The Design of the Porch of an Administrative-Residential Building of the 18th Century in the Central Part of Umrevinsky Ostrog

Abstract

Purpose. The article discusses the option of possible reconstruction of the residential facility porch in the central part of the Umrevinsky Ostrog (built in 1703). The archaeological studies of this object revealed that this structure had existed prior to the 1760s. It had been assumed earlier that this wooden structure functioned as either a government or judicial office. Such an administrative building was constructed on top of a tall basement. On the one hand, it had traces of a pile-supported, columnar-lined structure based on the several holes for wooden supports. Such holes for piles were located in a rectangular shape next to one of the side ends of the main log-house on top of the basement. On the other hand, one of the pile holes was located far beyond this structure. Results. It can be assumed that the pile hole beyond the structure points to a past support pile of a tall porch of the wooden building on top of the basement. The as-built reconstruction of the porch of such type allowed obtaining additional arguments to support a hypothesis regarding the administrative purpose of the residential facility located in the centre of Umrevinsky Ostrog. Conclusion. Taking into account the government office orientation in relation to the wind diagram, the proposed option of the pile-supported porch structure along with the columnar-lined basement of the “seni” (mud room) has the most favourable aerodynamics ensuring minimal snow accumulation. These characteristics are extremely fitting given the Siberian climatic conditions.