St. Petersburg is known not only for its palaces and monuments. An inseparable part of the city’s history is also its grey belt—the industrial developments surrounding the cultural center. At first glance, there may seem to be nothing remarkable about these districts. Factories pollute the environment, and the wastelands between them are filled with stray dogs. It is also quite easy to run into conflict here. Yet every day thousands of people come to this area for work.

By sunset, the ordinary picture changes. The workers leave the streets, and the buildings and uniform fences gradually begin to burst with color. The photographs capture how textures and volumes reveal themselves in the rare lighting of street lamps. The colorless melancholy transforms into a joyful palette, hidden from most, for at night the industrial districts sleep.

The grey zone of St. Petersburg is so vast that it is impossible to imagine the city without it. Yet today it is disappearing at a rapid pace—undoubtedly improving the environment and opening space for new construction. Of course, the gradual decline of these districts has its advantages, but the loss of the beauty that can be found only here is disheartening. These photographs aim to preserve that beauty for those who will never have the chance to witness it in person.