Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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Parquet flooring made from different types of wood, elegant stucco work, antique statues, crystal chandeliers and gilded doors – all this can be seen in Egyptian pavilion of the Ostankino estate, which opened to guests after restoration. The pearl of wooden architecture of the late 18th century was restored to its historical appearance based on archival documents.
mos.ru correspondents attended the opening of the Egyptian Pavilion, which marked the completion of the first phase of the large-scale restoration of the Ostankino Palace. They learned about the progress of work on the Italian Pavilion and what remains to be done to fully restore the Sheremetev family estate.
Following the example of Versailles
The Ostankino Palace was built in 1795 by the distinguished architects Francesco Camporesi, Ivan Starov, Vincenzo Brenna, Giacomo Quarenghi, and serf builders. Today, it is a recognized masterpiece of wooden architecture and a federal cultural heritage site. The palace, which survives to this day, consists of a theater with a ceremonial suite and an art gallery, as well as Egyptian and Italian pavilions. The former, designed in the style of an ancient Roman atrium, is located in the eastern part of the complex, while the lavishly decorated latter is in the western part.
The restored light pink facades with snow-white columns, relief sculptures, stucco friezes, and ornamentation give the Egyptian Pavilion a light and airy feel. Inside, it is flooded with daylight, streaming through large windows and a glazed skylight. Everywhere is the glitter of gold and crystal, the richness of fabrics and artistic paintings, intricate wooden columns decorated to look like marble, and multi-tiered chandeliers. In the center of the main hall stands a festively set table with vases, decanters, earthenware plates, and crystal glasses, as if preparing for a dinner party. This is part of the exhibition. Visiting Count Sheremetev, which opened in a renovated building.
Along the eastern and western walls are four tiled stoves topped with sphinx sculptures. This is the only detail that connects the pavilion to the pharaohs' homeland. Two galleries with card tables, armchairs, and gilded candelabra extend from the central hall. Modern multimedia technology brings paintings from the count's collection to life on the walls, and at the beginning of the eastern gallery are interactive models of the estate.
"The decision to restore the Sheremetev estate was not easy: the palace was 230 years old, so there was a high risk of upsetting its delicate balance. Specialists undertook significant work, even traveling to Versailles, France, to determine how to preserve the elements of the estate that needed restoration. For example, during the restoration of the parquet flooring of the Egyptian Pavilion, the workshops maintained the same temperature as the estate," explains Leonid Kondrashev, First Deputy Head of the Moscow Department of Cultural Heritage and Chief Archaeologist of Moscow.
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Branded bricks and tiled stoves
During the restoration of the Egyptian Pavilion, specialists removed mirrors, statues, decorative elements, windows, doors, parquet floors, and stucco decorations. The walls were stripped down to the original plaster, the timber structure was dismantled, the beams, joists, planks, and columns were cleaned, damaged parts and felt insulation were replaced, and then reassembled like a construction kit. The roof was restored and the original finishes were restored.
"The palace was originally constructed as a temporary structure on a shallow foundation. Over 230 years, moisture and leaks damaged its walls, ceiling beams, floors, and supporting structures, while flooding damaged the lower logs. Restorers dismantled the floors, lifted parquet panels, replaced floor joists, cemented wooden supports, and extended the foundation," says Sergei Avdonin, director of the Ostankino and Kuskovo State Palace and Park Museum-Reserve.
Several hundred professionals, including artists, cabinetmakers, molders, carpenters, and joiners, were involved in the restoration of the pavilion. Specialists managed to restore over 700 square meters of authentic artistic parquet floors made from various types of wood, doors with gilded and silver-plated carvings, artificial marble, hardware and moldings, tiled stoves, and sphinx sculptures. During the restoration, rare authentic interior elements were discovered: French wallpaper, fabrics, ceramics, bricks, and metal parts bearing the hallmarks of the Demidov factories.
"The work was mostly done by hand, using the same methods used to build the estate. Thanks to this, we were able to preserve approximately 95 percent of the pavilion's historical appearance," explains Sergei Avdonin.
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Frost preserved French wallpaper
Restoration work is underway inside and out at the Italian Pavilion, located in the western wing of the Ostankino Palace. The building is covered by a protective tent, with temporary workshops set up in front. Here, carpenters use special axes, modeled after those from the late 18th century, to shape the logs and planks used to construct the pavilion, then smooth their surfaces with scrapers.
"We use a scraper to close the wood's pores so it absorbs less moisture, remove rotten sections with axes, and then replace the missing parts with prosthetics. While the original beams are being restored, the pavilion is supported by temporary supports. Once the work is complete, the renovated building will stand for at least another 200 years," notes carpenter and restorer Yuri Pisar.
The well-preserved interiors of the Italian Pavilion are considered the most ornate in the estate, boasting an abundance of mirrors, gilded panels, stucco portals, and antique sculptures. Specialists have already cleaned the walls, removed stains, strengthened the paint, removed and sent to workshops the gilded carvings, mirrors, and some of the original French wallpaper, and have begun dismantling the parquet flooring. The next step will be the restoration of the building's wooden structures and the installation of external and internal utility lines.
"The uniqueness of the Italian Pavilion's interiors lies in the amazingly accurate imitation of expensive finishing materials. The columns and friezes appear to be made of marble, but they are actually artistic paintings. The relief carvings and moldings are made of papier-mâché paper. The printed wallpaper, suspended in stretchers under the ceiling vaults, looks like paintings. They have been perfectly preserved, partly due to the cold: bacteria contained in the wallpaper paste froze over the winter and did not destroy the paper or the design," shares Viktor Golub, chief architect of the Ostankino estate restoration project.
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Case for the palace
The main goal of the Ostankino Palace restoration is to restore the estate to its historical appearance, as envisioned by Count Nikolai Sheremetev. To preserve the original structures and decorative elements, the experts are using conservation techniques.
"Layer by layer, restorers strip the walls down to the original finish, restore the base, and then apply the finish according to the historical pattern. Carpenters strive to preserve every plank and nail. All work is done by hand, using the same techniques and tools as were used during the estate's construction," continues Viktor Golub.
Soon, specialists will begin dismantling the roof of the palace-theater. To protect the historic state rooms and galleries from precipitation, it was covered with a giant tent made of metal profiles.
"This is a unique solution in Russian restoration: the protective structure was custom-made for the Ostankino Palace, tailored to its dimensions. We installed 200 tons of metal on 194 piles using a 750-ton crane. After carefully soldering the joints, we will begin dismantling the roof," explains Anton Andreev, the project's chief engineer.
The Egyptian Pavilion will be open until November 5th daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (box office until 17:00, on Tuesdays from 12:00 to 18:00, box office until 17:00), on the days of performances (October 11th, 18th, 19th and November 4th) the box office is open until 16:00. Tickets can also be purchased online. MosbiletYou can see elements of the palace's decor and the variety of finishing materials, learn about the unique experience of specialists and the complexity of their work at the Ostankino Estate Restoration and Preservation Center, which is located on the estate grounds and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (ticket office closes at 5:30 PM). Tickets are available at the museum box office or at website.
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