The pinnacle of wooden architecture: a model of the Kizhi Pogost at the National Centre RUSSIA

The model of the wooden architectural ensemble on Kizhi Island in the Republic of Karelia, consisting of two churches and a bell tower from the 18th–19th centuries, is on display at "The Birth of Scale" exposition in the National Centre RUSSIA. The Kizhi Pogost is one of the largest open-air museums in Russia. It includes two wooden churches — the Church of the Transfiguration and the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin — as well as a bell tower built in the 19th century and an enclosing fence.

The key landmark of the museum is the Church of the Transfiguration. It has an octagonal base and is crowned with 22 onion domes of various sizes. The central dome reaches a height of 37 meters. Inside the church, beneath the vault of the "heaven" — a ceiling shaped like a truncated pyramid — stands a gilded, carved wooden iconostasis.

"In wooden architecture, modules were used — identical elements that could be assembled into various structures. These were usually quadrangular frameworks, but the Church of the Transfiguration is built as an octagonal structure. The core of the composition is an octagonal log framework, with four quadrangular sections attached on each side. Even though we now consider this church a true masterpiece of wooden architecture, back then, almost any peasant could build such a structure. Of course, the 22 domes forming a unique pattern are a remarkable creative achievement. In the past, no buildings in villages were taller than the church. It served as a kind of beacon, visible for miles, from which people could see, for example, if an enemy was approaching. Karelia has many such churches built on elevated terrain," said Alexander Gayneyev, a guide at the National Centre RUSSIA.

The Kizhi Pogost was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990. The Kizhi Museum-Reserve is one of the most popular destinations in Karelia.

The exposition "The Birth of Scale" at the National Centre RUSSIA showcases both completed architectural projects and visionary ideas that remained only as concepts. It features unique models of buildings, blueprints, and architectural layouts preserved in museums and private collections.

The partners of "The Birth of Scale" exposition include DOM.RF, the Ministry of Construction of Russia, Gazprom, the State Research Museum of Architecture named after A. V. Shchusev, the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, the Yakov Chernikhov Architectural Charity Foundation, and the HSE School of Design.