Reconstruction vs «Disneyification» of cultural heritage

Approaches to the reconstruction of cultural heritage monuments in the context of increasing/decreasing their overall value are considered. It is noted that the value of an object can potentially be increased or decreased by reconstruction, depending on the importance attached to certain aspects – authenticity, integrity of the object, the conjugacy of the object with the place, the choice of materials, the feeling of the terrain, etc. It is concluded that the claims that reconstruction inevitably reduces the value of the object are controversial, while arguments are made in favor of abandoning reconstruction due to fears of «Disneyification» of the cultural heritage site, so making it excessively commercialized, neglecting the past, and distorting or simplifying the presentation of the culture of the past. Using the example of the cultural heritage sites of St. Petersburg, the arguments in favor of reconstruction or abandonment are considered. It is noted that there are positive aspects that determine the choice of reconstruction as a factor in increasing the value of a cultural heritage site (the Summer Garden reconstruction project), and negative aspects when reconstruction is morally problematic or unacceptable (the holographic reconstruction project of the Annunciation Church on Labor Square in St. Petersburg).