# GES-2 House of Culture, Moscow > GES-2 is a 1907 tram power station on Bolotnaya Embankment that Renzo Piano turned into a free house of culture for the V-A-C Foundation. The building is free but you must register online first. Open daily 11:00–22:00. Exhibitions cost 400–600 ₽ each or 1,000 ₽ for all; under-18s and everyone on the first Wednesday of the month go free. Allow an hour, or 2–3 with exhibitions. Web page: https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/ges-2 - City: [Moscow](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow), Russia - YesGo score: 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - Entry: Free entry with registration, exhibitions 400–1,000 ₽ - With kids: Fine with kids - Building entry: Free with advance online registration for a time slot - Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00, ticket desk until 21:00 - Floor −1 exhibition: 600 ₽ - Floor 2 exhibition: 400 ₽ - All-exhibitions ticket: 1,000 ₽ when three or more shows run at once; one return visit included - Half price: Full-time students, pensioners, large families (300 / 200 / 500 ₽) - Free exhibitions: Under 18; everyone on the first Wednesday of each month; Prospekt programme and the Vaults always - Age rules: Under 14 only with an adult; 14 and over bring a passport - Metro: Kropotkinskaya (exit 2), Polyanka, Tretyakovskaya — 10–15 min walk - Car park: Underground, 208 spaces, 8:00–midnight - Cloakroom: Coats for exhibitions, library and Assembly Hall; bags over 30×40×20 cm and umbrellas - Coordinates: 55.74280, 37.61270 - Facts checked: 29.10.2026 ## Key facts - **1907** — opened as the power station for Moscow’s tram network (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “GES-2 (Moscow)”) - **Renzo Piano** — Renzo Piano Building Workshop converted it into the House of Culture (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Dezeen, 2021) - **4 Dec 2021** — the House of Culture opened to visitors (source: Russian Wikipedia, “GES-2 (Moscow)”; Dezeen, 2021) - **Vasily Bashkirov** — architect of the original Russian Revival red-brick station (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Dezeen, 2021) - **V-A-C** — Leonid Mikhelson’s foundation, which rebuilt and runs GES-2 (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “GES-2 (Moscow)”) - **2009** — listed as a regional cultural heritage site (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “GES-2 (Moscow)”) - **≈ 70 m** — the four new blue steel chimneys, used as air intakes (source: Dezeen, 2021; Russian Wikipedia, “GES-2 (Moscow)”) - **1,200 m²** — Prospekt, the glass-roofed main hall (source: Official GES-2 website, floor plan; Dezeen, 2021) - **624 birches** — in the grove beside the building, about one hectare (source: Official GES-2 website, floor plan) - **290 seats** — in the Assembly Hall, used for films, concerts and performances (source: Official GES-2 website, floor plan) > **Register online before you go** Entry to the building is free, but only with advance registration on the official GES-2 website (there is an English version). You pick a time slot and walk in during it. A ticket to an exhibition, concert or film replaces registration — event tickets let you in an hour before the start. Weekend evening slots go first, so book a day ahead. ## Is GES-2 free? Tickets and prices **The building is free; most exhibitions are not.** Since 13 November 2025 shows on floors −1 and 2 are ticketed: 600 ₽ for one exhibition on floor −1, 400 ₽ for one on floor 2, and 1,000 ₽ for all of them. The all-in ticket is sold only when three or more exhibitions run at once, and it covers one return visit. Under-18s go free, and **on the first Wednesday of every month all exhibitions are free for everyone**. The GES-2: Prospekt programme in the main hall and the Vaults art-production centre are always free. Half price applies to full-time students, pensioners and large families — check the documents list on the official site, as student discounts are usually for Russian student cards. Buy tickets on the official website or at the info desk on floor 1 until 21:00. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards haven’t worked in Russia since March 2022, so you’ll need a Russian bank card or a friend to pay online — or ask at the desk. Registration itself costs nothing and needs no card. ## What is GES-2, and is it worth visiting? GES-2 stands for City Power Station No. 2 — a red-brick plant built in 1907 to run Moscow’s trams, right across the river from the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Renzo Piano’s studio stripped out later additions, kept the brick shell and opened up a vast, light-filled hall under a glass roof. It isn’t a museum with a permanent collection. It’s a house of culture: rotating contemporary art shows, concerts, film screenings, talks, a library, open workshops, cafés and a bookshop, all under one roof. YesGo’s take: yes, it’s worth an hour even if contemporary art leaves you cold. The architecture, the birch grove and the river views of the Kremlin and the cathedral cost nothing. Pay for an exhibition only if the subject grabs you — and if you only have one day for art in Moscow, the [Tretyakov Gallery](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/tretyakov-gallery) comes first. ## What to see inside GES-2 - **Prospekt** — the 1,200 m² main hall under the glass roof, straight ahead as you enter. Free shows, fairs and concerts. - **The