Alexander Palace Restoration

[Alexandre Mikhaelovitch]

The programme of Alexander palace's restorations :

"The restoration projects include the following:

   *Restoration of rooms with surviving historic decorations, such as the Suite of State Rooms including the Corner Drawing-Room, Mountain Hall, Large or Crimson Drawing-Room and Library Rooms, as well as the Reception Room and State or New Study of Nicholas II;

   *Restoration of historic decorations (as of the late 19th – early 20th century) in six living and working rooms on the first floor of the West Wing, such as the Bathroom or Moorish Room, Study (Office) of Nicholas II, Bedroom, Lilac or Mauve Study, Palisander and Maple Drawing-Rooms;

   *Some rooms in the West Wing that were rebuilt in 1949 will be used as temporary exhibition and conference rooms after restoration.

   *These works are scheduled for completion in 2018, depending on finances. If the palace reopens by 17 July 2018, that will be a major event commemorating 100 years since the tragic death of Emperor Nicholas II and his family.  

These projects are scheduled for completion in 2018. The Alexander Palace is scheduled to reopen on July 17, 2018, marking the 100th anniversary of the murders of Emperor Nicholas II and his family."

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 02 September, 2015
 

[lilianna]

The Palace rooms and the basement. Restoration. 21.09.2015.
Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=195&v=rju1KEHU218

[Laura Mabee]

Thank you Liliana for the video! How fascinating. I've never seen the palace so bare, and so exposed to the public (plastic moldings on the columns!!??!)

[lilianna]

1. I don't like the restoration of the basement. They raised basement at 1-2 meters and there will be a cloakroom for guests and a café. In the video it shows the height of the old and new basement.
2. Props in the New Cabinet of the Emperor was made for film about the Royal Family.

[lilianna]

 The  film of Gleb Panfilov "Romanovs the Imperial family". The film was made in 2000.
Here is a film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3&v=LPqiyzig0OY

[Sanochka]

The Palace rooms and the basement. Restoration. 21.09.2015.
Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=195&v=rju1KEHU218

I understood very little but watched the entire video.  At 14:02 I gasped; is it possible that the ornate mirrored door cover has been returned to the Mountain Hall?  It appears that artists renditions have been mixed with actual footage, so I can't be sure.  I'm certainly hoping so.

Thank you so much, Lilianna, for posting this fascinating video!

[Sanochka]

Oops.  I meant Billiard Hall.

[lilianna]

The film was shot at the Studio and at Alexander Palace. For filming was made of the furniture on the photos before the war with the Nazis. Was made Bedroom furniture, New Cabinet for the bedroom and Alexis. After the film Museum was asked to leave everything in the Palace. And there she was standing before the closure of the Palace for restoration. The video shows the chief architect and says that everything will be made from natural stones. Will be so until 1941.

[Alice]

Do we know if July 2018 is still the proposed re-opening date? I ask because I was there about four weeks ago and there's a sign in front of the palace that says the restoration won't be completed until 2020. I wish I'd taken a photo of the sign, but the weather was awful and it was difficult juggling the umbrella and camera  . . .

ETA: I did take a photo of the actual palace, though!

[BobAtchison]

I think 2020 is optimistic. They also have to do Catherine's rooms in the Catherine Palace.  It is shocking how little money they need to do the restoration of the AP.  Lots of people want to help but the world situation is such a mess and send big sums money to Russia is almost impossible. I cannot understand why they ripped out the basement.  That was a major decision made in Moscow. I don't think it was Tsarskoe Selo.  That was a big engineering project, big bucks were and are being spent on it. In my opinion the people running Tsarskoe Selo are the SMART and best in the world - they love the palace, I wish they were given the power to make all the decisions themselves.  It must be very frustrating for them.  It is incredibly hard for them to run everything on a day to day basis AND restore the AP. They keep being given more buildings! We should do everything we can to support them.  There isn't much we can do right now in the west. Let's hope and pray we stay out of a war.

[lilianna]

I was told that it is not known when the Palace opens. The money is now in the Museum for the continuation of the restoration there.

[Inok Nikolai]

Paul Kulikovsky's "Romanov News", No. 125, Aug. 2018, has a detailed report on the progress of the restoration.
He visited the palace recently and took photos.
Check out his FaceBook page too.

[Ellie]

I finally went on a lovely organized trip to Russia around a month ago. Our guide was very nice and helpful; however, she did make a few mistakes which irked me. Guides are under a lot of pressure, so I wouldn't (at least publically) correct them. It did bother me that, upon entering Pushkin, she mentioned the Alexander Palace, which, she said, was only lived in by Nicholas II during the months of house arrest.

I tried to diplomatically put the misake straight, but didn't pursue the matter after I had agitated her when POLITELY and QUIETLY I tried to correct her when she mentioned that Alexander Ulyanov was amongst Alexander II's assassins or that Kerensky was held prisoner at the fortress of Peter and Paul.

[VonHoldinghausen]

Hi friends

Do we know if also the childrens rooms on the upper floor ist to be restored?
I fear they are not...

Kind regards

[TheLionandTheEagle]

Hi friends

Do we know if also the childrens rooms on the upper floor ist to be restored?
I fear they are not...

Kind regards

In this article from Royal Russia, it says that they will be used for temporary exhibits. Hopefully, the rooms will at least be the same size, etc, as the original rooms, but it doesn't sound like they will look as they did when the Imperial Family lived there.

https://royalrussia.news/2019/04/17/alexander-palace-may-not-open-this-year/?fbclid=IwAR1piGK7PpBIXNRNQCQa_pGdCWxM0zDwfILbsJ2S_p4F6FvemPGohwyevTE