The Polytechnic Museum has named the finalists of the tender for its renovation project. Two frontrunners – a Japanese architect and an American bureau - divided the jury’s votes down the middle.

­The renovation of the Polytechnic Museum was spearheaded personally by President Medvedev. The state has allocated a significant sum of money, and the Museum Development Foundation launched a tender among several international architecture and design firms experienced in museum space organization.

Japanese Junya Ishigami suggested spreading the exhibition space into the museum’s yard and placing exhibits in a covered garden. American Leeser Architecture bureau captured the jury with its rational use of museum space.

project of the Japanese architect Junya Ishigami

The final tour, which will determine the winner, will be held in the next few weeks.

Earlier last week, the jury was presented with four project finalists, including two Russian development offers. Apart from the Japanese and American architects, St.Petersburg-based Studio 44 and Moscow-based Project Meganom together with Dutch Neutelings Riedijk Architects took part in the tender.

Over the years the Polytechnic Museum project has seen no forward movement. Its collections gathered  dust, while the historic building right next to the famous KGB headquarters in the heart of Moscow fell into decay.