The Scotsman

The architectural firm behind the Scottish Parliament has won an international competition to build a controversial giant skyscraper in the heart of St Petersburg. Edinburgh-based RMJM beat five rival international architects to land the £2.4 billion contract to design and construct what is labelled "Gazprom-City". Yet even before a single shovel of earth has been dug, the project has been accused of cultural vandalism by critics who wish to preserve the historic appearance of the Russian city famed for its palaces and canals. Despite legislation restricting city buildings to a height of 48 metres, the new tower, which will house the offices of Gazprom, the state-controlled energy firm, will reach a height of 396 metres, taller than the Eiffel Tower. The design, conceived by Tony Kettle, UK managing director of RMJM, is of a high twisting glass needle, which will change colour according to the light. It was chosen by a jury which included Alexei Miller, the chief executive of Gazprom and the British architect Sir Norman Foster.