🔗 Share this article Protecting the Capital's Architectural Legacy: A City Rebuilding Itself in the Shadow of War. Lesia Danylenko showed off with satisfaction her freshly fitted front door. Local helpers had playfully nicknamed its ornate transom window the “crescent roll”, a whimsical nod to its curved shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peacock,” she stated, gazing at its tree limb-inspired 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 lively pavement parties. It was also an act of opposition towards a neighboring state, she explained: “We are trying to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the optimal way. We’re not afraid of staying in our homeland. I could have left, moving away to Italy. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance represents our commitment to our homeland.” “We are trying to live like normal people in spite of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the most positive way.” Protecting Kyiv’s built legacy may appear strange at a period when missile strikes regularly target the capital, resulting in death and destruction. Since the onset of the current year, offensive operations have been dramatically stepped up. After each assault, workers board up shattered windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Amid the Explosions, a Battle for History Despite the violence, a band of activists has been attempting to preserve the city’s decaying mansions, built in a whimsical style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the historic Shevchenkivskyi district. It was erected in 1906 and was originally the home of a prosperous fur dealer. Its exterior is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers. “They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are increasingly scarce nowadays,” Danylenko stated. The building was designed by an architect of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings close by display similar art nouveau features, including asymmetry – with a pointed turret on one side and a turret on the other. One popular house in the area displays two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a demonic figure. Multiple Dangers to Heritage But armed conflict is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face profit-driven developers who demolish protected buildings, unethical officials and a governing class unconcerned or opposed to the city’s profound architectural history. The bitter winter climate presents another challenge. “Kyiv is a city where capital prevails. We lack 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 added that the vision for the capital is reminiscent of a bygone era. The mayor has refuted these claims, stating they come from political rivals. Perov said many of the community-oriented activists who once championed older properties were now fighting on the frontline or had been fallen. The lengthy conflict meant that everyone was facing economic hardship, he added, including those in the legal system who mysteriously ruled in favour of suspect new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see degradation of our society and public institutions,” he remarked. Demolition and Disregard One glaring location of loss is in the riverside Podil neighbourhood. The street was the site of classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had committed to preserve its charming brick facade. A day after the full-scale invasion, excavators razed it to the ground. Recently, a crane excavated foundations for a new retail and office development, monitored by a stern security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was faint chance for the remaining turquoise-painted houses on the site. Sometimes developers destroyed old properties while claiming they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A 20th-century empire also inflicted immense damage on the capital, reconstructing its central boulevard after the second world war so it could allow for military vehicles. Continuing the Work One of Kyiv’s most renowned advocates of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was lost his life in 2022 while engaged in a eastern city. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were continuing his vital preservation work. There were originally 3,500 stone mansions in Kyiv, many built for the city’s successful entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their original doors are still in existence, she said. “It was not aerial bombardments that got rid of them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could last another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now not a thing will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique ivy-draped house built in 1910, which functions 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 historic washroom and antique mirrors. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s resident, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “incredibly atmospheric and a little bit cold”. Why do many residents not cherish the past? “Regrettably they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are attempting as a country to integrate with the west. But we are still some distance away from civilization,” he said. Soviet-era ways of thinking remained, with people reluctant to take personal responsibility for their built surroundings, he added. Therapy 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 caved in; pigeons nested among its smashed windows; debris lay under a storybook tower. “Many times we lose the battle,” she conceded. “This activity is a form of healing for us. We are attempting to save all this past and splendour.” In the face of conflict and neglect, these citizens continue their work, one door at a time, stating that to save a city’s heart, you must first protect its stones.
Lesia Danylenko showed off with satisfaction her freshly fitted front door. Local helpers had playfully nicknamed its ornate transom window the “crescent roll”, a whimsical nod to its curved shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peacock,” she stated, gazing at its tree limb-inspired 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 lively pavement parties. It was also an act of opposition towards a neighboring state, she explained: “We are trying to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the optimal way. We’re not afraid of staying in our homeland. I could have left, moving away to Italy. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance represents our commitment to our homeland.” “We are trying to live like normal people in spite of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the most positive way.” Protecting Kyiv’s built legacy may appear strange at a period when missile strikes regularly target the capital, resulting in death and destruction. Since the onset of the current year, offensive operations have been dramatically stepped up. After each assault, workers board up shattered windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Amid the Explosions, a Battle for History Despite the violence, a band of activists has been attempting to preserve the city’s decaying mansions, built in a whimsical style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the historic Shevchenkivskyi district. It was erected in 1906 and was originally the home of a prosperous fur dealer. Its exterior is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers. “They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are increasingly scarce nowadays,” Danylenko stated. The building was designed by an architect of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings close by display similar art nouveau features, including asymmetry – with a pointed turret on one side and a turret on the other. One popular house in the area displays two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a demonic figure. Multiple Dangers to Heritage But armed conflict is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face profit-driven developers who demolish protected buildings, unethical officials and a governing class unconcerned or opposed to the city’s profound architectural history. The bitter winter climate presents another challenge. “Kyiv is a city where capital prevails. We lack 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 added that the vision for the capital is reminiscent of a bygone era. The mayor has refuted these claims, stating they come from political rivals. Perov said many of the community-oriented activists who once championed older properties were now fighting on the frontline or had been fallen. The lengthy conflict meant that everyone was facing economic hardship, he added, including those in the legal system who mysteriously ruled in favour of suspect new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see degradation of our society and public institutions,” he remarked. Demolition and Disregard One glaring location of loss is in the riverside Podil neighbourhood. The street was the site of classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had committed to preserve its charming brick facade. A day after the full-scale invasion, excavators razed it to the ground. Recently, a crane excavated foundations for a new retail and office development, monitored by a stern security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was faint chance for the remaining turquoise-painted houses on the site. Sometimes developers destroyed old properties while claiming they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A 20th-century empire also inflicted immense damage on the capital, reconstructing its central boulevard after the second world war so it could allow for military vehicles. Continuing the Work One of Kyiv’s most renowned advocates of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was lost his life in 2022 while engaged in a eastern city. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were continuing his vital preservation work. There were originally 3,500 stone mansions in Kyiv, many built for the city’s successful entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their original doors are still in existence, she said. “It was not aerial bombardments that got rid of them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could last another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now not a thing will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique ivy-draped house built in 1910, which functions 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 historic washroom and antique mirrors. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s resident, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “incredibly atmospheric and a little bit cold”. Why do many residents not cherish the past? “Regrettably they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are attempting as a country to integrate with the west. But we are still some distance away from civilization,” he said. Soviet-era ways of thinking remained, with people reluctant to take personal responsibility for their built surroundings, he added. Therapy 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 caved in; pigeons nested among its smashed windows; debris lay under a storybook tower. “Many times we lose the battle,” she conceded. “This activity is a form of healing for us. We are attempting to save all this past and splendour.” In the face of conflict and neglect, these citizens continue their work, one door at a time, stating that to save a city’s heart, you must first protect its stones.