Incredible 26,000 Piece, 16,146 sqft 3D Printed Model of 18th Century St. Petersburg, Russia

September 5, 2014 by Heidi Milkert 3D Design 3D Printing

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We have seen several interesting models of cities constructed via 3D printing. We saw LeapFrog print a massive model of ‘The Forbidden City’, while Autodesk teamed with real estate developer Tishman Speyer on a project to 3D print a scaled down version of San Francisco. Both projects were large in scale, and really showed off the potential that 3D printing has in both design and city planning.

In comes Russia, the largest country in the world by land mass. They could not possibly be outdone by a couple of American companies, right? Outdone they were not. An enormous representation of 18th century St. Petersburg, one that is a staggering 16,146 square feet in size, encompassing an area the size of six above average homes, is now on display at a museum located in a shopping center near the Admiralty Metro station in St. Pertersburg.

The incredible 1:87 scale reproduction cost a staggering $5 million to build, with a large portion of the 26,000+ pieces being created via 3D printing, prior to being painted. Also the creators used other sophisticated technologies such as 3D milling, laser cutting and engraving tools. To get an idea of the enormity of this exhibit, there are over 1,000 feet of roadway, 1,000 different buildings, 25,000 people, and 20 tons of water which make up the massive creation.

St. Petersburg, the city which was founded at 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, was the capital of Russia between the years of 1713–1728 and 1732–1918. The modern city strays quite far from that which was teaming with horses and buggies some 300 years ago.

“It is important that the young people in St. Petersburg can be able to come here and see a visual example of the city, to study the life and features of St. Petersburg three centuries ago. It is necessary to instill a love in young people, for their city and country of origin. Then they will grow to become true citizens of Russia, patriots of the Fatherland. I am convinced that in St. Petersburg there needs to be such sites, where there is a fun, interactive way to learn about the past. Thanks to the authors layout ‘Peter Water area’ for their enthusiasm and the creation of this unique exhibition,” stated(translated from Russian) the head of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Vyacheslav Makarov.

As you can see from the video and images provided, the 1:87 scale model features everything from ships, to buildings, to animals, ballet dancers, horses and carriages, and much more. As one progresses throughout the exhibit, the seasons change, and when night falls, light illuminates the walkways and ships. There are also several areas where the exhibit comes alive at the push of a button. Children playing, people skating, weddings taking place, and ships moving throughout the maritime city.

For those interested in visiting the amazing museum, it is open seven days a week. Admission is 400 and 450 rubles for adults on weekdays and weekends, and 200 and 250 rubles for children. Let’s hear your thoughts on this incredible $5 million piece of work, created in part by 3D printers, in the 3D printed St Petersburg forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out the video below to get an idea of the enormity of this incredible exhibit.