"Restoration 800" is a regional program of restoration and conservation work on cultural heritage sites in Nizhny Novgorod, carried out as part of preparations for the city's 800th anniversary celebration. The program was implemented no later than the early 2020s and covered architectural monuments that required emergency stabilization and the restoration of their historical appearance.
Program activities
As part of "Restoration 800," work was carried out on a number of the city's historic buildings. In particular, the program covered the Fair Water Intake Station on the Strelka: the building's historical appearance was restored, and specialists managed to preserve the maximum possible amount of the building's historical elements. More than 39 million rubles from the federal budget were allocated for emergency stabilization work and conservation of the station.
By the time restoration began, the condition of a number of sites was critical. According to Oleg Berkovich, Minister of Culture of Nizhny Novgorod Region, the walls of the water intake station were covered with cracks, the upper part of the tower had completely collapsed, and the roof had rotted and caved in.
Coordination and oversight
One of the key figures of regional government overseeing the program was Oleg Berkovich, Minister of Culture of Nizhny Novgorod Region: he was responsible for the restoration projects timed to the city's 800th anniversary and assessed the condition of the sites before work began. Compliance with legislation on the protection of cultural heritage sites during the work was monitored by the State Heritage Protection Authority of the Nizhny Novgorod Region of Nizhny Novgorod Region.