The Soviet Heritage and European Modernism - Heritage ... - Icomos

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II. Heritage Saved from Risk – Case Studies from Moscow and the Former Soviet Union
II. Heritage Saved from Risk – Case Studies from Moscow and the Former Soviet Union 49 Maija Kairamo The Restoration of Viipuri Library, an International Pilot Project Historical background The municipal library of the City of Vyborg (in Finnish Viipuri) was designed by Alvar Aalto during the period 1927–1935. Construction work began in the middle of April 1934 and the library was inaugurated on October 13, 1935. The library is one of the most important works of Aalto’s pre-war output and together with the Paimio Sanatorium a cornerstone of his international fame. It is considered to be a masterpiece of the 20 th century architectural heritage, an icon of Modern architecture. The library reflects Aalto’s idea of architecture: “Radicalism is required to avoid superficial cosiness. Instead we have to pin down the problems whose solution will create the basis for a more sustainable architecture and values genuinely worthy for the day-to-day well-being of man.” (Aalto 1930) Viipuri Library looks like a typical Functionalist building, but its white surfaces and cubist massing conceal within them the seeds of “new Aalto.” The free form of the undulating wooden ceiling of the Lecture Hall points the way to his future organic architecture. Aalto’s architecture was always experimental, and it was especially so in the case of Viipuri Library: Here he used flat roofs penetrated by numerous skylights for the first time. Later this was characteristic of his architecture. Other avant-garde ideas involving heating and ventilation, steel columns and window and door frames, the undulating wooden ceiling of the Lecture Hall and many other novelties gave forms to the architecture of the library. Post-war rebuilding Viipury Library, arch. A. Aalto, 1927–35. View of the Lecture Hall during the restoration works in 2003 Karelia, together with the City of Vyborg, was ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944. The city was badly bombed during World War II, but the library did not suffer much. However, the building stood abandoned for ten years, was left open to the elements and lost its original inner and outer surfaces, fittings and furniture. It was rebuilt in 1955– 61 to again house the municipal library. The Soviet authorities decided that the building was to be restored to its former appearance, and the renovation began in 1955. The city asked the Minister of Culture in Moscow for copies of the original drawings and requested that some technical components, such as the round panes of glass for the skylights and air-conditioning equipment, be ordered from Finland. This was not possible, and the renovation was carried out on the basis of old photographs and fragments found in the building. The architects responsible for the work during the Soviet period were Petr Moiseejevich Rozenblum, followed by Alexander Mikhailovich Shver (from 1957 onwards); both did their best to rebuild the library in those difficult times. Through his recollections Shver has helped to document the history of the building. The proportions and materials used differ from the original. The eaves were raised by a height of two layers of brick. The height of the large bay window of the Lecture Hall was decreased by 20 cm because glass panes of the original size were not available in the Soviet Union. The present restoration project The present restoration of the library was started in 1991 as a joint project between Russian and Finnish restoration committees and has gained international interest. The Finnish Committee for the Restoration of Viipuri Library was founded in 1992. The committee prepares the plans necessary for the restoration and repairs and, together with its Russian counterparts, controls and guides the restoration. It is also responsible for channelling international and Finnish contributions to the project. An international appeal for the repair of the library was launched in 1992. UIA, ICOMOS and DOCOMOMO, several associations of architects, architects’ offices, architectural schools and about one thousand architects and other specialists signed the appeal. In 1995 the library was included in the Russian Federation’s list of Objects of Historical and Cultural Heritage. The 88 th Council Session of UIA recommended that the library be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The World Monuments Watch included the Alvar Aalto Library on its list of 100 Most Endangered Sites for the years 2000 – 2003. The City of Vyborg has financed a scientific documentation and an architectural and production design by Spetsproektrestavratsia / St. Petersburg. In 1998 the _ Heritage @ Risk Special 2006
Page 1: The Soviet Heritage and European Mo
Page 4 and 5: Heritage at Risk Special Edition ed
Page 6 and 7: Contents Alexander Lozhkin House of
Page 8 and 9: Editorial
Page 10 and 11: 10 the Technical University of Ber
Page 12 and 13: 12 МОСКОВСКАЯ ДЕКЛА
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178 Colour Plates Gosplan Garage of
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Authors Omar Akbar Architect. Profe
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The Soviet Heritage and European Modernism - Heritage ... - Icomos

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