Organizer:
NK ICOMOS, Russia

Who will design, restore and preserve monuments tomorrow? There is a gap between a diploma and independent work at a cultural heritage site, and today it takes years to bridge this gap. The session participants will discuss how an academic school can train specialists who are immediately in demand in their profession, and what role practical experience at real sites, mentoring and ICOMOS’s international experience play in this.

Topics for discussion:

• Academic tradition and the demands of practice: what do graduates of architectural and art universities lack?
• Interdisciplinarity as a norm: architect, restorer, historian, and engineer in one team
• Practice at heritage sites, mentoring, and student expeditions as tools for professional development
• International programs and ICOMOS standards in training heritage conservation specialists

Former factories, mansions, and estates that have been given new life as galleries, creative clusters, and contemporary art spaces are becoming points of attraction for city residents and tourists. However, behind every successful example lies the search for a balance between conservation obligations, the needs of artists, and the economics of the project. During the session, we will examine the models that are working and discuss why many suitable sites still remain in demand.

Topics for discussion:

• Which heritage sites are best suited to an art function, and why?
• Compatibility of exhibition activities with safety requirements: lighting, climate, load capacity, engineering networks
• Management and financing models: government institutions, private foundations, creative clusters
• Unexplored potential: regional and small facilities that could become new cultural centers

How to design new museums and adapt cultural heritage sites to modern needs. The museum as a "third place". How to create a museum that people want to return to? Designing new buildings and adapting cultural heritage sites.
Audience: architects, design firms, restorers, museum directors.

Topics for discussion:

• New construction and adaptation of cultural heritage sites. In which cases is it more advantageous to build from scratch, and in which cases to adapt existing structures? What needs to be taken into account when adapting cultural heritage sites, in addition to the restoration requirements, in order to create a functional memory institution with rules for storage, study, and a multifunctional "third place"?
• The museum as a "third place". How to design a space that people visit repeatedly — not only to see the exhibits, but also to enjoy the atmosphere, social interaction, knowledge, food, and silence? Cafes, coworking spaces, children’s areas, bookstores — how does architecture integrate services into the museum space?
• The museum as a driver of integrated development. How does a museum building become the anchor for the comprehensive development of a territory?
• Scalability vs uniqueness. Is a standard museum project possible? Why do some models scale (the Tretyakov Gallery branches), while others remain unique statements? What should be included in the strategy so that in five years we don’t have to "redesign the concept"?
• Strategy without a gap between strategy and implementation. How can an architect, a museum, and a developer work as co‑authors, rather than as sequential performers? How to avoid losing the meaning when moving from a concept to a technical specification?

Designing expositions and temporary exhibitions. Multimedia. Museum shop, café, educational zones. The museum as a research center.

Topics for discussion:

• Exposition as dramaturgy. How are permanent expositions and temporary exhibitions designed? Where does design end and art begin? How do color, light, sound, and material control attention?
• Mobile exhibitions and "box solutions". How to make museum content mobile? What is a "turnkey exhibition" and how to replicate it in the regions?
• Multimedia and digital technologies. When does multimedia enhance the experience, and when does it disrupt silence and contemplation? VR, AR, artificial intelligence — a tool or an end in itself?
• The museum shop as part of the exhibition. Souvenirs, books, soft covers, magazines, guidebooks — how does merchandise become an independent profitable line of business and shape the museum’s identity? How does the museum’s publishing activity contribute to the brand?
• The museum as a research center. How do open storage facilities, laboratories, and scientific departments become part of the visitor experience? Climate control, safety, and openness — where is the balance?
• Services and recreation areas. Cafes, coworking spaces, children’s centers — how do technologies create a welcoming environment? Navigation, inclusion, tactile replicas.

Almost any construction project in a historic city involves the exposure of a cultural layer, and therefore a confrontation with the past. For archaeologists, rescue excavations remain the main source of new data. For the developer, this means additional time, costs, and uncertainty. The session participants will discuss how to structure the work so that the preservation of the archaeological heritage becomes a predictable part of the construction process, rather than an obstacle to it.

Topics for discussion:

• Archaeological surveys at the planning stage: how to reduce project risks in advance?
• The procedure for carrying out rescue operations: legal requirements, deadlines, and funding
• Interaction between the developer, archaeologists, and conservation authorities: distribution of responsibilities
• Museumification of finds: integration of archaeological sites into new construction

Moscow is implementing one of the largest programs in the world for the preservation of cultural heritage sites. In recent years, hundreds of architectural monuments have been restored in the city, effective mechanisms for interaction between the state and investors have been developed, and unique experience has been accumulated in adapting historical sites for modern use.

