Wooden structures of that age have never been restored before. The world's only multi-cupola wooden church will be rescued on a project of the St. Petersburg-based architectural restoration research institute, Spetsproectrestavratsia, Vladimir Rakhmanov, head architect.
The project proceeds from the Norwegian Lifting method, which does not envisage an edifice fully dissembled to restore it and replace worn-out or rotten logs. These will be removed with gradual lifting by specially designed jacks. Project blueprints divide the church in seven tiers for the purpose.
The top tier is 16 metres high, like a five-storey house, and weighs more than 30 tonnes. Its lift took a day. The tier rose 20 centimetres high next to get back on its place. The tier included the central cupola and four below. Supervising the works was Nikolai Popov, museum preserve deputy manager for Transfiguration Church restoration.
A team of six top-notch assemblers came to Kizhi island a month ago. They are employed with St. Petersburg's Alecon Co., which excels in non-standard assemblies of specially challenging construction projects.
The tiers will be lifted an average two metres each, demands the project.
The test lift of October 4 was a kind of dress rehearsal to restore the architectural masterpiece of global renown. Many were sceptical about the restoration endeavour. Now, experts and laymen alike see the precious church will have a new lease of life.
Basic works will start in 2006 to finish the restoration in 2014 for the Transfiguration Church 300th anniversary.
