🔗 Share this article Preserving Kyiv's Architectural Legacy: An Urban Center Rebuilding Its Foundations Under the Threat of Conflict. Lesia Danylenko showed off with satisfaction her freshly fitted front door. Volunteers had affectionately dubbed its ornate transom window the “croissant”, a whimsical nod to its bowed shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peafowl,” she remarked, appreciating its branch-like features. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s early 20th-century art nouveau houses was made possible by residents, who celebrated with several neighbourhood pavement parties. It was also an demonstration of defiance towards a foreign power, she explained: “We are trying to live like ordinary people regardless of the war. It’s about arranging our life in the most positive way. We’re not afraid of living in our homeland. The possibility to emigrate existed, starting anew to another European nation. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance shows our commitment to our homeland.” “Our aim is to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the best possible way.” Protecting Kyiv’s architectural heritage may appear unusual at a moment when drone attacks regularly target the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, aerial raids have been significantly intensified. After each assault, workers board up broken windows with plywood and try, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Amid the Conflict, a Battle for Identity In the midst of war, a group of activists has been working to preserve the city’s decaying mansions, built in a whimsical style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the downtown Shevchenkivskyi district. It was built in 1906 and was first the home of a affluent fur dealer. Its outer walls is embellished with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers. “They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are quite rare nowadays,” Danylenko said. The residence was designed by an architect of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings close by exhibit analogous art nouveau characteristics, including an irregular shape – with a gothic tower on one side and a projection on the other. One beloved house in the area boasts two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil. Several Threats to History But military aggression is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unscrupulous developers who demolish listed buildings, dishonest officials and a administrative body apathetic or hostile to the city’s rich architectural history. The severe winter climate adds another difficulty. “Kyiv is a city where money wins. We lack substantive political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He asserted the city’s leadership was closely associated with many of the developers who destroy important houses. Perov stated that the plan for the capital is reminiscent of a previous decade. The mayor rejects these claims, stating they come from political rivals. Perov said many of the civically minded activists who once championed older properties were now engaged in combat or had been fallen. The lengthy conflict meant that everyone was facing economic hardship, he added, including judicial figures who mysteriously ruled in favour of dubious new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see degradation of our society and public institutions,” he contended. Demolition and Neglect One notorious location of loss is in the waterside Podil neighbourhood. The street was the site of classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had agreed to preserve its picturesque brick facade. In the immediate aftermath of the full-scale invasion, excavators tore it down. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new retail and office development, observed by a surly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was not much hope for the remaining blue-green houses on the site. Sometimes developers destroyed old properties while claiming they were doing “historical excavation”, he said. A previous regime also wrought immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its main thoroughfare after the second world war so it could facilitate military vehicles. Carrying the Torch One of Kyiv’s most prominent advocates of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was lost his life in 2022 while engaged in a contested area. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his important preservation work. There were originally 3,500 stone mansions in Kyiv, many erected for the city’s successful entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their authentic doors are still in existence, she said. “It was not external attacks that eliminated them. It was us,” she admitted sadly. “The war could last another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now not a thing will be left,” she continued. Chudna recently helped to restore a full of character vine-clad house built in 1910, which serves as the headquarters of her cultural organization and operates as a film set and museum. The property has a new red door and period-correct railings; inside is a historic washroom and antique mirrors. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s resident, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “very cool and a little bit cold”. Why do many locals not cherish the past? “Unfortunately they do not have education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to integrate with the west. But we are still a way off from civilization,” he said. Previous ways of thinking lingered, with people reluctant to take personal responsibility for their built surroundings, he added. Resilience in Restoration Some buildings are falling apart because of official neglect. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa concealed behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons roosted among its smashed windows; debris lay under a whimsical tower. “Many times we lose the battle,” she admitted. “This activity is therapy for us. We are striving to save all this history and splendour.” In the face of war and neglect, these volunteers continue their work, one facade at a time, stating that to save a city’s identity, you must first cherish its walls.
Lesia Danylenko showed off with satisfaction her freshly fitted front door. Volunteers had affectionately dubbed its ornate transom window the “croissant”, a whimsical nod to its bowed shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peafowl,” she remarked, appreciating its branch-like features. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s early 20th-century art nouveau houses was made possible by residents, who celebrated with several neighbourhood pavement parties. It was also an demonstration of defiance towards a foreign power, she explained: “We are trying to live like ordinary people regardless of the war. It’s about arranging our life in the most positive way. We’re not afraid of living in our homeland. The possibility to emigrate existed, starting anew to another European nation. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance shows our commitment to our homeland.” “Our aim is to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the best possible way.” Protecting Kyiv’s architectural heritage may appear unusual at a moment when drone attacks regularly target the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, aerial raids have been significantly intensified. After each assault, workers board up broken windows with plywood and try, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Amid the Conflict, a Battle for Identity In the midst of war, a group of activists has been working to preserve the city’s decaying mansions, built in a whimsical style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the downtown Shevchenkivskyi district. It was built in 1906 and was first the home of a affluent fur dealer. Its outer walls is embellished with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers. “They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are quite rare nowadays,” Danylenko said. The residence was designed by an architect of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings close by exhibit analogous art nouveau characteristics, including an irregular shape – with a gothic tower on one side and a projection on the other. One beloved house in the area boasts two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil. Several Threats to History But military aggression is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unscrupulous developers who demolish listed buildings, dishonest officials and a administrative body apathetic or hostile to the city’s rich architectural history. The severe winter climate adds another difficulty. “Kyiv is a city where money wins. We lack substantive political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He asserted the city’s leadership was closely associated with many of the developers who destroy important houses. Perov stated that the plan for the capital is reminiscent of a previous decade. The mayor rejects these claims, stating they come from political rivals. Perov said many of the civically minded activists who once championed older properties were now engaged in combat or had been fallen. The lengthy conflict meant that everyone was facing economic hardship, he added, including judicial figures who mysteriously ruled in favour of dubious new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see degradation of our society and public institutions,” he contended. Demolition and Neglect One notorious location of loss is in the waterside Podil neighbourhood. The street was the site of classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had agreed to preserve its picturesque brick facade. In the immediate aftermath of the full-scale invasion, excavators tore it down. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new retail and office development, observed by a surly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was not much hope for the remaining blue-green houses on the site. Sometimes developers destroyed old properties while claiming they were doing “historical excavation”, he said. A previous regime also wrought immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its main thoroughfare after the second world war so it could facilitate military vehicles. Carrying the Torch One of Kyiv’s most prominent advocates of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was lost his life in 2022 while engaged in a contested area. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his important preservation work. There were originally 3,500 stone mansions in Kyiv, many erected for the city’s successful entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their authentic doors are still in existence, she said. “It was not external attacks that eliminated them. It was us,” she admitted sadly. “The war could last another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now not a thing will be left,” she continued. Chudna recently helped to restore a full of character vine-clad house built in 1910, which serves as the headquarters of her cultural organization and operates as a film set and museum. The property has a new red door and period-correct railings; inside is a historic washroom and antique mirrors. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s resident, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “very cool and a little bit cold”. Why do many locals not cherish the past? “Unfortunately they do not have education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to integrate with the west. But we are still a way off from civilization,” he said. Previous ways of thinking lingered, with people reluctant to take personal responsibility for their built surroundings, he added. Resilience in Restoration Some buildings are falling apart because of official neglect. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa concealed behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons roosted among its smashed windows; debris lay under a whimsical tower. “Many times we lose the battle,” she admitted. “This activity is therapy for us. We are striving to save all this history and splendour.” In the face of war and neglect, these volunteers continue their work, one facade at a time, stating that to save a city’s identity, you must first cherish its walls.