Tauride Palace Orangery - Exhibition Hall "Flowers" is an orangery located in the Central District of Saint Petersburg, at the corner of Shpalernaya and Potemkinskaya streets, adjacent to the Tauride Garden.

The history of the orangery is closely linked to the fate of the Tauride Palace, of which it was a part of the garden for a long time.

Construction of the Tauride Palace began in 1782 by order of Catherine II. According to the Empress’s plan, a "Palm" orangery was to adjoin the palace. The orangery building on Potemkinskaya Street was laid in 1784 almost simultaneously with the start of the palace construction.

For various reasons, many difficulties arose during the construction of the orangery, and it underwent constant reconstructions. At the end of the eighteenth century, architect Volkov built a two-story "Gardener’s House" with porticoes, around which greenhouses began to be erected. However, only in 1889 was a full-fledged orangery arranged here for palms, oleanders, and laurels. The founder of horticulture on Potemkinskaya Street was the famous English garden architect William Gould.

In 1928-1930, the orangery fell into a state of disrepair, was dismantled, and transferred to the Botanical Garden, where it remains to this day. In its place, in 1935, a palm orangery was installed, transported from the former royal gardening estate in Tsarskoye Selo — architect Alexander Bach, 1900.

During the Great Patriotic War, the building was severely damaged. It was only in 1977 that it was reconstructed, and the "Flowers" Exhibition Hall opened in the orangery.

In 2005–2006, the exhibition hall was closed for reconstruction.

From 2006 until the end of 2009, it was constantly open to visitors. At the exhibition, one could not only see various flowers, including exotic ones, but also purchase favorite specimens. The hall regularly hosted exhibitions of ornamental plants as well as sale days. The "Flowers" Exhibition Hall was not only a bright landmark of Saint Petersburg but also a favorite spot for newlyweds due to its proximity to the Marriage Palace on Furshtatskaya Street.

In 2005, a project was developed to build a residential complex of four buildings in the Tauride Garden, according to which the old building of the "Palm," or Imperial, orangery was to be preserved but repurposed — the developer planned to place an internet café there. The project repeatedly sparked debates and public protests. However, in November 2009, the Governor of Saint Petersburg, Valentina Matviyenko, officially stated that the orangery would neither be demolished nor repurposed.

The orangery gained additional fame thanks to cinema. More than twenty-five films shot scenes here, including "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson," "The Musketeers Twenty Years After," and "The Gentleman Decorator."

In the film "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson," episode "Deadly Fight," the orangery played the role of the Lowser Passage.

Sources:

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Цветы_(выставочный_зал,_Санкт-Петербург)

https://www.citywalls.ru/house4267.html

https://www.221b.ru/geo/4-flowers.htm

https://dubikvit.livejournal.com/18414.html