Today, in 1836, Emperor Nicholas I issued a decree "On the unbreakable buildings built in the times of Peter the Great". The document was the first step towards legislative protection of architectural monuments of the Russian Empire.

According to the Emperor's decree, in St. Petersburg and throughout Russia it was forbidden to break down historical buildings without the permission of the sovereign. In order to preserve the monuments of the Peter the Great period, it was prescribed that all petitions for the demolition of buildings should indicate the year of their construction.

Having received in his youth a good engineering education, Nicholas I showed considerable knowledge in the field of construction and construction techniques. Thus, the Emperor made successful proposals for the dome of the Trinity Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Later, already occupying the highest position in the state, he closely followed the order in urban planning, and no significant project was not approved without his signature. He issued a decree regulating the height of private buildings in the capital. The decree limited the height of any private building to the width of the street on which the building was constructed. The height of a private building could not exceed 11 fathoms, which corresponds to the height of the eaves of the Winter Palace - 23.47 meters. This created the famous St. Petersburg City Panorama, which existed until recently.