The identification of "places of memory" in Russian cities is a very important task, as it will create a new cultural layer through the preservation of historical heritage. The memorial boom that we are witnessing in modern Russia suggests that our society is ready to work with personal and collective memory, which in turn will allow us to introduce the so-called "participatory design", which assumes an active civic position and a high level of responsibility for the environment. The study identified three groups of "places of memory" in St. Petersburg. Each of the groups was analyzed from the point of view of sustainability when creating an image of the city.