The unique architecture of St. Petersburg is defined by indissoluble tie of its architectural ensembles and water expanses of the Neva . Taking into consideration the extreme monotony of land relief, the wide perspectives of the large river played the key role in the city's layout.

The role of the Neva in city's landscapes is clearly seen in building of the Vasilievsky Island , that started soon after the foundation of the city and was completed in the first quarter of the 19 th century. The artistic idea of the composition is the contrast between impressive horizontal granite embankment with descents to the Neva and dominating central building of the Stock Exchange with its regular, majestic colonnades and vertical lines of Rostrum Columns, whoser splendid silhouettes look very impressive in the sky.

In 1803-1804 the architect Zakharov had designed the building plan, that became the base of the present layout. At the same time the architect Tomon designed the project of the Stock Exchange, re-casting the antique pattern of peripter – a building with columns on every side. Later he designed Rostrum Columns with sculptures, representing allegoric images of the Neva and Volhov rivers at the foot.