Pushkin Museum

In 2007, in preparation for the centennial of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (in 2012) the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation in collaboration with the Government of Moscow planned the creation of a Museum town — a cohesive museum complex which will be located on the territory already owned by the museum. The intention is to design and create a cutting edge museum complex which incorporates all 21st century innovations, turning it into one of the most popular museums in the world, allowing visitors to learn about world culture in all its diversity.

“Pushkin Museum Town” will be the first modern museum complex in Russia. Having a developed infrastructure, it will be a model in the field of preservation, study and promotion of cultural heritage, will help make it an important part of social and economic development of society.

As a result of the implementation of this plan, the total area of ​​the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts will increase to 105,000 square meters, which will help solve the problem of a catastrophic shortage of space for storage of exhibits, accommodation of a unique scientific library, research and restoration workshops, exposition and exhibition halls. The increase in area will also allow for an increase in the number of visitors (up to 3 million people a year), and for expansion and diversification in the range of additional services provided by the museum — such as information services, gift shops, cafes, parking, etc.

The new concept for the development of the museum includes 10 major functions. Combined, they constitute a solid basis on which the museum will be able to rely in its development and future activities.

1. Museum Town: the Pushkin Museum is to be transformed into a lively town that was based on the expansion of the exposition, exhibition and event spaces, as well as the ability of tourists and residents of Moscow to access it.

2. Multifaceted Museum: Pushkin lives in accordance with the seasonal changes in nature, correspondingly adapting its event program.

3. Resource Center: Museum — a resource center designed to impart knowledge, as well as be a source of Russian scientific and methodological benchmarks in curatorial activities, museology and conservation of both tangible and intangible cultural and historical heritage.

4. Creativity Incubator: Pushkin Museum — a place of nurturing, support and preservation of contemporary creativity.

5. Original Museum: Pushkin presents the maximum original artworks.

6. Museum as a Work of Art: buildings and grounds of the museum is priceless heritage, which it retains, revitalizes and presents with a unique design.

7. Museum for Society: the museum as a focal point of social communication and an active member of society.

8. Connected Museum: museum programs, research and publications connect Pushkin with the world, the city, its audience and experts in the field of culture.

9. Accessible Museum: collections, buildings, programs and services available to all categories of museum visitors.

10. Ecological Museum, responsible for the surrounding environment: in its activities the museum accounts for the provisions of a concept of sustainable development.

Due to the refusal by Norman Foster from further participation in the project, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Committee for Architecture and Urban Planning of Moscow, and the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts Pushkin decided to organize a new architectural competition.

On April 10, 2014 at the press conference, “New Concept for the Development of the Pushkin Museum,” a closed tender for the development of the architectural concept of the development of the Pushkin Museum was announced.

In the course of the competition the architectural and urban planning concept of development of the territory of the Museum Town should be better defined. The winner of the contest will be the project manager, in effect — the chief architect of the development project of the museum quarter up to 2020. Therefore, an important criterion in selecting the contestants was having real experience in design and construction in Moscow.

Based on a set of qualification requirements and following consultation with the professional community, to participate in the competition the following Russian architectural firms were invited:

— Project Meganom
— Sergey Skuratov Architects
— TPO Reserve

The competition was conducted in one step, from April 10 to June 12; the winner was announced on June 25.