“ARCHITECURAL HERITAGE – RUSSIAN MANOR” Endowment Fund

 

ABOUT THE FUND

The beginning of the XXIth century in Russia was marked by the emerged interest towards its own history, desire to rediscover the inheritance of the great Russian culture and history, travel around Russian, as well as visit and explore its architectural heritage.

FUNDAMENTAL PROVISIONS OF THE FUND`S STATUTE

  • The Fund is a non-membership non-profit organization
  • Generation of profit is not the Fund`s activities` main purpose, and it does not distribute earned profits among the Founders
  • The Fund Founders have no right to possess the Fund`s property or assets in their own interests
  • The Fund forms a target capital in favor of the non-profit organizations and projects in the sphere of culture, art, education, science, sports, archiving, and social service
  • The Fund does not carry out its activities on the compensation basis
  • The Fund has no right to make payments to the members of the Board of Trustees and the General Members Meeting for the carrying out of their assigned duties by them
  • The Fund is a sole proprietor of the Fund`s property, each individual Fund Founder has no interest in property that belongs to the Fund

The Fund was founded in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, Civil Code of the Russian Federation, the Federal Law of the Russian Federation NO 7-FZ “ On non-profit organizations,” the Federal Law of the Russian Federation NO 275-FZ “About the procedure for forming and use of the target capital of non-profit organizations”

THE FUND FOUNDERS

“The Union of Architects of Russia”
Academician of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences
Prof. Dr. arch. Andrey V. Bokov
President
“N.I.J. Legal Services” Ltd
Dr. Igor Y. Nikolsky
Director General
Prince Oleg V. Volkonsky
USA citizen
Dr.Igor Y.Nikolsky
Russian citizen
Mr.Vyacheslav A.Osipov
Russian citizen

THE FUND`S BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Prince Oleg V. Volkonsky
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Prof.Dr.arch Yury P. Gnedovsky
Academician of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences
Member of the Board of Trustees
Mr.Vyacheslav A. Osipov
Member of the Board of Trustees
Mr.Georgy G. Shishkin
Member of the Board of Trustees
Count Andrey D. Tolstoy-Miloslavsky
Member of the Board of Trustees
Nobleman Christopher A. Mouravieff-Apostol
Member of the Board of Trustees
Prince Vladimir Karageorgevich
Member of the Board of Trustees
Nobleman Pavel E. Kulikovsky
Member of the Board of Trustees
Prince Stéphane G. Belosselsky-Belozersky
Member of the Board of Trustees

THE FUND ASSEMBLY

Dr.Igor Y. Nikolsky
Fund Assembly member
Mrs.Irina M. Korobina
Fund Assembly member
Mrs.Tatiana S. Makeeva
Fund Assembly member
Mrs.Lyudmila Y. Panteleyeva
Fund Assembly member
Mr.Alexander L. Krasotkin
Fund Assembly member
Mr.Sluchevsky Nikolai Vladimirovich
Fund Assembly member
Mr.Smykov Igor Evgenievich
Fund Assembly member
Igor Yurevich Nikolsky
Director General of the
“Architectural Heritage – Russian Manor” Endowment Fund
“
“The European experience in historical preservation, restoration, and employment of the architectural heritage suggests that this task can be resolved most effectively only with the joint efforts of the state, private investors, and civil society.
The “Architectural Heritage – Russian Manor” Endowment Fund was founded with the main goal of uniting the interests of the state, private investors, civil society, and experts in the field of architecture, history, and culture, cultural heritage support and development with the purpose of regeneration of culture, history, traditions and way of life of the manors of nobility in Russia, as well as contribution toward the public awareness activities and implementation of the socially important, educational, and cultural programs and projects that restore and strengthen the national identity of the peoples of Russia.
The Fund carries out and finances the activities aimed at promotion and popularization of the subject of the Russian architectural heritage, participates in the development of the legal and financial mechanisms that ensure the preservation and regeneration of the cultural, historical, and architectural heritage of Russia, assists in incorporating it into the economic, social, and cultural life of Russia, thus, making it affordable and attractive to the Russian and foreign tourists.
The “Architectural Heritage – Russian Manor” Endowment Fund has launched its activities with the financing of the restoration work of the monument of federal significance the Sukhanovo Manor, the country estate of the Princes Volkonsky, 18th – 19th century (nowadays, it is the Art Center of the Architects of Russia) and the monument of federal significance the Talyzin`s Manor House on Vozdvizhenka street, Moscow, 17th – 19th century (nowadays, it is the Shchusev Museum of Architecture).”
 
On the eve of 1917, there were over 40 000 manors in the Russian Empire, the majority of which were situated in central Russia. For the country manors, the most picturesque locations were selected; as a rule, they were built on a high hill and had to have ponds and spacious parks in close vicinity.These estate ensembles were designed and constructed by such prominent Russian and European architects as Kazakov, Stasov, Ukhtomsky, Lvov, Gilardi, Rastrelli, Cameron, and others.
The collections of the best Russian and European works of art, china ware, weaponry, sculptures, furniture, and books used to be stored in those manors. The country estates also hosted the theatrical performances, balls, concerts, masquerades, as well as literary and musical evenings.
In their manors, the owners conducted the scientific work in the field of physics, astronomy, chemistry, agriculture, bred the unique racehorses (Orlovsky trotter and others), hunting dogs (Russian wolfhound borzoi and others), studied the family archives and genealogy, history, culture, and folklore. On the territories of their estates, they organized temples, hospitals, alms-houses, and schools for the residents of the surrounding villages. Extensive and diverse agricultural activities were also conducted on the territories of the country estates.
A coup d`etat of 1917 has caused a fundamental damage to the Russian traditions, culture, and history and ruined the notion of the “family nest” that resulted in the “generational memory” loss.
The majority of the Russian manors that survived almost a century-long ordeal entered the XXIth century broke, abandoned, forgotten, and unwanted.
Today, there are 7 000 manors left in Russia. Many of them are true masterpieces that used to store the rare libraries, collections of paintings and other pieces of art. Many of them were constructed by the prominent architects of their time and, due to their locations, are a part of the Russian national landscape that continue to take breath away with the beauty and harmony of the architectural forms.