🔗 Share this article Preserving the Capital's Heritage: An Urban Center Rebuilding Its Foundations Amidst the Onslaught of War. Lesia Danylenko proudly presented her recently completed front door. Volunteers had playfully nicknamed its graceful transom window the “crescent roll”, a whimsical nod to its arched shape. “In my opinion it’s more of a peafowl,” she commented, appreciating its branch-like features. The renovation effort at one of Kyiv’s pre-World War I art nouveau houses was funded through residents, who commemorated the work with several impromptu pavement parties. It was also an demonstration of opposition in the face of a foreign power, she explained: “Our aim is to live like everyday people despite the war. It’s about shaping our life in the most positive way. Fear does not drive us of living in our country. I could have left, moving away to Italy. Instead, I’m here. The new entrance represents our allegiance to our homeland.” “We are trying to live like everyday people despite the war. It’s about organizing our life in the most positive way.” Preserving Kyiv’s historic buildings may appear strange at a time when drone attacks regularly target the capital, resulting in death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, bombing campaigns have been notably increased. After each attack, workers board up shattered windows with plywood and attempt, where possible, to save residential buildings. Amid the Bombs, a Battle for Beauty In the midst of war, a collective of activists has been working to preserve the city’s deteriorating mansions, built in a playful style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the downtown Shevchenkivskyi district. It was constructed in 1906 and was initially the home of a wealthy fur dealer. Its exterior is embellished with horse chestnut leaves and fine camomile flowers. “These buildings represent symbols of Kyiv. These properties are uncommon nowadays,” Danylenko stated. The mansion was designed by an architect of Central European origin. Several other buildings nearby display similar art nouveau features, including a lack of symmetry – with a medieval spire on one side and a small tower on the other. One much-loved house in the area features two unhappy white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil. Dual Threats to History But military aggression is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face profit-driven developers who knock down historically significant buildings, corrupt officials and a political leadership unconcerned or hostile to the city’s profound architectural history. The bitter winter climate adds another difficulty. “Kyiv is a city where money wins. We don’t have substantive political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He claimed the city’s mayor was allied with many of the developers who destroy important houses. Perov added that the plan for the capital harks back to a previous decade. The mayor has refuted these claims, stating they come from political rivals. Perov said many of the civically minded activists who once championed older properties were now fighting on the frontline or had been killed. The protracted conflict meant that everyone was facing economic hardship, he added, including those in the legal system who inexplicably ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see degradation of our society and state bodies,” he contended. Demolition and Disregard One egregious example of destruction is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was home to classical 19th-century houses. A developer who purchased the plot had committed to preserve its picturesque brick facade. A day after the 2022 invasion, diggers tore it down. Recently, a crane excavated foundations for a new retail and office development, observed by a unfriendly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was faint chance for the remaining turquoise-painted houses on the site. Sometimes developers demolished old properties while stating they were doing “scientific study”, he said. A former political system also wrought immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its central boulevard after the second world war so it could accommodate official processions. Upholding the Legacy One of Kyiv’s most notable champions of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was lost his life in 2022 while serving in a eastern city. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his crucial preservation work. There were at one time 3,500 stone 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 got rid of them. It was us,” she admitted sadly. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now not a thing will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique vine-clad house built in 1910, which functions as the headquarters of her cultural organization and also serves as a film set and museum. The property has a new red door and period-correct railings; inside is a vintage sanitary facility and antique mirrors. “The war could last another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now little will be left.” The building’s resident, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “quite special and a little bit cold”. Why do many locals not cherish the past? “Regrettably they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to go to the west. But we are still not yet close from such cultural awareness,” he said. Soviet-era ways of thinking persisted, with people unwilling to take personal responsibility for their urban environment, he added. Hope in Action Some buildings are collapsing because of institutional abandonment. Chudna pointed to a once-magical villa tucked away behind a modern hospital. Its roof had fallen; pigeons nested among its smashed windows; rubbish lay under a storybook tower. “Frequently we are unsuccessful,” she acknowledged. “Restoration is a form of healing for us. We are striving to save all this heritage and splendour.” In the face of conflict and commercial interests, these citizens continue their work, one facade at a time, believing that to preserve a city’s soul, you must first protect its stones.
