Restoration workshop Wooden Heritage of Irkutsk is taking place in Irkutsk

In Irkutsk, the practical stage of the restoration workshop Wooden Heritage of Irkutsk has begun. Young restorers from Croatia, Germany and France are restoring the citys wooden monuments with local specialists.

Masters from three foreign countries are taking part in the restoration of Irkutsk’s wooden monuments. The work is being carried out as part of the restoration workshop “Wooden Heritage of Irkutsk.” This is the final event of the Summer Project Workshop, which began with the conference “Irkutsk – the Capital of Wooden Architecture.” As part of the scientific and practical forum, an international urban planning workshop was also held, dedicated to defining a concept for preserving wooden monuments.
The current stage is a transition from theory to practice. Over several days, from October 2 to 7, young restorers from Croatia, Germany, and France will share their knowledge and skills, as well as take part in the actual restoration of Irkutsk’s wooden monuments, going through all stages of restoration work.
The workshop program includes presentations and master classes by a specialist in construction and restoration technologies, lecturer at the European Institute of the Compagnons du Tour de France Daniel Dupé; lecturer at the Educational Center of the Compagnons du Tour de France Julien Chatelain; teacher at the Alphonse Kern School and restoration carpenter Frank Gauthier (Germany); and many others. The European masters noted that there is much we can learn from one another.
Of the 1,000 monuments located in Irkutsk, 70 percent are wooden. About 200 wooden architecture sites are in dilapidated and emergency condition.
In 2013, the first class of restorers of wooden architecture objects was enrolled at the College of Architecture and Construction. This became possible thanks to an agreement signed between the administration of Irkutsk, N.I. IrGTU, and OJSC “Irkutsk Monuments Development Agency.”
Today, the future professionals took part in installing the gazebo’s base trim, which foreign restorers are now working to restore and which will be installed on the grounds of the restored site.
The presentation of the site and the gazebo will take place on October 4. The summing up and closing of the restoration workshop will be held on October 7.