.
The Vorontsov-Dashkov family left Russia in 1919, and the mansion stood partially abandoned for years. During the Siege of Leningrad, the building suffered severe shelling damage. On November 14, 1941, an aerial bomb struck the house, causing major destruction.
After World War II, the condition of the mansion remained critical: damaged walls, lost facade elements, broken glazing, and ruined interiors. Restoration attempts were made over decades, often without a permanent owner.
Today, the carefully restored building with preserved heritage elements has entered a new chapter as ACADEMIA Shuvaloff Mansion.
Coat of Arms of the Shuvalov Family
The rise of the Shuvalov family was closely connected with Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. In 1746, the family coat of arms was officially approved, emphasizing their new status in imperial society.
The heraldic composition combines symbols of service, honor, and dynastic continuity, and remains one of the iconic visual signs of the family legacy.
Mansion in the 21st Century
Restoration of the mansion was based on historical archives, heritage requirements, and careful conservation of surviving details. The goal was to preserve character, not imitate it.
Today, historical rooms coexist with contemporary comfort: restored plasterwork, classical proportions, and modern engineering systems form a single living environment.
ACADEMIA Shuvaloff Mansion is now a place where guests can experience the atmosphere of aristocratic Saint Petersburg in a meaningful and comfortable way.