Wooden monuments comprise a vital part of the world's historical and cultural heritage, but they are fragile and vulnerable. They should be conserved using traditional carpentry techniques and tools. However, professionals in wooden architectural conservation should also be up-to-date on the knowledge and trends in preservation and restoration and can benefit from learning from leading experts in an international context.
The Republic of Karelia in northwest Russia is extremely rich in wooden monuments and serves as a perfect setting for this learning opportunity. The bulk of this course takes place in Russia's largest open-air museum — the Kizhi Museum — whose collection includes 83 wooden architectural monuments, including the Kizhi Pogost World Heritage site.
Those in charge of the maintenance and restoration of the structures have honed their experiences in developing exceptional techniques. On the recommendation of ICOMOS and UNESCO, they are pleased to share them with a broader audience.
The overall goal of this course is to improve professional knowledge and prepare participants for the practical work of preserving wooden architectural monuments in their countries. In particular, the objectives are to:
- introduce the features of Russian wooden architecture and carpentry traditions
- teach wooden architecture monitoring and maintenance techniques
- provide knowledge and practical skills for traditional and modern wooden architecture restoration techniques
