This document provides information about establishing a Museum of the Russian Gas Industry. It discusses the long history of gas industry in Russia, establishing the need for a museum to showcase this history. It outlines the proposed mission, concepts, target audiences, and future development of the museum. Several potential sites for the museum are proposed, including two historic gasholders in St. Petersburg. International examples of reusing gasholders are also presented.

3. 3
History (Historical note) 3
Alternative projects 7
Why do we need the Museum 9
(The need to establish the Museum of the Russian gas industry)
Mission (Mission of the project) 10
The concept (The concept of the exhibition in the Museum) 11
The Target audience 12
Future development 13
Proposed sites for the Museum of the Russian gas industry 15
Economics (Economics of the project) 17
International experience in gasholder using 18
content of the project

4. 4
The history of Russian gas industry begins in 1811, when the Russian inventor
Peter Sobolevski created and tested the first domestic device to get artificial
gas. Seven years later the first street gas lamp was lit on Aptekarskiy Island
in St. Petersburg.
In 1835 the Charter of the first Russian gas company “Society of St.
Petersburg lighting gas” was accepted. The first gas plant was constructed in
the district of Obvodnyi Channel, the works on organization of the centralized
gas lighting started at that time. The need in gas lighting was growing fast,
so there was a need to store a gaseous fuel somewhere. That is how the first
gasholders appear, the storage tanks for natural gas, landfill gas, or liquefied
petroleum gas.
In 1856 the Society of city lightning was established; it has placed the gas
plant on Obvodnyi channel, it also designed and built two gasholder towers of
the first phase (1858-1862). The second phase gasholders were built in 1884.
The field of gas application expanded, and in the second half of XIX century
the most of industrial plants already had their own gasholders.
In the 80-s of XIX century a light bulb replaced a gas lantern, with that saving
the city from the illuminating gas; in these new circumstances gasholders
were no longer needed and then they have never been used for its original
purpose anymore.
Part of gasholders preserved to this day, while others lost their original
function. In 2001 Committee on State Control, Use and Protection of
Historical and Cultural Landmarks assigned the complex of buildings of gas
plant with a status of recognized object of cultural heritage. Large gasholder
is a monument of federal significance. At the moment these facilities are in
poor condition.
History
Historical note

5. 5
There are a lot of different industry museums in the world. Museums with
clearly marked industrial specialization are good alternative projects. We can
find examples in different economic sectors:
Transport (Metro museum, Russian Railway company museum)
Public utilities (Water museum of Federal State Unitary Enterprise
“Vodokanal”
Metallurgy (museum-factory of iron industry, Nizhny Tagil)
Gas industry (Gas museum, Poland, Warsaw)
Oil industry (Petroleum museum, Norway, Stavanger)
Russian Railway Company Museum
Mobile exhibition
and lecture complex
of Russian Railway
Company Museum – it
is a unique train that
travels and presents
innovative projects of
leading Russian and
International companies. First itinerary of that
complex passed through the territory of 15 Russian
railways from Moscow to Sovetskaya Gavan and
back during two months. It did 45 stops. By popular
demand of exhibition visitors second itinerary of
unique Russian Railway Company train are going
to start in the nearest time and it will pass through
5 Russian railways.
Alternative projects

6. 6
Alternative projects
Museum complex “The Universe of Water” (SUI “Vodokanal of St.
Petersburg”)
Museum is a part of information and training center and it is situated on
Spalernaya st., 56. Former clean water reservoir is a symbol of Vodokanal St.
Petersburg and could be seen from the distance.
The exhibition “Universe of Water” was opened in the former clean water
reservoir (constructed in 1887-1889, architects E.G. Shubersky and I.A.
Merts) by the 150th anniversary of Vodokanal in autumn 2008. It combines
multimedia technologies and effects, spatial and text objects. Images, sounds
andcolorthemesarechangingmakingtheexhibitionchangefullikewater.This
exhibition has no equals neither in Russia nor abroad in terms of elaboration
and use of modern technologies. 32 films about water were specially produced
for the Universe of Water. The films are continuously demonstrated on large
screens. The films are about music of water, information memory of water,
origin of water on the Earth, healing properties of water, water in ceremonies,
floods in St. Petersburg.

7. 7
Nizhny Tagil Iron Industry Museum
Museum-plant was opened in Nizhny Tagil in January
1989. It was founded in the metallurgical shop of the
Kuibyshev plant. Now there are 6 expositions that
reflect all milestones of metallurgical production such
as blast-furnace shop, rolling, heart plant, power
facilities, equipment for mechanical metallurgy and
casting.
Likewise exhibitions of the rolling stock and plant
equipment of the XIX-XX centuries operate on the
plant territory. First museum-plant in Russia is unique
monument of the metallurgical past.
Alternative projects

8. 8
Alternative projects
Gas Museum, Muzeum Gazownictwa
(Poland, Warsaw)
The group of buildings ‘Gazownia na Woli’
is one of the preserved ancient industrial
architecture complexes, from the turn of
the 19th and 20th centuries. High-quality
Machinery and technological equipment of
impressive size preserved in excellent working
condition. The interior of a typical 19th century
living space displays common gas appliances
used in households, including a gas refrigerator, kitchen gas-coal stove, gas
iron, thermos, an original bathroom furnace and a unique machine for boiling
coffee. The Museum also presents a collection of old documents concerning the
history of the Warsaw Gas Company which give ample testimony to the rich
heritage of the Polish gas industry and its historic developments.

