The Evangelical Women's Hospital was established in 1859 on the initiative of Doctor Karl Karlovich Mayer and was initially located in a rented apartment on Kirochnaya Street. Within a few years, funds were raised to construct a separate building. It was built between 1869 and 1871 according to the design of architects Rudolf Bernhard and Otto Gippius. Throughout its operation, the hospital existed solely on private donations. It is now home to the Research Institute of Phthisiopulmonology.
As Gippius described in the article "The Architect": “The Evangelical Hospital represents an interesting example of private charity. Therefore, it is quite worthwhile to give a brief overview of this institution before describing the building itself. The Evangelical Hospital has existed since 1859. It was founded on the initiative of Doctor Karl Karlovich Mayer. From the very beginning, it was opened with 8 beds in a rented house, No. 3, on Kirochnaya Street. Within a few months, funds were collected that made it possible to start this endeavor. Over 10 years, donations amounted to a capital of 50,000 rubles. The City Duma donated land for the construction of a new building better suited for the hospital. Then the hospital’s main management committee began building its own house and, over approximately two years, raised a capital of 90,000 rubles, with which they were able to erect a large stone building 30 sazhen long in rough form. To continue construction, the committee mortgaged the building to the St. Petersburg Credit Society for 40,000 rubles; this was a very successful transaction, since the rent previously paid for the premises was about the same amount as the payments now made to the credit society. However, these funds were still insufficient to complete the buildings as planned. Meanwhile, monetary donations again reached a certain sum; however, the committee decided to build the entire hospital only after collecting more extensive funds. The hospital plan, differing from all city hospitals in that it is arranged like a private house (maison de santé), without the standard layout of wards along corridors, was designed by the founder. The difficult task of composing a facade for the finished plan was carried out by Professor Bernhard and Academician Gippius.
Since the hospital is maintained by voluntary contributions, without government assistance, the committee wished to give the building such an appearance that would distinguish it from ordinary buildings; this is partly the reason for its Gothic architecture. The turret in the courtyard arose from the design. The staircase inside leads up to the attic, used as a drying room. The building was not intended to be plastered on the outside. Balconies protrude by two, one even by three arshins, for the most convenient placement of recovering patients’ beds. In the wards, excluding corridors, there are 1,700 cubic feet of air per bed. None of the hospital staff receive a salary, including Professor Bernhard, who has been engaged for the third year in erecting the new hospital and refused any remuneration.”
Ultimately, the hospital complex includes:
Main building with a house Lutheran church
1869-1871 – architects Rudolf Bogdanovich Bernhard, Otto Gustavovich von Gippius
Morgue building
1886 – architect Vladimir Vladimirovich Nikolya
Surgical barrack, single-story wooden on a stone basement
1893 – architect Jeronim Sevastyanovich Kitner
Laundry building, two-story brick
1895 – architect Boris Egorovich Furman
Hospital building (surgical department) and residential house
1901-1902 – architect Albert Ivanovich Stünkel
In addition to these buildings, the hospital complex includes the Lutheran Church of Christ the Savior. The church was consecrated in 1874 by Bishop Richter. The two-story church was located in the center of the second floor. The church was decorated in the Gothic style: pointed arches, tall windows, gabled pediments. Grand Duchess Ekaterina Mikhailovna (granddaughter of Paul I) donated an altar stained glass window depicting the Savior and the four evangelists, made in the Sverchkov workshop in Munich. (not preserved) The carved altar and figures of the apostles were donated to the church by Countess O. I. Orlova-Davydova. The panels and church pulpit were made by carpenter Schrader, and the crucifix by bronze caster Dipner. In 1910, an organ by the Walker firm was installed in the church; it is now located in the Catholic church on Koven Lane. The church was used not only by patients and staff but also by local residents—Lutherans. The last pastor before the revolution was Liss. The church was closed in the early 1920s. The furnishings were given to the Russian Lutheran community.
Sources:
https://saint-petersburg.ru/m/thebest/rubin/372284/
O. Gippius. “The Architect,” 1872, Issue 11, pp. 183-184
https://ru-travel.livejournal.com/32386329.html
