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For several years already, valuable authentic elements of the exterior and interior design of houses (pre-revolutionary, constructivist, and Stalin's "Empire" periods) are being destroyed in the historical center of Moscow. The Capital Repair Program for Moscow Apartment Buildings and the property owners often do not take into account the value of such historical elements as: pre-revolutionary floor Mettlach tiles of exceptional quality made by Villeroy & Boch, Marywil, Dziewulski & Lange; Falconnier glass bricks; windows, doors, hand-made railings of valuable wood, made according to individual designs of architects for each specific house. During the capital repairs, all these authentic elements are thrown out as construction waste and replaced by new analogs made of cheap modern materials: low-quality tiles, plastic, etc. This harms the historic appearance of the houses that miraculously survived to this day. With a competent approach, they can be preserved for years to come.

We are talking not only about historical buildings without the status of Cultural Heritage Object. The problem also applies to the Historically Valuable Urban Development Objects and the Objects of Historical and Urban Environment Objects. Such buildings are not protected from the actions of the Capital Repair Program and the property owners even if they are located in the protection zones of the Cultural Heritage Objects with special regimes prescribing restoration methods. In several cases, violations happen even in relation to Cultural Heritage Objects, where the simplification and replacement of authentic elements is justified by dubious expert examinations when carrying out works for adaptation to modern use. 

The Moscow Department of Cultural Heritage is recusing itself from control over the historical appearance (both exterior and interior) of houses that do not have protected status. Take, for example, the house on Nikolskaya street 6/2, bld. 1. It is located a hundred meters away from the Kremlin in the protection zone but does not have protected status. Consequently, for more than a month, the historic facade tile created by Villeroy & Boch is being knocked down and replaced by a cheap equivalent not designed for the exterior cladding.

We urge the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and its Minister Olga Lyubimova to stop the vandalism and consider amendments that will set restrictions on major repairs of sites built before 1955 (inclusive), regardless of their status. The amendments to the following legislation will provide for the preservation and careful restoration of all authentic elements (exterior and interior) of the building that make up its identity:

⁃ 73-Federal Law dated 25.06.2002 "On Objects of Cultural Heritage (Monuments of History and Culture) of the Peoples of the Russian Federation", Article 34 "Zones of Protection of Objects of Cultural Heritage".
 ⁃ Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 12.09.2015 № 972 "On Approval of the Regulation on Zones of Protection of Cultural Heritage Objects (Historical and Cultural Monuments) of the Peoples of the Russian Federation and Annulment of Certain Provisions of Regulatory Legal Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation".
 ⁃ Decree of the Moscow City Government dated July 7, 1998 № 545-Government Decree "On Approval of the Protection Zones of the Central Part of Moscow (within the limits of the Kamer-Kollezhskiy Val)".
 ⁃ Decree of the Moscow Government № 1215 dated December 28, 1999 "On Approving the Zones of Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Moscow (in the area between the Kamer-Kollezhsky Val and the administrative boundary of the city)”.

It is also necessary to make amendments and additions to № 114-Government Decree dated 28.03.2012 "On the coloristic solutions of the facades of buildings, structures and constructions in the city of Moscow”, which today does not include any item on the preservation of the authentic details and materials of historic buildings, and there are no requirements and restrictions regarding the renovation of interior decorations.

The widespread use of low-quality tiles, plastic, and violation of technological processes during the vandalous overhaul leads to the depersonalization of houses and cities. The loss of their historical spirit, the memory of the place, and, as a consequence, their tourist and investment attractiveness.

Let's save authentic Moscow!

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