Restoration project of the Eastern Wing of the General Staff Building is a part of the Great Hermitage programme. The General Staff Building should become both a site for exhibiting works of art of XIX - XXI centuries and a cultural and public forum that sets new frameworks for the existence of Palace Square.

The concept of creating a new museum complex in the Eastern Wing of the General Staff Building (1820-1830, architect Carlo Rossi) stated by the Hermitage provided the basis for the project developed by the architect's Workshop Studio 44.

As explained by Mikhail Piotrovsky, architectural solutions should emphasize the greatness of Russian architecture and enhance the perception of Palace Square ensemble. It is necessary to follow all the rules of monument protection and to follow them in a way so everyone can see.

The General Staff Building is one of the symbols of the Russian Empire and one of the peaks of the Russian Empire style. Its facades, historic interiors are subject to thorough restoration and no changes are acceptable here. The goal of the project is to preserve and make accessible for visitors the whole complex of premises that existed here in XIX century.

The development priority of the Hermitage is maximum accessibility of its collections. And the necessary condition for that is the expansion of the Hermitage.

The task that was given to the Hermitage and the project developers was to provide the museum with big exhibition halls, to create comfortable conditions for employees work and exhibits conservation taking good care of Carlo Rossi's heritage.

The initial principle of organization of the exhibition premises in the General Staff Building will be the enfilade principle that is characteristic of the exhibition halls of the Hermitage: the Old, the New and the Winter Palace.

A universal, encyclopedic museum shall appear in the halls of the General Staff Building. The exhibition of museum shall present the art of the 19th - 20th centuries of Europe and Russia as well as the Eastern countries on full scale.

Special areas will be allocated for the display of the XXI century art.

Realization of the restoration project of the Eastern Wing of the General Staff Building will be a model of how monuments of history and architecture are included in the modern life.

Archaeological Survey Works in the Yards of the Eastern Wing of the General Staff Building