2007

Restoration works in the territory of the Armory Chamber have been carried out to preserve the architectural monument and its decoration, to renew the destroyed details and restore the authentic external view in whole as well as to solve the problem of re-equipment of the interior halls for the museum purposes.

In 2000-2002 the anti-damage and restoration works were carried out on the western side of the facade and on the roofing. The arrangements included restoration of the walling, white-stone blocks, forged window grills, timberwork, metal cornice coverings and downpipes.

In 2003-2004 restoration works were continued on the northwest side of the façade. Some sections were renewed with plastering, clearing of the white stone, replenishment of the carved white-stone fragments of the capitals, window framing and cornices; forged window grills were furbished up. A procedure of filling joints with grout for keeping the basement wall from water was carried out on the eastern facade of the Armoury Chamber. In the lower hall of the Armoury Chamber, intended for the visitors of the museum, public place of convenience has been modernized.

By the year 2005 the restoration of the northwest facade has been completed. It included the renovation of the walling, i.e. brick setting, replacement of the damaged white-stone blocks by new pieces, replenishment of the carved white-stone fragments of the capitals, window framing and cornices with a special grout, imitating white stone. The walling was finished with the renovated decorative details. While cleaning the facade of overpaint researchers discovered that walls and white-stone details had been covered with a bordeaux-brown paint dated back to the second half of the XIXth century. During the restoration works of 1970s it was decided to maintain the yellow paint of walls in combination with white decorative elements for the reason that the question of the original colour of decorative finish still remained undetermined. Researchers conducted to leave vertical profiling structures on the well-preserved wall surface, which were to reveal the preceding stages of painting as a part of a history of the building construction.

The building season of 2007 comprised restoration works on the western part of the southern facade and on the southwestern corner of the Armoury Chamber. Technical inspection of these sections revealed damage of the finishing coat, white-stone walling and fretted ornamental details which have been executed during the latest restorations. One of the southern facade's capital was completely renovated since its volutes have appeared to be destroyed. The repairs to the white-stone facing, profiled cornices, carved trimmings of the window openings, pilasters and pillars have been also carried out. Some missing details of the white-stone walling were replenished with a special grout. Copper coverings of the cornices and the pillars’ capitals were renovated. Upon completion of exterior reconstruction finishing works on the facades were successfully carried out. Conservation and restoration works have been carried on the front staircase of the Armoury Chamber as well as on the entrance doors of its eastern, southern and southwest facades.