Multifunctional Museum Facility Saint Petersburg, Russia

With a vision to safeguard and preserve Russian cultural history, this building was conceived to provide a centralised site that could offer support to all of the cultural museums in the country. It would consolidate the majority of restoration works into one place, as well as being a main point of distribution to send artworks abroad to other museums.

Awarded 1st prize in Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage Project for the Russian Federation, organised by the World Bank, the final design of MMF building in St Petersburg embodies the aesthetics of the site’s purpose, while also serving the centre’s core daily needs.  Located in a green environment in the middle of the xx forest, the building envelope consists of a mix of stone and corten panels. These materials embed the building into its natural environment. A slanted, under-heated roof protects the building from snow.

The site is rendered in a loose horseshoe structure that is made from four geometric elements. Two parallel parts of the building are connected by a hallway. Each area of the interior is clearly defined to ensure artworks are protected from contamination and are able to be stored securely. On the facade, vertical movable panels allow for natural light to enter the restoration laboratories during the day, while also closing during the night to create a shell over the exterior.