The session dedicated to the best practices of Moscow’s restoration will become a platform for exchanging experience and replicating successful approaches throughout the country.

Topics for discussion:

• The Moscow model for preserving cultural heritage sites: key principles and results.
• Interaction between the city, investors, and the professional community.
• Restoration of iconic sites: completed projects and lessons learned.
• Adaptation of monuments for modern use without losing historical value.
• Digital technologies and modern approaches to managing heritage sites.
• What solutions from Moscow can be applied in other regions of Russia?

How to strike a balance between the modern comfort of residents and measures to protect historical buildings recognized as cultural heritage sites?

The preservation of such buildings depends not only on large‑scale restoration but also on proper daily maintenance, as well as on a clear delineation of financial obligations and powers between the residents and the relevant government agencies.

Topics for discussion:

• How will the new legislative provisions change the approach to the repair and restoration of multi‑apartment buildings recognized as cultural heritage sites?
• Preservation algorithm: the necessary stages of design and expert approvals
• Operation of housing stock with a special status: analysis of requirements and restrictions
• Sources of funding: government programs, grants, and private investments

Legislation in the field of cultural heritage protection continues to evolve actively: approval procedures, requirements for project documentation, the procedure for state supervision, and the obligations of owners are being adjusted. How do the new rules work in practice, and what challenges do industry participants face when applying them? Lawyers, representatives of protection authorities, owners, and restorers will discuss the key changes and how they affect the timeframe, cost, and quality of work to preserve cultural heritage sites.

Topics for discussion:

• Key changes in the legislation on cultural heritage sites: what has already come into force, and what to expect?
• Conservation obligations of owners and users of cultural heritage sites: scope of requirements and liability
• State historical and cultural expertise and approval of project documentation: problems of law enforcement
• Judicial practice in disputes related to the protection of cultural heritage sites: typical situations and conclusions for market participants

A hotel in a historic estate or a restaurant in an old merchant’s house is one of the most understandable models for bringing a monument back to life. The tourist function ensures the object’s continuous operation and income, but it imposes requirements that often conflict with the protection regime. Participants will discuss how to structure the project so that commercial success does not result in the loss of historical value.

Topics for discussion:

• Project economics: the payback period for hotels and tourist facilities in historic buildings
• Fire safety, sanitary, and engineering standards versus the object of protection: how to find a compromise?
• The risks of "modernization": where is the boundary of permissible intervention?
• Successful cases of adapting cultural heritage sites for hotels, restaurants, and tourist centers in Russia

Moscow has accumulated unique experience in engaging private capital in the preservation of historical buildings: from the preferential lease program "1 ruble per square meter" to comprehensive development projects involving the restoration of monuments. Which mechanisms have proven effective, what motivates investors to take on obligations to preserve cultural heritage sites, and which solutions implemented in the capital can be scaled up to other regions — these are the main questions of the session.

Topics for discussion:

• Tools for city support for investors: preferential lease, concessions, public‑private partnerships
• How to assess the investment attractiveness of a cultural heritage site?
• Investor obligations and guarantees from the city: distribution of risks and responsibilities
• Replicating the Moscow experience: what can regions learn from it?

Each monument requires its own approach: a wooden church in the Russian North and a reinforced concrete building from the modernist era need fundamentally different solutions. The modern industry offers new compounds for wood conservation, repair mixtures, composite reinforcements, and protective coatings, but their use on heritage sites requires proven compatibility with historical materials. At the session, experts and manufacturers will discuss where the line lies between innovation and preserving authenticity.

Topics for discussion:

• Wooden architecture: modern means of conservation, bioprotection, and fire protection.
• Repair compounds for stone, brick, and plaster: compatibility with historical materials
• Strengthening load‑bearing and engineering structures: composites, metal, reinforced concrete
• Import substitution and technological sovereignty: domestic materials for restoration

Organizers:
RosKapStroy Federal Autonomous Institution, Russian Orthodox Church

The purpose of the seminar:
Preservation of church buildings, structures, and cultural heritage sites.

