The Shchusev State Museum of Architecture in Moscow is the world's first museum of such subjects. What is the history of this unique institution? And what interesting can you see in it? Read about it later in our article.
History and foundation of the museum
The idea to create something like this was in the air at the end of the 19th century, when Muscovites began to take a fresh look at the historical, cultural and architectural heritage of their city. However, this magnificent plan was brought to life only in 1934, when the museum was created. At the same time, the Academy of Architecture of the USSR was established. Most of the museum exhibits were then housed in the cathedral of the Donskoy Monastery.
But the Great Patriotic War came, at the end of which, in October 1945, the museum received its rebirth. The initiator and first director of it was Alexei Viktorovich Shchusev. But he had a completely different view of the goals of the future museum. In his opinion, they consisted in the popularization of architectural knowledge and experience. That is, the institution should not serve individual specialists, but rather a wide range of ordinary people.
However, the Museum of Architecture. Shchuseva became a powerful research base. By the way, he got his name in 1949, immediately after the death of the great architect. Soon, in 60 years, the exposition on the territory of the Donskoy Monastery became a branch of the museum, which is located on Vozdvizhenka, in the Talyzin estate.
With the collapse of the USSR Museum of Architecture. Schuseva began to go through hard times. And many of the problems that the institution faced in the early 90s have not been resolved so far. So, the territory of the Donskoy Monastery was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, and the huge museum collection is simply physically impossible to place in the premises on Vozdvizhenka. In addition, the main building of the institution has long been in need of major repairs.
Nevertheless, the museum staff sincerely believes that all problems will be resolved, and therefore continues to work actively and fruitfully.
Exhibitions and main activities
Museum of Architecture Shchuseva works today in several areas. Namely:
- scientific work and research;
- collecting exhibits;
- participation in restoration activities ;
- organization of expositions and exhibitions;
- excursion activity.
Alas, the main exposition, with more than a million storage facilities, does not function today due to lack of space. The museum today is actively held only temporary exhibitions. Visitors especially like the Ruin outbuilding, which constantly organizes interesting exhibits.
Different people at one time headed the Museum of Architecture. Schuseva. Since 2010, the director of the institution, the candidate of architecture, Irina Korobyina, is actively involved in his life and development.
Alexey Schusev - who is he?
The Shchusev Museum of Architecture bears the name of its first director and outstanding architect. Alexei Viktorovich Schusev (1873-1949) is a talented Moldavian and Soviet architect who received four Stalin Prizes (one of them posthumously). Born in Chisinau. During the years 1891-1897 he studied in St. Petersburg, at the Imperial Academy of Arts. His teachers were Ilya Repin and Leonty Benoit.
In his youth, Shchusev, together with archaeologists, visits Samarkand and explores the local attractions of the ancient city. This trip impressed the future architect and left an imprint on all his further work.
His first serious work was the reconstruction of an ancient temple of the XII century in the Ukrainian city of Ovruch. The architect in his life managed to work in different styles (modern, constructivism, art deco) and create dozens of beautiful buildings in different parts of the former USSR. Among his most important projects are the church in the village of Natalyevka (Ukraine), the Kazan station in Moscow, the Lenin Mausoleum, the theater building in Tashkent, the Moscow metro station Komsomolskaya-Koltsevaya and others. In addition, Shchusev developed projects for the restoration of the cities destroyed during the Second World War - Chisinau, Tuapse, Veliky Novgorod.
Museum of Architecture Schuseva: lectures
The museum regularly organizes lectures conducted by the best experts in the field of architecture. The lecture hall at the Shchusev Museum was established back in 1934 and worked even during the war.
Today, the performance hall is equipped in the outbuilding of the museum under the name "Ruin". He is able to accommodate a hundred people. At lectures, you can familiarize yourself with one of the architectural styles in detail or study some specific issue regarding architecture. In addition, the Museum of Architecture. Shchuseva regularly holds meetings with famous architects, both Russian and foreign.
Everyone chooses for himself the desired format of visits: either it will be a one-time visit, or you can purchase a subscription to a full course of lectures. All of them are held at a convenient time for visitors: at 19:00 on weekdays, as well as on weekends, at 16:00. You can choose a suitable lecture course for yourself, as well as find out its cost on the official website of the museum.
Museum of Architecture Shchuseva: excursions
The museum is also ready to offer everyone its excursion services. Moreover, it can be a tour both indoors and outdoors - through the streets and squares of the city. The range of services of this kind is constantly updated.
The museum, as a rule, conducts excursions in Moscow at the weekend. A ticket for them costs 300 rubles (for citizens of privileged categories - 150 rubles).
Today the following thematic excursions are very popular:
- "The first stage of the Moscow metro."
- "Architectural styles of the city."
- "Architectural avant-garde in the alleys of Arbat" and others.
Museum visit: prices and tickets
Museum of Architecture Shchusev can be visited at: Vozdvizhenka street, house 5 (former Talyzinyh estate). You can make a trip to this amazing institution daily (except Monday), from 11:00 to 20:00. To get to the scientific library or archive department, you must go through a preliminary appointment.
An entrance ticket to this museum costs 250 rubles. For certain categories of citizens discounts apply. These include students and senior citizens who can purchase an entrance ticket for only 100 rubles. But for children and schoolchildren, students of architectural specialties, as well as for museum workers in Russia, admission is completely free.
Also in the museum you can visit one of the proposed lectures. It will cost 200 rubles. You can order a full lecture course on a specific topic. Such a subscription will cost from 900 to 1800 rubles.
According to many tourist reviews, very competent and pleasant staff and guides work in the Shchusev Museum. So visiting him will definitely bring only positive emotions.
Melnikov House
This institution has one curious branch. This is the so-called Melnikov House-Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the capital's architect Viktor Melnikov. It is located in the architect's mansion - in a house unique in its construction, built in the twenties in the avant-garde style. The house consists of two cylinders of different heights, which are partially cut into each other. This is one of the most unusual buildings in all of Moscow.
The museum in the Melnikov House was established in 2014. However, before this building, a long lawsuit was conducted between the state and the heirs of the architect. It reached its peak in the summer of 2014, when the heiress and granddaughter of Viktor Melnikov barricaded themselves in the building.
Finally
Unique in its essence, the State Museum of Architecture. Shchuseva, founded in 1934, and today attracts the attention of many tourists. Guests of the Russian capital must visit it. Here, lovers of architecture and history will discover many interesting things!