KBSU Restoration Students Visit «Dacha No. 5» for a Practical Class

Students specializing in Restoration at the College of Design of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University (KBSU) named after Kh.M. Berbekov visited the «Dacha No. 5» cultural heritage site—recently reopened following extensive restoration—as part of their «Fundamentals of Museology» course. The practical session was led by instructor Olga Zavoda.

Murat Bakhov, Director of the KBSU Botanical Garden, organized the tour and presented third- and fourth-year students with factual information regarding the site’s history and architectural features.

«The ‘Dacha No. 5’ building is seamlessly integrated into the urban fabric of the historic Zatishye district and is closely linked to the history of the KBSU Botanical Garden itself,» noted Murat Bakhov.
The students toured the surrounding grounds, examined information displays, and explored the interior details. Early Soviet-era furniture, authentic 1920s-style curtains, an antique samovar, a collection of rare books, and artifacts carefully contributed by local historians transported visitors back to early 20th-century Nalchik.

The aspiring professionals evaluated the site through the lens of restoration theory and highlighted several key aspects. They noted the complex challenge faced by the restoration team: prior to the project, the building had remained «alive,» functioning as the university’s mountain ecology research laboratory. The restorers faced the task of skillfully adapting the site for modern museum use while carefully preserving its authentic historical appearance. The students paid particular attention to the unique nature of the monument itself. «Dacha No. 5» represents a combination—rare for the North Caucasus—of Art Nouveau and the traditions of early 20th-century Russian wooden architecture. This blend of materials demanded the highest level of expertise from the restoration specialists, as well as knowledge of specific techniques for working with wood, brick, and intricate decorative elements.

Following the practical session, the students reached a significant conclusion: the revival of «Dacha No. 5» stands as a brilliant example of so-called «soft» museification. The site has retained its remarkable, distinctive atmosphere while becoming a unique, multifaceted venue for the study of Russian architecture and culture.