Lesia Danylenko proudly presented her recently completed front door. Volunteers had playfully nicknamed its graceful transom window the “crescent roll”, a whimsical nod to its arched shape. “In my opinion it’s more of a peafowl,” she commented, appreciating its branch-like features. The renovation effort at one of Kyiv’s pre-World War I art nouveau houses was funded through residents, who commemorated the work with several impromptu pavement parties. It was also an demonstration of opposition in the face of a foreign power, she explained: “Our aim is to live like everyday people despite the war. It’s about shaping our life in the most positive way. Fear does not drive us of living in our country. I could have left, moving away to Italy. Instead, I’m here. The new entrance represents our allegiance to our homeland.” “We are trying to live like everyday people despite the war. It’s about organizing our life in the most positive way.” Preserving Kyiv’s historic buildings may appear strange at a time when drone attacks regularly target the capital, resulting in death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, bombing campaigns have been notably increased. After each attack, workers board up shattered windows with plywood and attempt, where possible, to save residential buildings. Amid the Bombs, a Battle for Beauty In the midst of war, a collective of activists has been working to preserve the city’s deteriorating mansions, built in a playful style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the downtown Shevchenkivskyi district. It was constructed in 1906 and was initially the home of a wealthy fur dealer. Its exterior is embellished with horse chestnut leaves and fine camomile flowers. “These buildings represent symbols of Kyiv. These properties are uncommon nowadays,” Danylenko stated. The mansion was designed by an architect of Central European origin. Several other buildings nearby display similar art nouveau features, including a lack of symmetry – with a medieval spire on one side and a small tower on the other. One much-loved house in the area features two unhappy white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil. Dual Threats to History But military aggression is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face profit-driven developers who knock down historically significant buildings, corrupt officials and a political leadership unconcerned or hostile to the city’s profound architectural history. The bitter winter climate adds another difficulty. “Kyiv is a city where money wins. We don’t have substantive political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He claimed the city’s mayor was allied with many of the developers who destroy important houses. Perov added that the plan for the capital harks back to a previous decade. The mayor has refuted these claims, stating they come from political rivals. Perov said many of the civically minded activists who once championed older properties were now fighting on the frontline or had been killed. The protracted conflict meant that everyone was facing economic hardship, he added, including those in the legal system who inexplicably ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see degradation of our society and state bodies,” he contended. Demolition and Disregard One egregious example of destruction is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was home to classical 19th-century houses. A developer who purchased the plot had committed to preserve its picturesque brick facade. A day after the 2022 invasion, diggers tore it down. Recently, a crane excavated foundations for a new retail and office development, observed by a unfriendly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was faint chance for the remaining turquoise-painted houses on the site. Sometimes developers demolished old properties while stating they were doing “scientific study”, he said. A former political system also wrought immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its central boulevard after the second world war so it could accommodate official processions. Upholding the Legacy One of Kyiv’s most notable champions of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was lost his life in 2022 while serving in a eastern city. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his crucial preservation work. There were at one time 3,500 stone 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 got rid of them. It was us,” she admitted sadly. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now not a thing will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique vine-clad house built in 1910, which functions as the headquarters of her cultural organization and also serves as a film set and museum. The property has a new red door and period-correct railings; inside is a vintage sanitary facility and antique mirrors. “The war could last another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now little will be left.” The building’s resident, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “quite special and a little bit cold”. Why do many locals not cherish the past? “Regrettably they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to go to the west. But we are still not yet close from such cultural awareness,” he said. Soviet-era ways of thinking persisted, with people unwilling to take personal responsibility for their urban environment, he added. Hope in Action Some buildings are collapsing because of institutional abandonment. Chudna pointed to a once-magical villa tucked away behind a modern hospital. Its roof had fallen; pigeons nested among its smashed windows; rubbish lay under a storybook tower. “Frequently we are unsuccessful,” she acknowledged. “Restoration is a form of healing for us. We are striving to save all this heritage and splendour.” In the face of conflict and commercial interests, these citizens continue their work, one facade at a time, believing that to preserve a city’s soul, you must first protect its stones.