Published on: 2026-07-28
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Students of the Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage of the Faculty of Architecture at SPbGASU participated in an off-site excursion dedicated to the study of historical and cultural archaeological heritage sites of Saint Petersburg. The program included a visit to archaeological excavations conducted by the Research Center “Actual Archaeology” with the support of JSC ZSD in the territory of the Glass Town, as well as an introduction to the restoration work on one of the city’s most beautiful churches.
Glass Town is a designated archaeological heritage site located near the Alexander Nevsky Lavra on the territory of the former workers’ settlement associated with an 18th-century glass factory. The tour for students was conducted by the director of the Research Center “Current Archaeology.” Igor Garbuz.
Participants were informed about the stages of archaeological work and the history of the emergence of this settlement, which, in addition to industrial and residential buildings, had its own school, shop, tavern, and others. During the excursion, students learned about the work of archaeologists, the specifics of conducting excavations in a modern urban environment, and the legal requirements for the protection of cultural heritage sites. For research, the foundation structures from the late 19th to early 20th centuries have been preserved.
Particular interest was aroused by the report on the research results. On the territory of the future road construction, foundations of historical buildings, numerous artifacts, and cultural layers were discovered and documented, allowing the tracing of the development of this part of the city. Specialists demonstrated methods of recording the findings, including 3D scanning and photogrammetry processing, the creation of preliminary measurement drawings, and scientific documentation from the archaeological sites.
After visiting the excavations, the students went to the church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow (with coins)”, where they became acquainted with the ongoing restoration work and the museum in the church’s basement. The participants were told about the history of the church and modern approaches to the preservation of architectural monuments, as well as shown the latest methods of restoring historical objects and their decorative furnishings.
Head of the Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage at SPbGASU, Nadezhda Akulova, thanked Igor Garbuz from the ZSD service for the opportunity for specialists and future architect-restorers to visit this site.
“The Glass Town is a coherent example of historical sectoral urban development. The site was so clearly revealed in terms of architectural archaeology that missing it would have been unfortunate. These excavations provide a good representation of the structure and materials of the walls and foundations of the entire town, something I had only read about before when Father Bogdan, the rector of the Church of the Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow (with coins)’, and I were preparing a museum exhibition at the church, part of which was dedicated to the Glass Town.”
Observing the archaeological expedition process gave us a unique opportunity to experience architectural history firsthand. Visiting such sites is extremely important for future professionals who dedicate their lives to architectural restoration. Although students do not fully realize this yet, they certainly will as they grow older and gain more experience.
A detailed study of the urban development finds and artifacts of the Glass Town based on archaeological reports will give students the opportunity to create a digital model of the entire settlement, which will visually and in detail depict the life of this significant district in the history of St. Petersburg and demonstrate the entire integrated historical object in the form of a graphic reconstruction as it was seen by our ancestors.”
The excursion allowed the students to see how the principles of cultural heritage preservation are implemented in practice, as well as to become acquainted with the work of archaeologists and restorers. The acquired knowledge became a useful addition to the educational process and helped future specialists better understand the importance of a comprehensive approach to studying and preserving the city’s historical environment.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.