The house of the first leaders of VNIIF in Sarov will be turned into a museum.

      September 4, 2026 19:21 Culture and Leisure A historic house in Sarov, where the founders and leading specialists of the nuclear center VNIITF lived, is planned to be restored and turned into a museum space. This was reported by the Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Yegor Polyakov, on his Max channel. The previously destroyed and fire-damaged non-residential building with an area of 270.8 square meters and one underground level was put up for auction twice. The starting price of the lot was 279 thousand rubles. At the same time, under the terms of the contract, the new owner was to invest about 81.7 million rubles in comprehensive restoration and reconstruction of the facility. For the first time, there were no interested buyers for the building, recognized as a cultural heritage site of regional significance. As Yegor Polyakov reported, following the second auction held by the Ministry of Property of the Nizhny Novgorod Region on August 31, the object was purchased by its historical owner - RFNC-VNIITF. They will take care of the restoration and reconstruction of the building. "The house at Davidenko, 5 in Sarov is a unique material witness to the times of the development of the first domestic atomic bomb," noted Yegor Polyakov. According to him, the architectural monument is known as the "Directors' House" - the first leaders of the nuclear center. Since its construction in 1947, it has housed the directors of KB-11 and VNIITF: Pavel Zernov, Anatoly Alexandrov, Boris Muzrukov, and Yevgeny Negin. Since 1972, the house has been used by VNIITF for the accommodation of scientists visiting the facility. In the 21st century, the building was sold to a private individual, but was later seized due to improper maintenance. By 2026, the house was almost completely lost after a fire. "The plans of the nuclear center are to create a museum-memorial and public space based on the 'Directors' House.' It is planned that the restored cultural heritage site will become a branch of the Museum of Nuclear Weapons of RFNC-VNIITF," added the Deputy Governor. It was previously reported that "the house where outstanding scientists Academicians Yu.B. Khariton and E.A. Negin lived and worked" in Sarov was recognized as an object of cultural significance. We also reported that the restoration of the "Chardymov House" and the "Samgin House" in Nizhny Novgorod has been completed. You can see how they look in the photo report by NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+