Museums of Russia: Architectural concept of A. S. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts’ reconstruction and development presented

The press conference which was held at A. S. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts presented the architectural concept of museum’s reconstruction and development until 2018.

Irina Antonova, Director of A. S. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts says that the “Museum town”, which is due to appear in the near future, will include 15 buildings with two of them to be rebuilt completely. Some will undergo reconstruction and some will be restructured for a different function.

For example, the Gallery of European and American Art will become the Gallery of 19th Century Art. The Manor House of Princes Golitsyn, which presently houses the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences will turn to the Gallery of 20th – 21st cc. Art. Old Masters Art will move to the empty Vyazemsky-Dolgorukov Manor. The Guest House will replace the Department of Art and Archaeology of Ancient History which occupies the right wing of The Golitsyn Manor. A public library will open its doors at The Stulov Apartment House, while the repository and studios will be removed from the main building.

The museum will undergo complex restoration – in particular, under the project the museum will get underground passages which will connect the museum’s main building with the Old Masters Art Gallery and Galleries of 19th – 21st cc. Art. It will keep a part of the painting gallery of Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts from Byzantium to Renaissance.

Irina Antonova says that the main building will run new expositions with a focus on articles and culture of Ancient East, Antiquity, Byzantium and Middle Ages, as well as archaeological artifacts, which were unearthed by A. S. State Museum of Fine Arts during excavations. What is more, the White Hall and Colonnade will preserve their function as exhibition spaces for major exhibitions.

The depository will keep over 650 000 storage units, with some 600 000 pieces representing the collections of drawing and numismatics departments. Guided by the principle of open storage facility, most exhibits from the depository will be displayed in showcases and visitors will have an opportunity to get a closer look at them, following the experience of major European museums, like the Albertinum in Dresden.

Public discussions of the architectural concept of museum’s development were launched on March 19th. The concept will be available on the museum’s official website for public discussion. Users will have a chance to provide feedback – send comments and proposals on the project. At the museum within a fortnight visitors will have a chance to visit a special model hall and vote either for or against the presented concept.