The Hermitage XXI: The New Art Museum in the General Staff Building

The State Hermitage Museum is located in a series of historic and monumental buildings in the urban center of St. Petersburg, Russia. A portion of a building in the museum complex was recently renovated and opened to the public, creating gallery space for 19th- and 20th-century Russian and European art; this title has been published in conjunction with the opening of the new wing. Essays explain the goals of renovating, specifically how the designers strove to meet the contemporary needs of the museum while staying within the predefined space of a historic structure. Drawings, models, and photographs throughout show design elements and architectural details. The book concludes with a series of color photographs of the renovated building. The architectural photographs give viewers a feel for the grand modern space.