🔗 Share this article Protecting Kyiv's Architectural Legacy: An Urban Center Rebuilding Its Foundations Amidst the Onslaught of War. Lesia Danylenko beamed with pride as she displayed her recently completed front door. Volunteers had affectionately dubbed its graceful transom window the “pastry”, a playful reference to its arched shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peacock,” she remarked, gazing at its tree limb-inspired details. The renovation effort at one of Kyiv’s pre-World War I art nouveau houses was supported by residents, who commemorated the work with two impromptu pavement parties. It was also an act of defiance against a neighboring state, she elaborated: “Our aim is to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the most positive way. We’re not afraid of staying in our country. The possibility to emigrate existed, starting anew to Italy. Instead, I’m here. The new entrance shows our commitment to our homeland.” “We are trying to live like ordinary people despite the war. It’s about arranging our life in the best possible way.” Safeguarding Kyiv’s built legacy may appear unusual at a time when aerial assaults routinely fall the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the onset of the current year, offensive operations have been significantly intensified. After each assault, workers seal broken windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Amid the Conflict, a Fight for Identity In the midst of war, a collective of activists has been striving to preserve the city’s deteriorating mansions, built in a whimsical style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the central Shevchenkivskyi district. It was erected in 1906 and was initially the home of a wealthy fur dealer. Its outer walls is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers. “These buildings represent symbols of Kyiv. These properties are quite rare in the present day,” Danylenko noted. The building was designed by a designer of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings close by display analogous art nouveau elements, including asymmetry – with a gothic tower on one side and a turret on the other. One much-loved house in the area displays two unhappy white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil. Multiple Challenges to Heritage But external attacks is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unscrupulous developers who demolish historically significant buildings, dishonest officials and a political leadership indifferent or opposed to the city’s profound architectural history. The harsh winter climate adds another challenge. “Kyiv is a city where money wins. We don’t have real political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He asserted the city’s mayor was allied with many of the developers who bulldoze important houses. Perov further alleged that the plan for the capital harks back to a different time. The mayor denies these claims, stating they come from political rivals. Perov said many of the public-spirited activists who once defended older properties were now fighting on the frontline or had been lost. The lengthy conflict meant that all citizens was facing monetary strain, he added, including those in the legal system who curiously ruled in favour of dubious new-build schemes. “The longer this continues the more we see decline of our society and state bodies,” he contended. Destruction and Neglect One glaring demolition site is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was lined with classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had committed to preserve its picturesque brick facade. A day after the 2022 invasion, heavy machinery demolished it. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new shopping and business centre, observed by a stern security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was little optimism for the remaining turquoise-painted houses on the site. Sometimes developers demolished old properties while claiming they were doing “scientific study”, he said. A 20th-century empire also inflicted immense damage on the capital, reconstructing its primary street after the second world war so it could accommodate official processions. Continuing the Work One of Kyiv’s most renowned defenders of historic buildings, a heritage expert, was fell in 2022 while serving in a eastern city. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were persevering in his important preservation work. There were initially 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many constructed for the city’s prosperous industrialists. Only 80 of their authentic doors are still in existence, she said. “It wasn’t foreign rockets that eliminated them. It was us,” she lamented. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now not a thing will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a characterful ivy-draped house built in 1910, which serves as the headquarters of her cultural organization and doubles as a film set and museum. The property has a new red door and authentic railings; inside is a period bathroom and antique mirrors. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s occupant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “quite special and a little bit cold”. Why do many residents not value the past? “Regrettably they lack education and taste. It’s all about business. We are striving as a country to integrate with the west. But we are still a way off from that standard,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking lingered, with people unwilling to take personal responsibility for their built surroundings, he added. Resilience in Action Some buildings are collapsing because of official neglect. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa hidden behind a modern hospital. Its roof had caved in; pigeons made their home among its shattered windows; rubbish lay under a fairytale tower. “Many times we lose the battle,” she acknowledged. “Restoration is a form of healing for us. We are attempting to save all this heritage and splendour.” In the face of war and neglect, these volunteers continue their work, one facade at a time, arguing that to rebuild a city’s soul, you must first cherish its stones.
