As shown by a study conducted by the Center for Architecture and Construction of the Ural Federal University, the current state of the entrance group requires a major overhaul. The legendary arch of the Central Park of Culture and Culture has become a symbol of a favorite vacation spot: the park receives up to 100 thousand visitors a day, and most of them prefer the central entrance.
If we talk about the architects, the historic structure consists of several brick towers joined at the top by a brick wall with arched vault-like openings. The structure was built almost in 1955, and if you don’t take care of it now, it may be too late.
“During long-term operation (about 69 years), due to natural physical wear and tear, as well as a hidden defect in one of the foundations, the structure structures were damaged, which in some cases led to a decrease in their load-bearing capacity and serviceability,” said Marina Shvaleva, Leading Engineer of ACC UrFU.
The crack in the brickwork required constant monitoring to understand the dynamics of the changes and their criticality. The architects put the arch under observation, which lasted for more than a year. Specialists printed 3D models of the beacons and fixed them with cement in places where there were obvious structural defects. Initially, the beacons were inspected every week after their installation and then monthly.
“During the installation of the lighthouses, many different colours of the plaster layer were discovered, which on the one hand makes the work more complicated, but on the other hand gives an idea of the colours of the complex thanks to the laboratory. By analysing the layer, it is possible to understand what colour the complex was made in in the first years of construction,” explained Alexey Gurov, the chief architect of Mayakovsky Park.
According to the results of the study, scientists concluded that the uneven settling of the walls and the formation of cracks in them have ceased and restoration work can begin.
Photo: Official channel of the central park of Yekaterinburg/t.me/park_mayakovskogo
To complement the historical appearance, the curators of the project collect archives: photographs and film chronicles. In 1933, the gates that welcomed visitors to the park were made of wood; they were painted white to give it a formal appearance. Three years later, in 1936, it was decided to make the appearance of the entrance group more pompous; the architects managed to design a new entrance group in reference to Roman triumphal arches. In 1940, the park was named after Vladimir Mayakovsky, a portrait of the poet appeared on the entrance group, and his full-length sculpture was installed later, approximately from 1950 to 1960 after the reconstruction of the park.
By the way, in the next two years, the side pavilions near the central arch will be reconstructed: according to the plan, one of them will be used to buy souvenirs and learn about the park’s cultural programme, and the second will be turned into a cafe.
