Polytechnic Museum, Moscow

The construction of the Polytechnic Museum lasted for about 30 years and was completed in 1912. Its scale and age imposed certain constraints on us as architects during the design process. The main challenge and research focus turned out to be not the design of the exhibition itself, but rather the integration of engineering systems. Archival materials on the building’s structure were not always available to guide us and the engineers. Moreover, all the walls in the museum are load-bearing, which made studying and working with the communications even more complicated. In the end, we managed to integrate new engineering systems into the structure, thus preparing the building for modern-day operation.

Together with the museum staff, we divided it into several zones: exhibition spaces (permanent and temporary), the Great Lecture Hall complex, the South and North courtyards, the office block, the library, scientific laboratories, and the former basement which is now a transit hub with visitor amenities.

Since the museum’s concept envisions the regular modernization of its permanent exhibition, which must always keep pace with the times, universal spatial layouts and interior solutions were developed for the exhibition areas, allowing for the installation of various multimedia complexes.
The distinctive feature of the future museum is that its creators have moved away from the classical museum format focused on displaying physical exhibits. Instead, the new science and discovery museum will be centered not on objects, but on processes. These are the processes of discovery, learning, and interaction. This new museum format will feature a predominance of interactive elements, including digital installations.

The abundance of interactive elements and rotating exhibitions requires extensive engineering infrastructure and a “black box” exhibition format. To address this, we developed a unified principle applied throughout the entire exhibition: a modular raised floor with movable panels, allowing any interactive element to be placed anywhere and to be connected to utilities. All halls are equipped with a two-stage blackout system: windows feature both blackout curtains and light-filtering drapes.

The Grand Auditorium is a legendary venue for public debate. At various times, it has hosted speeches by Vladimir Lenin, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Niels Bohr, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, and Le Corbusier. We preserved the hall’s original layout and, using new materials, highlighted its original composition. Now, in addition to its primary function, the lecture hall can serve as a venue for various types of events: concerts, film screenings, and live broadcasts.

To increase the museum’s usable space, two inner courtyards are being covered with glass roofs that are invisible from the outside and do not distort the building’s historic appearance. As a result, the Polytechnic Museum will gain two new large halls: the North Hall will serve as a venue for public events, while the South Hall will become a spacious children’s center.

The science lab zone is an educational cluster for both young people and adults, offering access to classes in laboratories and coworking spaces.

The former basement will become a hub from which visitors go up into the museum. It will house all the necessary infrastructure: ticket offices, shops, a cloakroom, information desks, a café, and restrooms. This part of the museum will be open to passersby, who will be able to walk through the underground gallery and, for example, get from the Kitay-Gorod metro station to Lubyanskaya Square.

The central, oldest part of the museum will be restored. Together with conservation specialists, we have reconstructed the historic staircase and foyer.