Familiarization with a comprehensive approach to working with church buildings and structures that are cultural heritage sites (including interiors and the preservation of church museum items contained therein), as well as their surrounding areas. This is especially important because the territories of church buildings are, in most cases, of great value in their own right: they contain historical buildings and structures that are elements of the church ensemble, ancient necropolises with valuable artistic tombstones, remnants of lost buildings and structures, as well as a protected cultural layer. Much of the above may constitute an independent object of cultural heritage.

The objectives of the seminar:

• Familiarization with the regulatory framework (Federal Law No. 73 dated June 25, 2002, "On Objects of Cultural Heritage (Historical and Cultural Monuments) of the Peoples of the Russian Federation" and related by‑laws) in terms of ensuring the preservation of objects of cultural heritage during their operation and the conduct of various types of work (both on the historical buildings and structures themselves and on their territories).
• Discussion within the framework of the seminar with practitioners in the restoration field of current issues related to the preservation of church monuments (bringing them out of a state of disrepair, conservation, work with objects of protection, reconstruction of lost elements of the church complex, etc.).
• Study of the differences between types of work on cultural heritage sites and the procedure for carrying them out:

1. Work on the preservation of cultural heritage sites (restoration, conservation, including emergency rescue work, adaptation for modern use, and repair).
2. Work carried out under a simplified procedure (maintenance work on the facility, etc.);
3. Reconstruction of lost objects of the historical environment.

• Study of the procedure for conducting economic activities at facilities of religious significance, taking into account the requirements for the preservation of archaeological heritage objects.
• Familiarization with the general principles and methods of working with church interiors and movable heritage (icons, iconostases, monumental painting, etc.).

Пленарное заседание Съезда

Organizer:
Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the restoration of international accreditation of the ICOMOS National Committee, Russia (2016−2026).

Historical development is both the most valuable and the most challenging resource for a developer. Projects in historical neighborhoods require consideration of protection zones, regulations, the opinions of residents and the expert community, but it is precisely these factors that shape the city’s appearance and create objects with high added value. The key session will bring together developers, architects, and representatives of conservation authorities to discuss how to reconcile the interests of business, the city, and heritage.

Topics for discussion:

• Developer as a participant in heritage conservation: from encumbrance to competitive advantage
• Urban planning regulations and protection zones: how to take restrictions into account at the concept stage
• New construction in a historical environment: scale, silhouette, materials
• Best practices for the integrated development of historical territories in Russia

Factories, power plants, warehouses, and depots — from London and the Ruhr to Moscow and Yekaterinburg, industrial facilities are being transformed into museums, creative clusters, residential and office spaces. Rethinking industrial heritage has become one of the main urban trends of recent decades. The discussion participants will compare Russian and foreign experience and discuss how to preserve the spirit of a place while undergoing a radical change in function.

Topics for discussion:

• Global case studies of industrial area transformation: what worked and why?
• Russian practice: from the first loft projects to the comprehensive renovation of industrial zones
• What to preserve: architecture, equipment, engineering structures, the history of the enterprise
• The status of an object of cultural heritage for industrial heritage sites: protection or a barrier to development?

Organizer:
Ministry of Culture of Russia

A modern museum is a complex organism where management, design, technology, and economics intertwine. How to bridge the gap between the curatorial concept and technical implementation? How can universities, museums, and design bureaus build a strong workforce and provide continuous education in the museum sector? What are the criteria for the success of museum activities?

Topics for discussion:

• Project‑based education for leaders. What competencies does a museum manager of the new generation need? How to build training at the intersection of management, design, technology, and economics? How to combine practical training with scientific specialization?
• Management in culture and design thinking. How can a museum director talk about money with representatives of the authorities, business, and the public in a common language? How does design thinking help solve management problems?
• Interaction between design bureaus and museums. How to bridge the gap between the curatorial concept and technical implementation? What should be included in the technical requirements so that the bureau understands the task? How can a bureau "immerse" itself in the specifics of museums?
• Practice‑oriented education in museum specialties. How universities, museums, and design bureaus can teach together rather than separately? Internships, mentoring, project exchanges. The experience of the State Institute for Art History, the Likhachev Institute, and specialized departments.
• Criteria for success in museum work. Tourism, regional development, interaction with the community — how to measure a museum’s success if attendance and revenue do not reflect its real value? What should be included in a new assessment methodology?
• The role of associations and foundations. How can ICOM, the Union of Museums, the PFKI, and the Union of Architects help: standards, training, certification, grant support? How do associations become functioning institutions rather than "honorary clubs"?

