🔗 Share this article Protecting the Capital's Architectural Legacy: An Urban Center Rebuilding Its Foundations Under the Threat of War. Lesia Danylenko showed off with satisfaction her freshly fitted front door. Volunteers had playfully nicknamed its graceful transom window the “crescent roll”, a playful reference to its bowed shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peafowl,” she remarked, gazing at its twig-detailed ornamentation. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s turn-of-the-century art nouveau houses was made possible by residents, who commemorated the work with several impromptu pavement parties. It was also an demonstration of resistance in the face of an invading force, she elaborated: “We strive to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the most positive way. We’re not afraid of remaining in Ukraine. The possibility to emigrate existed, starting anew to a foreign land. Instead, I’m here. The new entrance represents our allegiance to our homeland.” “We are trying to live like normal people in spite of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the optimal way.” Preserving Kyiv’s architectural heritage seems unusual at a time when aerial assaults routinely fall the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the start of the current year, aerial raids have been dramatically stepped up. After each assault, workers board up blown-out windows with plywood and attempt, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Among the Bombs, a Fight for Beauty Despite the violence, a group of activists has been striving to conserve the city’s decaying mansions, built in a playful style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the central Shevchenkivskyi district. It was constructed in 1906 and was originally the home of a prosperous fur dealer. Its outer walls is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and intricate camomile flowers. “These structures stand as symbols of Kyiv. These properties are uncommon in the present day,” Danylenko said. The mansion was designed by an architect of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings nearby exhibit comparable art nouveau features, including a lack of symmetry – with a pointed turret on one side and a small tower on the other. One beloved house in the area boasts two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil. Dual Dangers to Heritage But military aggression is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unprincipled developers who demolish listed buildings, corrupt officials and a administrative body apathetic or hostile to the city’s rich architectural history. The severe winter climate presents another burden. “Kyiv is a city where wealth dictates. We don’t have genuine political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He alleged the city’s leadership was friends with many of the developers who destroy important houses. Perov stated that the concept for the capital is reminiscent of a different time. The mayor rejects these claims, saying they originate from political rivals. Perov said many of the public-spirited activists who once defended older properties were now engaged in combat or had been fallen. The lengthy conflict meant that all citizens was facing monetary strain, he added, including judicial figures who curiously ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see degradation of our society and governing institutions,” he remarked. Destruction and Disregard One glaring location of loss is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was lined with classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had pledged to preserve its attractive brick facade. A day after the onset of major hostilities, diggers tore it down. Recently, a crane prepared foundations for a new commercial complex, monitored by a stern security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was little optimism for the remaining blue-green houses on the site. Sometimes developers levelled old properties while claiming they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A previous regime also inflicted immense damage on the capital, redesigning its primary street after the second world war so it could accommodate large-scale parades. Upholding the Legacy One of Kyiv’s most prominent defenders of historic buildings, a tour guide and blogger, was fell in 2022 while engaged in the frontline. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his important preservation work. There were initially 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many built for the city’s prosperous industrialists. 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 go on for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now nothing will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique ivy-draped 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 vermilion portal and period-correct railings; inside is a vintage sanitary facility and antique mirrors. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now little will be left.” The building’s tenant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “quite special and a little bit cold”. Why do many citizens not value the past? “Regrettably they do not have education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to go to the west. But we are still some distance away from civilization,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking lingered, with people hesitant to take personal responsibility for their architectural setting, he added. Resilience in Action Some buildings are crumbling because of bureaucratic indifference. Chudna showed a once-magical villa concealed behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons roosted among its smashed windows; refuse lay under a fairytale tower. “Frequently we are unsuccessful,” she acknowledged. “This activity is therapy for us. We are attempting to save all this heritage and aesthetic value.” In the face of war and neglect, these activists continue their work, one door at a time, stating that to save a city’s soul, you must first cherish its stones.
Lesia Danylenko showed off with satisfaction her freshly fitted front door. Volunteers had playfully nicknamed its graceful transom window the “crescent roll”, a playful reference to its bowed shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peafowl,” she remarked, gazing at its twig-detailed ornamentation. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s turn-of-the-century art nouveau houses was made possible by residents, who commemorated the work with several impromptu pavement parties. It was also an demonstration of resistance in the face of an invading force, she elaborated: “We strive to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the most positive way. We’re not afraid of remaining in Ukraine. The possibility to emigrate existed, starting anew to a foreign land. Instead, I’m here. The new entrance represents our allegiance to our homeland.” “We are trying to live like normal people in spite of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the optimal way.” Preserving Kyiv’s architectural heritage seems unusual at a time when aerial assaults routinely fall the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the start of the current year, aerial raids have been dramatically stepped up. After each assault, workers board up blown-out windows with plywood and attempt, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Among the Bombs, a Fight for Beauty Despite the violence, a group of activists has been striving to conserve the city’s decaying mansions, built in a playful style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the central Shevchenkivskyi district. It was constructed in 1906 and was originally the home of a prosperous fur dealer. Its outer walls is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and intricate camomile flowers. “These structures stand as symbols of Kyiv. These properties are uncommon in the present day,” Danylenko said. The mansion was designed by an architect of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings nearby exhibit comparable art nouveau features, including a lack of symmetry – with a pointed turret on one side and a small tower on the other. One beloved house in the area boasts two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil. Dual Dangers to Heritage But military aggression is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unprincipled developers who demolish listed buildings, corrupt officials and a administrative body apathetic or hostile to the city’s rich architectural history. The severe winter climate presents another burden. “Kyiv is a city where wealth dictates. We don’t have genuine political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He alleged the city’s leadership was friends with many of the developers who destroy important houses. Perov stated that the concept for the capital is reminiscent of a different time. The mayor rejects these claims, saying they originate from political rivals. Perov said many of the public-spirited activists who once defended older properties were now engaged in combat or had been fallen. The lengthy conflict meant that all citizens was facing monetary strain, he added, including judicial figures who curiously ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see degradation of our society and governing institutions,” he remarked. Destruction and Disregard One glaring location of loss is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was lined with classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had pledged to preserve its attractive brick facade. A day after the onset of major hostilities, diggers tore it down. Recently, a crane prepared foundations for a new commercial complex, monitored by a stern security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was little optimism for the remaining blue-green houses on the site. Sometimes developers levelled old properties while claiming they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A previous regime also inflicted immense damage on the capital, redesigning its primary street after the second world war so it could accommodate large-scale parades. Upholding the Legacy One of Kyiv’s most prominent defenders of historic buildings, a tour guide and blogger, was fell in 2022 while engaged in the frontline. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his important preservation work. There were initially 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many built for the city’s prosperous industrialists. 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 go on for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now nothing will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique ivy-draped 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 vermilion portal and period-correct railings; inside is a vintage sanitary facility and antique mirrors. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now little will be left.” The building’s tenant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “quite special and a little bit cold”. Why do many citizens not value the past? “Regrettably they do not have education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to go to the west. But we are still some distance away from civilization,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking lingered, with people hesitant to take personal responsibility for their architectural setting, he added. Resilience in Action Some buildings are crumbling because of bureaucratic indifference. Chudna showed a once-magical villa concealed behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons roosted among its smashed windows; refuse lay under a fairytale tower. “Frequently we are unsuccessful,” she acknowledged. “This activity is therapy for us. We are attempting to save all this heritage and aesthetic value.” In the face of war and neglect, these activists continue their work, one door at a time, stating that to save a city’s soul, you must first cherish its stones.