William Heste
Encyclopedia
William Hastie was a Russia
n architect
, civil engineer
and town planner of Scottish
descent. His name is also transliterated back from Russian as William Heste or, seldom, Vasily Heste.
William Hastie was born either at 1753 or at 1763. (A service list from year 1822 lists Heste as 69, hence 1753, but Peterburg Necropolis
lists his as born in 1763). He came to Russia in 1784 with the group of 73 Scottish craftsmen hired in Edinburgh
by Charles Cameron
to work on construction sites in Tsarskoe Selo. Hastie and his compatriot Adam Menelaws
made most illustrious career among this group, becoming notable professional architects.
Hastie never returned to Scotland, and instead in 1792 he entered the service of the Russian Imperial Chancellery
, designing model buildings for mass construction. In July 1795 he joined the Yekaterinoslav Governorate
administration as its chief architect; in particular, in Crimea
Hastie surveyed the Bakhchisaray Palace
and other Tatar and Greek relics. Hastie left the southern provinces in June 1799, but returned to their architecture in 1810s, producing a master plan for the redevelopment of Yekaterinoslav, which was approved in 1817 and generally followed throughout the 19th century.
After serving in Yekaterinoslav Governorate
, he returned to Saint Petersburg
in 1803, and joined Charles Gascoigne
as his assistant on the construction site of Izhorsky Zavod
. Hastie is credited with designing and building the plant office building and, together with Gascoigne, with building the dam across Izhora River
. Here Hastie acquired practical skills in metalworking and bridge engineering.
In February 1805 Hastie returned to Saint Petersburg and was assigned to building bridges over the city's small rivers. There Heste built Blue
, Green
, Red
and Potseluev
bridges. They were the first bridges in Saint Petersburg to be built from iron cast. From 1808 to 1832 Heste was the head architect of Tsarskoe Selo. He created general plan of construction in the town. From 1810 Heste was involved in most urban constructions in Russia. William Hastie died on June 4, 1832.
After the 1812 fire of Moscow
which destroyed three quarters of the city Hastie was the first to propose a detailed redevelopment plan. He was, however, rejected for disregarding historical background of the city.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and town planner of Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
descent. His name is also transliterated back from Russian as William Heste or, seldom, Vasily Heste.
William Hastie was born either at 1753 or at 1763. (A service list from year 1822 lists Heste as 69, hence 1753, but Peterburg Necropolis
Tikhvin Cemetery
Tikhvin Cemetery is located at the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, in Saint Petersburg, Russia.Established in 1823, some of the notables buried here are:* Mily Balakirev - , composer* Alexander Borodin - , composer...
lists his as born in 1763). He came to Russia in 1784 with the group of 73 Scottish craftsmen hired in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
by Charles Cameron
Charles Cameron (architect)
Charles Cameron was a Scottish architect who made an illustrious career at the court of Catherine II of Russia. Cameron, practitioner of early neoclassical architecture, was the chief architect of Tsarskoye Selo and Pavlovsk palaces and the adjacent new town of Sophia from his arrival in Russia in...
to work on construction sites in Tsarskoe Selo. Hastie and his compatriot Adam Menelaws
Adam Menelaws
Adam Menelaws, also spelled Menelas was an architect and landscape designer of Scottish origin, active in the Russian Empire from 1784 to 1831...
made most illustrious career among this group, becoming notable professional architects.
Hastie never returned to Scotland, and instead in 1792 he entered the service of the Russian Imperial Chancellery
His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery
His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancery or H.I.M. Own Chancery began as personal chancery of Pavel I and grew into a kind of regent's office, run by Count Arakcheyev from 1815 and until the death of Alexander I of Russia....
, designing model buildings for mass construction. In July 1795 he joined the Yekaterinoslav Governorate
Yekaterinoslav Governorate
The Yekaterinoslav Governorate or Government of Yekaterinoslav was a governorate in the Russian Empire. Its capital was the city of Yekaterinoslav .-Administrative divisions:...
administration as its chief architect; in particular, in Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
Hastie surveyed the Bakhchisaray Palace
Bakhchisaray Palace
The Khan's Palace or Hansaray is located in the town of Bakhchisaray, Crimea, Ukraine. It was built in the 16th century and became home to a succession of Crimean Khans. The walled enclosure contains a mosque, a harem, a cemetery, living quarters and gardens. The palace interior has been decorated...
and other Tatar and Greek relics. Hastie left the southern provinces in June 1799, but returned to their architecture in 1810s, producing a master plan for the redevelopment of Yekaterinoslav, which was approved in 1817 and generally followed throughout the 19th century.
After serving in Yekaterinoslav Governorate
Yekaterinoslav Governorate
The Yekaterinoslav Governorate or Government of Yekaterinoslav was a governorate in the Russian Empire. Its capital was the city of Yekaterinoslav .-Administrative divisions:...
, he returned to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
in 1803, and joined Charles Gascoigne
Charles Gascoigne
Charles Gascoigne was a British industrialist at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. He was a partner and manager of the Carron Company ironworks in its early years, but left in 1786, before the company's success became obvious, to reorganise the production of iron and cannon in Russia...
as his assistant on the construction site of Izhorsky Zavod
Izhorsky Zavod
Izhorskiye Zavody or Izhora Plants is a Russian machine building joint stock company belonging to the OMZ Group. It operates a major manufacturing plant in Kolpino, Saint Petersburg.-History:...
. Hastie is credited with designing and building the plant office building and, together with Gascoigne, with building the dam across Izhora River
Izhora River
The Izhora , also known as Inger River, is a left tributary of the Neva River on its run through Ingria in northwestern Russia from Lake Ladoga to Gulf of Finland. A settlement of Ust-Izhora is situated at the confluence of Izhora and Neva, halfway between Saint Petersburg and Schlisselburg. The...
. Here Hastie acquired practical skills in metalworking and bridge engineering.
In February 1805 Hastie returned to Saint Petersburg and was assigned to building bridges over the city's small rivers. There Heste built Blue
Blue Bridge (Saint Petersburg)
The Blue Bridge , is a 97.3 metre wide bridge that spans the Moika River in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Blue Bridge is the widest bridge in Saint Petersburg and is sometimes claimed to be the widest bridge in the world — a claim, however, that has not been recognized by international reference...
, Green
Green Bridge (Saint Petersburg)
Green Bridge is a bridge across Moika River in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It was the first cast iron bridge in the city....
, Red
Red Bridge
The Red Bridge , is a single-span bridge across the Moika River in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The bridge is a part of Gorokhovaya Street. The length of the bridge is 42 m; the width is 16.8 m....
and Potseluev
Potseluev Bridge
The Potseluev Bridge is a bridge across the Moyka River in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The name of the bridge spurred numerous urban legends. The panoramic view of Saint Isaac's Cathedral that opens from the bridge makes it a popular subject of artists paintings....
bridges. They were the first bridges in Saint Petersburg to be built from iron cast. From 1808 to 1832 Heste was the head architect of Tsarskoe Selo. He created general plan of construction in the town. From 1810 Heste was involved in most urban constructions in Russia. William Hastie died on June 4, 1832.
After the 1812 fire of Moscow
Fire of Moscow (1812)
The 1812 Fire of Moscow broke out on September 14, 1812 in Moscow on the day when Russian troops and most residents abandoned the city and Napoleon's vanguard troops entered the city following the Battle of Borodino...
which destroyed three quarters of the city Hastie was the first to propose a detailed redevelopment plan. He was, however, rejected for disregarding historical background of the city.