New metro stations, railway stations, roads, and transport hubs are increasingly appearing in close proximity to cultural heritage sites. Construction in such conditions requires special engineering solutions and monitoring, and a well‑designed infrastructure can increase the accessibility of the monument, boost tourist flows, and give an impetus to the development of the area. At the session, we will discuss how to turn a potential threat into a source of new opportunities.

Topics for discussion:

• Engineering protection of cultural heritage sites during construction: geotechnical monitoring, vibrations, water drainage
• Coordination of transport projects in protected areas: procedures and deadlines
• Transport accessibility as a factor in the growth of tourism and investment attractiveness
• Historical railway stations, depots and bridges: modernization while preserving their original appearance

Organizer:
Ministry of Culture of Russia

The era of Soviet modernism, which spanned the 1960s-1980s, is traditionally associated with the fight against architectural excesses. It is commonly believed that the focus on industrialization and standard design deprived buildings of artistic expressiveness, turning cities into faceless panel blocks. However, behind the facades of functionality lies a layer of complex, bold, and unique structures that are rightfully considered masterpieces of their time today. What is the fate of buildings from the modernist era, and what is their future in modern cities?

Topics for discussion:

• The uniqueness of the Soviet modernist style. From classical architecture to functionality and affordability.
• The artistic reinterpretation of architectural details in Soviet modernism through the lens of new structures and materials.
• Beyond simple geometry: the most complex and expressive buildings of the modernist era.
• Demolish or preserve: where to place the comma in the fate of Soviet modernist monuments that have lost their protected status?
• Successful cases of conservation, restoration, and adaptation of late‑Soviet architecture in Russia

Folk crafts, handicrafts, folklore, rituals, holidays, and gastronomic traditions are increasingly becoming the main reason for traveling to a region. Travelers are looking not only for monuments but also for living experiences: master classes, festivals, and meetings with those who carry on the traditions. How can intangible heritage be turned into a sustainable tourism product without turning the tradition into a mere decoration? Session participants will discuss successful regional practices and mechanisms for supporting those who carry on cultural traditions.

Topics for discussion:

• Intangible heritage as the foundation of a region’s tourism brand.
• Authenticity and commercialization: how to preserve tradition amidst mass interest?
• Crafts, handicrafts, and gastronomy: formats for engaging tourists
• Supporting craftsmen and bearers of traditions: grants, programs, cooperation with the tourism industry

Organizer:
Ministry of Culture of Russia

Organizer:
Ministry of Culture of Russia

High‑quality restoration begins well before scaffolding is erected on the facade — with archival, field, engineering, and laboratory studies. It is at this stage that the object of protection is defined, losses are identified, and a scientifically grounded concept for the work is formed. The session participants will discuss the modern methodology of comprehensive studies and how their results affect the quality and cost of the restoration.

Topics for discussion:

• The composition and scope of pre‑project studies: what is necessary, and what is excessive?
• Laboratory and non‑destructive methods: technological analysis of materials, dating, diagnostics.
• Archival and historical‑bibliographic research as the foundation of the restoration concept
• The role of the academic supervisor and interdisciplinary teams in the restoration project

Residential function is one of the most natural uses for historical buildings, many of which were originally constructed as tenement houses, mansions, or estates. However, transforming a heritage monument into modern, comfortable housing involves a whole range of constraints: from layouts and engineering systems to requirements for preserving interiors. How can we find solutions that will make a heritage site in demand on the market while preserving its value?

Topics for discussion:

• What types of cultural heritage sites are most suitable for adaptation into residential use?
• Planning solutions and engineering: modern comfort within historical walls
• Preservation of interiors and protected items during residential use
• The housing market in historic buildings: demand, cost, and owners' obligations

Today’s buildings are tomorrow’s monuments. Constructivism and Soviet modernism were once also considered controversial, but today they are protected by the state. Which buildings of our time have a chance to enter the history of architecture, and what criteria should be used to judge this? The session participants — architects, critics, and heritage experts — will discuss how to design with an eye to long‑term durability and what makes architecture truly valuable.

Topics for discussion:

• Criteria of value: what makes a building worthy of heritage status?
• Durability and quality as a condition for future heritage: materials, technologies, adaptability
• Iconic projects of recent decades: which of them will remain in history?
• Recognizing recent architecture: when should we start protecting the heritage of the 20th-21st centuries?

