Restoration of the faсade of the main building of the estate at 9 Povarskaya Street completed by GlavUpDK

Main Administration for Service to the Diplomatic Corps (GlavUpDK) under the MFA of Russia is restoring the façades of Kazakov-Dunker's city estate at 9/1,2 Povarskaya Street. Erected in 1892, the estate is a cultural heritage site under the jurisdiction of GlavUpDK.

For example, the Enterprise has already completed the restoration of the façade of the main building of the estate on Povarskaya Street, which got back its historical color schemes, decor and window frames. The second floor window units and the entire roof have also been replaced. Architectural lighting complemented the exterior of the building, highlighting the volume and decor of the façade.

The site on which the estate is located has been known to Moscow topographical surveyors since 1796 as the estate of the Khovansky princes was erected there. Throughout the 19th century, the complex was repeatedly renovated, changing in size and getting new extensions. In addition, a second wooden floor was added to the first floor of stone building No. 9.

The restoration work was preceded by painstaking research to reveal the multilayer structure of the façade walls. “The upper layers of the wood were affected by rot and corrosion, and cracks appeared in the wood. Layers of bast shingles and matting became unusable, crumbling along with the plaster. This condition was also reflected in the plaster layer, on which cracks and chips appeared,” said Dmitry Drachev, Head of GlavUpDK’s Major Projects Department, speaking on the condition in which the façade was before the start of restoration work.

After clearing the façades from 19 later layers, the historical color scheme of the façade and the decor were discovered. The color and technique chosen by the architect created the effect of natural stone, while both the tone and texture of the finish were uneven throughout the façade - it varied from smooth to slightly rough.

In addition, previously installed niches with decorative elements - a slope, a plasterwork garland and circle-shaped decor - were restored on the main façade according to surviving designs. The false balcony above the main entrance and its decor were also strengthened.

Experts repaired the fence along Povarskaya Street and restored the gate. Fragments of a white stone plinth dating back to the 1797 construction were also discovered. By the way, similar white stone blocks were found under the plaster of the cornice crowning the main façade, and under the intermediate cornice in the window walls on the courtyard façade.

Currently, the specialists are working on the façades of the estate's courtyard, the one-story outbuilding and two-story outbuilding.