9. 9
Alternative projects
The Norwegian Petroleum Museum
Oil was found in the end of 60-s of the XX century in Norway on the North
Sea shelf and Stavanger became “petroleum” capital of Norway.
The Norwegian Petroleum Museum was opened on 20 May 1999. (Norsk
Oljemuseum). The unusual architecture has made the museum a landmark in
the Port of Stavanger. Museum looks like a small oil platform. It focuses on
offshore petroleum activity especially in the North Sea. Norwegian Petroleum
museum is a museum for everyone. Its exhibits explain how oil and gas are
created, discovered and produced, and what they are used for.
The museum also provides information about technological advances and the
way petroleum influences Norwegian society. Original objects, models, film
and interactive exhibits illustrate everything from everyday life offshore to
technology and dramatic incidents.

10. 10
There is a need to establish the Museum because:
1. Russian gas industry has more than two hundred years history; this
explains the large number of historical facts and artifacts associated with
the development of the industry. For example: gasholder.
2. Russia is a world leader in gas production and transportation.
3. The gas industry in Russia is one of the most important in the economy; gas
is important in all sectors of life from medicine to spacecraft construction.
4. The general public knows nothing about the technology of gas production
and transportation.
In connection with the above matter the Museum of gas industry will be a
unique historic chronograph, which will cover all the stages of the gas industry
development, and discover this to people through the presented exposition.
The museum exhibition will show a mere consumer what is the work of gas
industry and how important it is, because we often do not even think about it.
In the museum we will not only become familiar with the process of gas
production and technological progress, but we will also understand the strong
influence of gas on the culture of the society, the changes in the gas industry
during its development; the museum itself will demonstrate the achievements
of the national heritage.
Why do we need the Museum

11. 11
1. Visual demonstration of gas position and gas industry in the development
of modern society.
2. Preservation and restoration of historical values.
3. Building and developing of the JSC “GAZPROM” image.
educational purposes
promising future projects
information of JSC “GAZPROM” charity work.
4. Patriotic education.
5. Developing of strategic partnership with Saint-Petersburg administration.
6. Developing of effective PR tools.
7. Establishing of a platform for the formation of staff reserve (training
programs, re-certification).
8. Establishing of an innovative platform for developers to run competitions of
ideas together with different scientific forums.
9. An impulse to re-development of adjacent areas.
Mission

12. 12
The main concept of the Museum is to reveal the whole scientific and technical
potential which constitutes the modern gas industry; to demonstrate the
significance of the gas industry and JSC “Gazprom” in modern life from
social, economic, political and scientific points of view.
The museum should have the permanent exhibition and changing exhibits.
The part of the Museum can be presented as a gallery with ever-changing
exhibit. This will attract new visitors coming for regular updates.
The museum shall correspond to the following requirements:
1. The history of production and technology of gas transportation.
2. The history of formation and development of gas industry in Russia
3. Thematic research and educational park that will reveal the physical and
chemical phenomena in technological process of gas industry.
4. Interactivity of the museum or its exhibits. It is supposed that the audience
participates in the process of museum communication, gets personal
experience of developing the museum space.
5. Focus on different age groups.
The concept
The concept of the exhibition in the Museum

13. 13
1. Schoolchildren, students, residents
2. Tourists
3. International delegations, partners and clients of JSC “Gazprom”
4. Corporate clients
The Target audience

14. 14
Future development
1. Opening of the Museum branch offices in Russian regions.
2. Opening of a Contemporary Arts Center on the base of the Museum of gas
industry; the Center will attract a much bigger audience.
At the moment there is a difficult situation in the field of contemporary art
in Russia - contemporary art galleries are to be closed, and then there are
young active artists who often leave our country for the possibility of self-
realization, self-presentation and demonstration of their works.
The Contemporary Art Centre as part of the Museum will become a
platform for such artists, designers and architects. So this Centre can
become not only the place for modern art presentation but also an impulse
to its development in our country, which will certainly have a positive effect
on Museum’s activity and Gazprom image at all.
3. Competitions and awards presentation in the field of contemporary art
aiming to attract Russian artists as well as foreign ones, which will make
the Museum known internationally.
4. The participation in big international art exhibitions with great number of
visitors from all around the world (for example, ArtBasel Miami with the
total number of visitors in 3 days of more than 50,000).
5. Travelling museum exhibition in small towns (for example, by bus equipped
with gas-fueled engine, with Museum exhibits).
The Museum will become an effective PR-tool for its founders:
Through the Museum you can communicate to the big audience of visitors,
Russian as well as foreign ones.
To speak about programs and trends in Gazprom, for example: ecological,
contemporary art programs, charity events.
To attract students of Russian universities to partial development of
Museum’s exhibits, which will provide the Museum with a positive image of
public company.
Opening of a Museum, presentation of its programs and regular exhibitions
will become a newsworthy event for major media coverage.

