Semicircular square in Tver as a specimen of evolution of the volume and space composition of Catherine the Great`s time

The present paper considers on the basis of numeral sources an architectural ensemble of one of the main squares of the central part of Tver. Organized in 1760-es it is a bright example of medieval city planning structure transformation on the ground of “regular” town-planning principles laid into the background of many Russian cities’ reformation in the times of Catherine the Second. In this respect Tver was actually a pioneer for it became the first city after Saint Petersburg where new planning standards were approbated. After a period of a relative calm in the renewal of city constructions, the Semicircular Square had gradually started to change its image since 1840-es. An increase of storeys’ number of the buildings situated there had started since the late of the 19th century, and this process didn’t stop until the middle of the 20th century. This process ran parallel to the modification of stylistics of all the constructions of the square. Along with this process new architectural and decorative forms not all the time were used in the original buildings because some constructions of the times of Catherine the Great gave place to buildings of later time. But in spite of such cardinal changes in architectural image of the square buildings the town-planning significance of this ensemble still remains rather relevant one in the context of historical centre of the capital of the Upper Volga region.