Lesia Danylenko beamed with pride as she displayed her recently completed front door. Volunteers had affectionately dubbed its graceful transom window the “pastry”, a playful reference to its arched shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peacock,” she remarked, gazing at its tree limb-inspired details. The renovation effort at one of Kyiv’s pre-World War I art nouveau houses was supported by residents, who commemorated the work with two impromptu pavement parties. It was also an act of defiance against a neighboring state, she elaborated: “Our aim is to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the most positive way. We’re not afraid of staying in our country. The possibility to emigrate existed, starting anew to Italy. Instead, I’m here. The new entrance shows our commitment to our homeland.” “We are trying to live like ordinary people despite the war. It’s about arranging our life in the best possible way.” Safeguarding Kyiv’s built legacy may appear unusual at a time when aerial assaults routinely fall the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the onset of the current year, offensive operations have been significantly intensified. After each assault, workers seal broken windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Amid the Conflict, a Fight for Identity In the midst of war, a collective of activists has been striving to preserve the city’s deteriorating mansions, built in a whimsical style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the central Shevchenkivskyi district. It was erected in 1906 and was initially the home of a wealthy fur dealer. Its outer walls is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers. “These buildings represent symbols of Kyiv. These properties are quite rare in the present day,” Danylenko noted. The building was designed by a designer of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings close by display analogous art nouveau elements, including asymmetry – with a gothic tower on one side and a turret on the other. One much-loved house in the area displays two unhappy white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil. Multiple Challenges to Heritage But external attacks is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unscrupulous developers who demolish historically significant buildings, dishonest officials and a political leadership indifferent or opposed to the city’s profound architectural history. The harsh winter climate adds another challenge. “Kyiv is a city where money wins. We don’t have real political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He asserted the city’s mayor was allied with many of the developers who bulldoze important houses. Perov further alleged that the plan for the capital harks back to a different time. The mayor denies these claims, stating they come from political rivals. Perov said many of the public-spirited activists who once defended older properties were now fighting on the frontline or had been lost. The lengthy conflict meant that all citizens was facing monetary strain, he added, including those in the legal system who curiously ruled in favour of dubious new-build schemes. “The longer this continues the more we see decline of our society and state bodies,” he contended. Destruction and Neglect One glaring demolition site is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was lined with classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had committed to preserve its picturesque brick facade. A day after the 2022 invasion, heavy machinery demolished it. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new shopping and business centre, observed by a stern security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was little optimism for the remaining turquoise-painted houses on the site. Sometimes developers demolished old properties while claiming they were doing “scientific study”, he said. A 20th-century empire also inflicted immense damage on the capital, reconstructing its primary street after the second world war so it could accommodate official processions. Continuing the Work One of Kyiv’s most renowned defenders of historic buildings, a heritage expert, was fell in 2022 while serving in a eastern city. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were persevering in his important preservation work. There were initially 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many constructed for the city’s prosperous industrialists. Only 80 of their authentic doors are still in existence, she said. “It wasn’t foreign rockets that eliminated them. It was us,” she lamented. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now not a thing will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a characterful ivy-draped house built in 1910, which serves as the headquarters of her cultural organization and doubles as a film set and museum. The property has a new red door and authentic railings; inside is a period bathroom and antique mirrors. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s occupant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “quite special and a little bit cold”. Why do many residents not value the past? “Regrettably they lack education and taste. It’s all about business. We are striving as a country to integrate with the west. But we are still a way off from that standard,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking lingered, with people unwilling to take personal responsibility for their built surroundings, he added. Resilience in Action Some buildings are collapsing because of official neglect. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa hidden behind a modern hospital. Its roof had caved in; pigeons made their home among its shattered windows; rubbish lay under a fairytale tower. “Many times we lose the battle,” she acknowledged. “Restoration is a form of healing for us. We are attempting to save all this heritage and splendour.” In the face of war and neglect, these volunteers continue their work, one facade at a time, arguing that to rebuild a city’s soul, you must first cherish its stones.