15. 15
Proposed sites for the Museum of
the Russian gas industry
Gasholder at the address:
Obvodnyi channel 74
It is the first gasholder in Russia. At the moment
it is the only preserved monument from the
time when the gas industry had been actively
developing and its role had become the leading in
the country’s activity. In 2001 the Committee on
State Control, Use and Protection of Historical
and Cultural Landmarks assigned the complex
of buildings of Main gas plant with a status of discovered object of cultural
heritage. Currently the territory of the gasholder belongs to “Composit” plant.
The first buildings of the Main gas plant in St.Petersburg were constructed
in 1858-1862. These are two gasholder towers which unfortunately haven’t
been preserved. Gasholder of the second phase which was constructed in 1884
is the only preserved object of the first structures of Main gas plant for today.
Circular gasholder is 42 meters in diameter and 20 meters in height. On top
it is spanned with the flat dome of Schwedler system with radial metal farms
tied with steel rods. In Soviet times there was a coke gas-works. After the
changeover for natural gas and electricity was done, gasholders have lost their
original function. Ones are used as warehouses, the others are even abandoned.
However, they haven’t lost their value from the historic and cultural points
of view, and stay significant monuments of industrial architecture of XIX-
early XX century. This is why the establishing of the Museum of Russian gas
industry is sensible to be done in the exact place of gas industry development.

16. 16
Gasholder at the address:
Gazovaya street 10
The gasholder was constructed in 1902 (chief
engineer V.V.Korvin-Krukovskiy).
In early XVIII there were “green” (powder)
mills. In 1797 they were closed. In1873 the part
of desert territory (on the odd-numbered side of
Levashovskiy avenue) was taken by Gas plant,
which was constructed for gas lighting of the
Petrogradskaya and the Vyborgskaya Sides.
The Gas plant was at the end of the Gazovaya street. It was opened in 1877 for
gas conversion process and for natural gas storing.
The circular brick building with dome roof is a gasholder of closed gas plant.
In 1930-s the gasholder was redesigned for production purposes with shut-off
devices and siting of workshops in it.
Today this area is owned by JSC “Stilkon” which also lease the premises to
manufacturing companies.
Proposed sites for the Museum of
the Russian gas industry

17. 17
Economics
Source of financing:
1. Long-term loans at a reduced rate by individuals interested in establishing
of such Museum. For example:
Saint-Petersburg Administration
JSC «Gazprom»
any other business representative in need of a powerful PR-tool to enter the
international market.
2. Formation of an endowment fund; all the above mentioned can become its
participants.
3. Charitable donations.
Income source:
1. Admission tickets
2. Reserve of museum exhibits and its lease to other exhibition halls
3. Providing the Museum space for rent to provide thematic exhibitions,
conferences, seminars, lectures and trainings
4. Sale of souvenirs
5. Cafe/restaurant
6. Hotel
7. Sponsor donations
8. Auction sale

18. 18
International experience
in gasholder using
In 2001 gasholders of the end of XIX century in
the Vienna had been reconstructed in multistory
buildings with living, office and trade spaces.
Vienna undertook a remodeling and revitalization
of the protected monuments and in 1995 called for
ideas for the new use of the structures. The chosen
designs by the architects Jean Nouvel (Gasometer
A), Coop Himmelblau (Gasometer B), Manfred
Wehdorn (Gasometer C) and Wilhelm Holzbauer
(Gasometer D) were completed between 1999 and
2001. Redevelopment took 174 million Euro. Each
gasometer was divided into several zones for living
(apartments in the top), working (offices in the
middle floors) and entertainment and shopping (shopping malls in the ground
floors). The shopping mall levels in each gasometer are connected to the others
by sky bridges. The historic exterior wall of bricks was conserved. There are
615 modern apartments, an event hall holding 3.500 people, a cinema center,
a shopping mall, a student home, the Vienna’s municipal archive, offices of
telecommunication companies,a kindergarten, schools, medical and other
facilities in the four gasometers.
Gasometer A - Jean Nouvel has created
a large indoor plaza with a translucent
roof playing with reflections, refractions
and transparencies of the old and the new.
Among his projects are buildings of Arab
World Institute in Paris, Torrу Agbar in
Barcelona.
GasometrB-TheconceptofCoopHimmelb(l)auGasometerBaddsthreenew
volumes to the existing facade: The cylinder inside the Gasometer, the striking
addition of the shield that is visible from outside and the multifunctional
event hall situated in the base of the Gasometer. Famous Vienna architectural
bureau Coop Himmelb(l)au is known for its passion to deconstruction.
Gasometer C – Austrian Manfred Wehdorn created an indoor garden and
an eco-friendly designed terraced structure. This reconstruction took 24,6
million Euro.
Gasometer D - Wilhelm Holzbauer occupied the center of the existing
building with lift and stairs, from which three compact sections were divided
by indoor gardens penetrating the perimeter of the existing building.