The Chair was founded in 1976 by Professor A.E.Korotkovsky with the aim of training in a number of disciplines around history of art, architecture, design and conducting applied research in these areas. After him the Chair was headed N.V.Aleshchenko who was able within a short time and with the help of his experienced colleagues to create a good methodological basis for teaching art history disciplines. The main area of research for the Chair has been the Ural regional architectural heritage. At the same time studies have been carried out on fundamental aspects of architectural history, specifically on Modern architecture of the late 19th - early 20th century. In 1995 the Chair started to provide the graduate course “Restoration and reconstruction of Architectural Heritage”.

Currently the staff of the chair consists of two professors, three associate professors, five instructors. The Chair is headed by Associate Professor A.V.Dolgov, adviser to the Russian Academy of Architectural and Civil Engineering.

The Chair’s main fields of research are: history of architecture and applied art in the Urals canonical fundamentals of cult architecture design methods for historic environments history of international architecture since the late 19th century to the present day.

The specific feature of the Chair is participation in broad practical activities. Attached to the Chair are workshops, the staff of which has designed such projects as the Cathedral Complex of the Church of St Seraphim Sarovsky in Novouralsk, Alexander Nevsky Chapel in Ekaterinburg, St Catherine Chapel, restoration of the Mytny Yard in Ekaterinburg, etc.

In the future, in addition to maintaining its traditional activities, the Chair plans to participate in the reconstruction of individual historic buildings within the framework of course and graduate diploma projects, provide specialised art history course to senior students depending on programmes offered by other chairs, and extend studies on the history of modern architecture and design.

The team of the Chair has 7 members of the Union of Architects of Russia, international and national competition prize winners. Activities of the Chair are widely covered in mass media.