Students from the Department of Architectural and Urban-Planning Heritage of the SPbGASU Faculty of Architecture participated in a field trip dedicated to the study of St Petersburg's historical, cultural, and archaeological heritage sites. The program included a visit to the archaeological excavations conducted by the "Contemporary Archaeology" Research Center with the support of the ZSD JSC in the Glass Town, as well as a tour of the restoration work underway at one of the city's most beautiful churches.
Glass Town is a newly discovered archaeological site located near the Alexander Nevsky Lavra on the site of a former workers' settlement at an 18th-century glass factory. Igor Garbuz, Director of the Research Center for "Contemporary Archaeology", led the students on a tour.
Participants were told about the stages of archaeological work and the history of this settlement, which, in addition to industrial and residential buildings, housed a school, a store, a tavern, and other buildings. During the tour, students learned about the work of archaeologists, the specifics of excavations in a modern urban environment, and the legal requirements for the protection of cultural heritage sites. Foundation structures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries were preserved for research.
The presentation of the research results was particularly interesting. In the area where the highway will be built, the foundations of historic buildings, numerous artifacts, and cultural layers were discovered and recorded, allowing us to trace the development of this part of the city. Specialists demonstrated methods for documenting the finds, including 3D scanning and photogrammetry processing, the creation of preliminary survey drawings, and scientific documentation of archaeological sites.
After visiting the excavations, the students visited the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow (with Coins)," where they learned about the ongoing restoration work and the museum in the church's basement. Participants learned about the church's history and modern approaches to preserving architectural monuments, and were also shown the latest methods for restoring historical buildings and their decorative features.
Nadezhda Akulova, Head of the Department of Architectural and Urban-Planning Heritage at SPbGASU, thanked Igor Garbuz from ZSD JSC for the opportunity for specialists and future restoration architects to visit this site.
"Glass Town is a complete example of historical industrial urban development. The site was so vividly revealed in terms of architectural archaeology that it would have been a shame to miss it. These excavations clearly demonstrate the structure and materials of the walls and foundations of the entire town, something I had previously only read about when Father Bogdan, 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 exhibit at the church, part of which was dedicated to Glass Town.
Observing the archaeological expedition gave us a unique opportunity to experience architectural history firsthand. Visiting such sites is crucial for future professionals who dedicate their lives to architectural restoration. While students may not realize this yet, they will certainly understand it when they're older and more experienced.
A detailed study of the urban development findings and artifacts of Glass Town, based on archaeological reports, will enable students to create a digital model of the entire settlement, allowing them to clearly and thoroughly depict the life of this significant district in the history of St Petersburg and to present, through a graphic reconstruction, the entire historical site as our ancestors saw it."
The tour allowed the students to see how cultural heritage preservation principles are implemented in practice and to learn about the work of archaeologists and restorers. The knowledge they gained served as a useful supplement to their studies and helped future specialists better understand the importance of a comprehensive approach to the study and preservation of the city's historical environment.