The industry expects graduates to be ready for real projects, while universities expect clear demands from employers and industry involvement in the educational process. The session will serve as a platform for a direct dialogue between universities, project and restoration organizations, developers, and government bodies about what competencies will be needed in 5−10 years and how to jointly train personnel to meet these challenges.

Topics for discussion:

• Future competencies: digital technologies, BIM, interdisciplinarity, project thinking
• Industry involvement in education: core departments, internships, targeted training
• Professional standards and educational programs: how to synchronize requirements?
• Career trajectories: how to retain young professionals in the profession?

Organizer:
Ministry of Culture of Russia

Organizer:
Ministry of Culture of Russia

Organizer:
Ministry of Culture of Russia

Restoration is a profession in which education does not end with obtaining a diploma. New materials, technologies, and changes in legislation require continuous updating of knowledge, and unique craft skills are passed down only from master to apprentice. The session participants will discuss how to build a system of continuous education that will provide the industry with qualified personnel at all levels — from workers in specialized trades to scientific leaders.

Topics for discussion:

• Shortage of personnel in restoration: workers in specialized trades, craftsmen, and restoration architects
• Professional development and certification of specialists: legal requirements and real‑world practice
• Mentoring and preservation of traditional crafts
• Corporate schools and educational programs of restoration workshops

Each field season brings discoveries that complement and sometimes change our understanding of the past. New natural‑science methods, digital documentation, and large‑scale rescue excavations during construction create a vast array of data that requires analysis. At the session, leading archaeologists will present the results of recent research and discuss how modern interpretations become part of science and society.

Topics for discussion:

• The main archaeological discoveries of recent years in Russia
• Natural‑science methods in archaeology: radiocarbon dating, genetics, material analysis
• Digital technologies: remote sensing, 3D recording, geographic information systems
• From excavation to museum: how new knowledge becomes part of public history

Laser scanning, photogrammetry, information modeling, and digital twins are changing the practice of heritage conservation at all stages — from surveying to operation. Digital tools increase accuracy, speed up approvals, and make it possible to preserve detailed documentation about the object for future generations. Participants will discuss which technologies have already become standard and which are just entering the industry.

Topics for discussion:

• Laser scanning and photogrammetry: accurate recording of the object’s condition
• BIM and digital twins of cultural heritage sites: from restoration project to operation management
• Artificial intelligence in restoration: damage analysis, reconstruction of losses, work with archives
• Digital technologies and the regulatory framework: what needs to be changed for their widespread adoption?

VDNH is one of the largest architectural ensembles in the country, uniting dozens of cultural heritage sites: pavilions, fountains, sculptures, and works of monumental art. The large‑scale exhibition restoration programme has become a unique training ground for restorers. At the session, project participants will talk about the methods, technologies, and organisational solutions that made it possible to restore the ensemble’s historical appearance and infuse it with new life.

Topics for discussion:

• A comprehensive approach: restoring the ensemble as a single whole
• Restoration of decorative elements: mosaics, stucco, sculpture, gilding
• Restoration of fountains and engineering systems of historical sites
• Adaptation of pavilions for modern functions: museums, exhibition and educational centers

Behind every restored monument lie months of research, the search for solutions, and the work of a team of professionals. Leading restoration workshops will share their own case studies: they will talk about the most challenging tasks, unconventional solutions, and the lessons they have learned. The open dialogue format will allow for discussing not only successes but also the problems the industry faces on a daily basis.

Topics for discussion:

• The most challenging objects: how did they find solutions in non‑standard situations?
• Interaction with the client, conservation authorities, and the academic supervisor.
• The economics of a restoration workshop: pricing, government contracts, private projects
• Maintaining reputation and quality: what sets leading workshops apart?

Organizer:
Ministry of Culture of Russia

Organizer:
Ministry of Culture of Russia

A historical garden or park is a heritage site that is constantly growing and changing. Unlike a building, it requires not only restoration but also continuous maintenance, and its authenticity is determined by its layout, vantage points, and the selection of plants. The session participants will discuss the methodology for restoring historical landscapes, the balance between preservation and use, as well as the revival of estate parks as centers of cultural life in the regions.

Topics for discussion:

• Methodology for restoring landscape sites: research, on‑site surveys, iconography
• Dendrology and plant selection: restoration of historical plant range
• Small architectural forms, water systems and garden and park sculpture
• Modern use of historical parks: recreational load and preservation of the site

Organizer:
Ministry of Culture of Russia