Platforms** — the Central Platform on floor 2 and the Upper Platform on floor 3. Go up for the best view of how the building works. - **Galleries on floors −1 and 2** — the paid exhibitions; the floor-2 rooms sit under the roof slopes. - **The birch grove** — 624 birches on a slope on the west side, with a small belvedere. - **The Library** — open 12:00–22:00, a calm place to sit with a book or a laptop. - **The Atelier** — an open workshop for kids aged 3+ and adults. - **The Vaults** — a free art-production centre in a separate building with studios and co-working. - **The Assembly Hall** (290 seats) and **the Steps**, an outdoor amphitheatre by its glass wall. - **The riverside square** — the view across to the [Cathedral of Christ the Saviour](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/cathedral-of-christ-the-saviour) and the Patriarshy footbridge. ## How to get to GES-2 1. The address is **15 Bolotnaya Embankment** (Bolotnaya naberezhnaya, 15). All three nearest metro stations are a 10–15 minute walk away. 2. Best route: **Kropotkinskaya** (line 1, red), exit 2 — walk past the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and over the pedestrian Patriarshy Bridge; GES-2 is at the far end, about 1 km in all. 3. **Polyanka** (line 9, grey) — about 940 m across Bolotny Island. 4. **Tretyakovskaya** (lines 6 and 8, orange and yellow) — about 1.2 km, passing close to the Tretyakov Gallery. 5. From [Red Square](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/red-square) it’s a 25–30 minute walk: along the Kremlin wall and the Alexander Garden to Borovitskaya Square, across the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge, then right along the embankment. 6. Buses stop at Bolotnaya Ploshchad (297, e10, m1, m9, s920) and Prechistenskaya Naberezhnaya (s755). 7. Driving: the GES-2 underground car park has 208 spaces, entrance from Bolotnaya Embankment, open 8:00–midnight. > **Security check, cloakroom and ID** Bags go through a metal detector and an X-ray scanner. Coats must go to the cloakroom before the exhibitions, library or Assembly Hall, along with umbrellas and anything bigger than 30×40×20 cm. Photos on phones only — no flash, tripods or pro cameras. Teenagers 14+ need a passport, and some events are 18+, so carry your passport anyway. ## GES-2 with kids It’s one of the easier culture stops in central Moscow with children. Under-18s get into every exhibition free, the Atelier runs open sessions for kids from age 3, and strollers can go everywhere except the Assembly Hall. The birch grove and the riverside square give them room to run. The rules are strict, though: children under 14 must be with an adult, and teens 14 and over need a passport — without one they’ll be turned away at the door. Check the Calendar on the official site for specific workshops. ## A short history Building started in 1904–1905 (sources differ) and the plant went live in February 1907 as the Tram Power Station, designed by Vasily Bashkirov. Its original brick chimneys, over 60 m tall, came down in 1941. The building was listed as a regional heritage site in 2009. After the station shut down, the building passed in 2014–2015 to Leonid Mikhelson’s V-A-C Foundation, which hired Renzo Piano’s studio in 2015. The new four blue chimneys, about 70 m high, pull in fresh air for the building. GES-2 opened to the public on **4 December 2021**. Looking for Urs Fischer’s *Big Clay #4* outside? It was moved to Leninsky Prospekt in 2025. Since October 2025 a 7-metre *Garden Trowel* by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen stands in its place — the artworks here rotate. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Registered online for a time slot, or bought a ticket - [ ] Passport with you - [ ] First Wednesday of the month? Exhibitions are free - [ ] At the ticket desk before 21:00 - [ ] A Russian bank card or roubles — foreign Visa and Mastercard don’t work in Russia - [ ] No big backpack, or you’ll queue at the cloakroom - [ ] Drinks only non-alcoholic, in a plastic bottle up to 1 litre ## GES-2 vs Tretyakov Gallery vs Pushkin Museum | | GES-2 | Tretyakov Gallery | Pushkin Museum | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | House of culture: contemporary art, films, concerts | Russian art from icons to the 20th century | European art and casts of antiquity | | Permanent collection | No, shows rotate | Yes | Yes | | Entry | Building free, exhibitions 400–1,000 ₽ | Ticketed | Ticketed | | Open in the evening | Daily until 22:00 | See its page | See its page | | Time needed | 1–3 h | 2–4 h | 2–3 h | First time in Moscow with room for one art stop? The Tretyakov Gallery for Russian art. Put GES-2 in the evening — it’s open until 22:00 and sits between the Tretyakov and the [Pushkin Museum](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/pushkin-museum), so you can do two in a day. ## Moscow after dark, compared Moscow places that work well in the evening, rated by YesGo. - [Moscow City](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/moscow-city) — YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free · deck from 1,000 ₽ - [Bolshoi Theatre](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/bolshoi-theatre) — YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Tickets on bolshoi.ru, price varies by show - [Arbat Street](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/arbat-street) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free - [Ostankino Tower](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/ostankino-tower) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · from 1,500 ₽ - [Zaryadye Park](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/zaryadye-park) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Tverskaya Street](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/tverskaya-street) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [GES-2 House of Culture](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/ges-2) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry with registration, exhibitions 400–1,000 ₽ ## Tretyakov, GES-2 and Gorky Park in a day Spend the day at the Tretyakov Gallery, walk 15 minutes to GES-2 for the grove, Prospekt and a show, then follow the embankment to Gorky Park for the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Tretyakov Gallery](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/tretyakov-gallery) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · 700 ₽ 2. [GES-2 House of Culture](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/ges-2) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry with registration, exhibitions 400–1,000 ₽ 3. [Gorky Park](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/gorky-park) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free > **Best photo spot: the Patriarshy Bridge** From the middle of the footbridge you get the whole building — red brick, white facades and the four blue chimneys — with the cathedral behind you. Inside, the best shot is from the Upper Platform on floor 3, looking down into Prospekt. ## Good to know Russians simply say “GES-2” (ГЭС-2). Taxi drivers know it by that name or by the address, Bolotnaya naberezhnaya 15. The foundation behind it is V-A-C, so you may also see “V-A-C GES-2”. ## Tips - One free hour: birch grove → Prospekt → Upper Platform → the riverside square facing the cathedral. - Two to three hours: add one exhibition, or the 1,000 ₽ all-in ticket when three or more shows are on. - Want free exhibitions? Come on the first Wednesday of the month — and register early, it gets busy. - Coming from the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour? The Patriarshy Bridge gets you here in 5–7 minutes. - Food on site: Ostanovka café overlooking the grove, Bar-2 for breakfast, and the GES-2 restaurant. - Want the story of the building? A guided tour explains what you’re looking at. - Finish with an evening walk along the river to [Gorky Park](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/gorky-park). ## Questions ### Is GES-2 free to enter? The building is free with advance online registration. Exhibitions cost 600 ₽ (floor −1), 400 ₽ (floor 2) or 1,000 ₽ for all; under-18s go free, and everyone does on the first Wednesday of the month. ### Do I need to register for GES-2? Yes. Register on the official website for a time slot and enter during it. If you have a ticket to an exhibition or event, you don’t need to register separately. ### What are GES-2 opening hours? Daily 11:00–22:00, with no closing day. Exhibition tickets are sold until 21:00; the library is open 12:00–22:00. ### What is the nearest metro to GES-2? Kropotkinskaya (line 1, exit 2, then across the Patriarshy Bridge), Polyanka (line 9) and Tretyakovskaya (lines 6 and 8) — each 10–15 minutes on foot. ### How long do you need at GES-2? About an hour for the building, the grove and the views; 2–3 hours if you see the exhibitions or stay for a film or concert. ### Is GES-2 worth visiting? Yes, for the Renzo Piano architecture and the free spaces alone. Pay for exhibitions only if the current shows interest you — they rotate. ### Who designed GES-2? The original 1907 power station was by Vasily Bashkirov. Renzo Piano Building Workshop converted it into the House of Culture, which opened on 4 December 2021. ### Can I pay with a foreign card at GES-2? Not with Visa or Mastercard issued abroad — they haven’t worked in Russia since March 2022. Bring a Russian bank card or ask at the info desk; registration for entry is free. ### Where is the Big Clay sculpture? Urs Fischer’s Big Clay #4 left Bolotnaya Embankment in 2025 for Leninsky Prospekt. A giant Garden Trowel by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen now stands outside GES-2. ## How we checked Hours, prices, concessions, the free first Wednesday, rules, metro and parking come from the official GES-2 website. Parking prices aren’t listed on those pages, so we don’t give one. Sources disagree on when construction began (1904 or 1905) but agree on the 1907 launch; the shutdown date varies between the English and Russian Wikipedia (2005, 2006, 2014), so we give no exact year. Some sources date the opening to 3 December 2021 (official ceremony), most to 4 December (open to the public). The birch count and Prospekt area come from the official floor plan; Dezeen confirms the area. Walking time from Red Square is our estimate from the map; payment options at the desk weren’t published, hence “ask at the desk”. ## Sources - Official GES-2 House of Culture website: tickets, visitor rules, how to find us, floor plan, 29.10.2026 - English and Russian Wikipedia: GES-2 (Moscow); Wikidata Q48945208 - Dezeen: Renzo Piano converts Moscow power station into GES-2 House of Culture, 24.12.2021 - Russian Wikipedia: Big Clay No. 4; Izvestia, 25.09.2025; Profile, 03.10.2025 - Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.