In the early 1970-ies in anticipation of the 250-th anniversary of Ekaterinburg in the historical centre of the city, in the place of Ekaterinburg ironworks, it was decided to create historical – a memorial complex and to place on its territory the museum of old factory machinery and the history of architecture of the Ural cities. Sverdlovsk architectural Institute (SAI) under the leadership of the first rector of the University N. C. Alferov, together with the Institute Sverdlovsk architecture product for several years developed project documentation and conducted author’s supervision over construction of Historical Park, including its museum complex. 29-th of March, 1975, the opening of the museum on the history and prospects of development of architecture of the Urals. The museum is housed in the buildings of monuments of industrial architecture of the XIX century of Federal significance – the former shops of the Ekaterinburg mechanical factory.
The exposition of the museum, the creation of which was attended by leading Department SAI, has been divided into three sections: the “Stone belt,” “History of the Ural old technology” and “History of planning and development city of Sverdlovsk”. In the late 1970-ies at the initiative of the University and with the support of the production Association “Uralchermet” did a great job finding and installing large equipment of the Ural factories in the courtyard of the museum, they launched the exhibition under the open sky.
In 1985 the museum was renamed the museum of history of architecture and industrial technology Urals. By this time SAI was adopted a long-term programme of thematic development and acquisition funds of the museum. In accordance with this program in the exhibition devoted to the architecture of the Urals, reflected longstanding practices of departments for the study of the monuments of the Urals, the results of the implementation of large-scale complex program “Stone belt”. In the large exhibition hall, which housed the section “History of development and planning city of Sverdlovsk” has introduced new exhibition equipment. Vertical stands, harmoniously combined with the wooden beams of the historic building, has significantly expanded the demonstration capabilities of the hall. In 1992 in the courtyard of the Museum was the bust of the founder of the mining business in the Urals to Peter I, a copy of the pre-revolutionary monument, restored by graduate of the SAI, sculptor S. G. Chekhov.
In the early 2000s as part of the modernization of the Museum, all sections of the permanent exhibition were concentrated in a large exhibition hall, a former leasuring shop. An existing exhibits are supplemented with unique materials of the collection: photos of the late XIX – early XX centuries, drawings of the Ural old technology, models of monuments of industrial architecture of Ural. During this period the museum began to function as a museum and exhibition complex of USAAA and has established itself as one of the most interesting exhibition venues in the city. In 2001 for the implementation of the international exhibition project bringing together three exhibitions: “In search of the perfect city,” “The Clock of world” and “K. – N. Ledoux and Russian architecture”, the museum staff and the USAAA was awarded the prize. V. N. Tatishchev and G. V. de gennine. Innovative exhibition projects of the Museum has repeatedly become laureates of the city contest “the Best Museum project of the year.
In 2008 began a new stage in the history of the museum associated with the extension, modernization and reconstruction of existing buildings for the extra space of the new structural units of USAAA – the Ural centre of development of design. Suspending at the time of reconstruction exposition and exhibition activity, the museum staff concentrated their efforts on the popularization of the architectural heritage of the Urals. Based on the stock collections of the museum was prepared and published a unique 6-volume series “The architecture of the Sverdlovsk region”, which comprehensively analyzes the stages of formation and development of architecture of the Middle Urals in the XVII-XX centuries, describes the most significant monuments of Baroque, classicism, eclectic, modern, constructivism and neoclassical. The series was awarded the prize of the Governor of Sverdlovsk area for outstanding achievements in literature and art.
In 2010 educational – methodical Council of USAAA, given the expansion of relevant areas of training of students of USAAA, the need to promote the achievements of the Ural school of design and the needs of the newly created Ural center of development of design, took the decision to develop a new concept of development of the Museum.
