In 2008 a project of restoration of the eastern building of the former General Staff, built in 1820-1830s by the architect C. Rossi on the Palace Square, was launched. In 2014 a new museum complex of the Hermitage, designed for exhibiting art of the 19th-21st century, is planned to be built here.

The concept designed by the Hermitage formed the basis of the project developed by the Studio 44 Architectural Workshop. Upon its implementation, it will serve as reference of how landmarks of history and culture are tuned into our every day life.

The General Staff is one of the symbols of the Russian Empire and one of the highlights of Russian empire style. Its facades and interiors require thorough restoration and no modifications are acceptable here.

The project's objective is to provide the museum with large exposition facilities, create convenient conditions for work for employees and storage of items, preserve and make available for visitors the entire ensemble which existed in the 19th century.

The underlying principle of design of exposition facilities of the General Staff is a principle of enfilade-ness, typical to exhibition halls of the Hermitage. Permanent expositions of the future museum will be allocated in enfilades surrounding the complex across the perimeter on the second, third, forth and fifth floors.
Here, collections of Russian and European decorative and applied art, paintings and sculpture of the 20th century will be displayed. Paintings by impressionists, post-impressionists, masters if the 20th century from famous collections of S. Schukin and I. Morozov will move to the General Staff. Special facilities for the demonstration of contemporary art will be allocated, the Museum of Awards, the Museum of the Guards and the Faberge Museum will appear.

The display zone will include restored historical interiors - parade halls of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire, formerly located in this building, and private apartments of the chancellor count K. Nesselrode.

In December 2010 the first phase of the project will be completed. During this importance phase works of reinforcing foundations, walls, floors, creating engineering services, a roof boiler were carried out. One of the most complicated tasks was making a glass roofing for two out of five yards of the eastern building, creating halls of the new enfilade and new staircase leading to the second floor.

Facilities of the building located along the Moika river, including halls intended for displaying contemporary art, enfilades of the building leading to Bolshaya Morskaya street and the Palace Square were restored and prepared for expositions.

The second, final stage of the project, which implementation is also delegated to INTARSIA Group, will last until the end of 2012. In the course of this stage, restoration works will be fully completed, exposition halls will be prepared, service facilities of the museum will be handed over, all engineering systems will be put into operation. In the year of its 250th anniversary, the Hermitage will present to the city a new museum complex in the General Staff.

Archaeological Survey Works in the Yards of the Eastern Wing of the General Staff Building