🔗 Share this article Protecting the Capital's Heritage: A City Reconstructing Its Foundations in the Shadow of War. Lesia Danylenko beamed with pride as she displayed her recently completed front door. The restoration team had playfully nicknamed its ornate transom window the “croissant”, a playful reference to its arched shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peafowl,” she remarked, gazing at its tree limb-inspired features. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s turn-of-the-century art nouveau houses was supported by residents, who celebrated with a couple of lively pavement parties. It was also an expression of defiance in the face of a neighboring state, she explained: “Our aim is to live like ordinary people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the optimal way. Fear does not drive us of living in our country. I could have left, starting anew to a foreign land. Instead, I’m here. The new entrance represents our dedication to our homeland.” “We strive to live like ordinary people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the best possible way.” Protecting Kyiv’s architectural heritage seems unusual at a moment when missile strikes regularly target the capital, resulting in death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, offensive operations have been significantly intensified. After each attack, workers seal blown-out windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to save residential buildings. Among the Bombs, a Fight for History In the midst of war, a band of activists has been attempting to save the city’s decaying 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 facade is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and intricate camomile flowers. “These buildings represent symbols of Kyiv. These properties are quite rare in the present day,” Danylenko stated. The residence was designed by an architect of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings nearby display similar art nouveau characteristics, including a lack of symmetry – with a pointed turret on one side and a projection on the other. One popular house in the area boasts two unhappy white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a demonic figure. Dual Threats to Legacy But external attacks is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unprincipled developers who demolish historically significant buildings, dishonest officials and a administrative body unconcerned or resistant to the city’s vast architectural history. The harsh winter climate presents another challenge. “Kyiv is a city where wealth dictates. We lack genuine 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 bulldoze important houses. Perov added that the vision for the capital comes straight out of a bygone era. The mayor rejects these claims, saying they originate from political rivals. Perov said many of the civically minded activists who once defended older properties were now engaged in combat or had been lost. The ongoing conflict meant that everyone was facing economic hardship, he added, including those in the legal system who mysteriously ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this continues the more we see degradation of our society and state bodies,” he contended. Destruction and Abandonment One notorious example of destruction is in the waterside Podil neighbourhood. The street was home to classical 19th-century houses. A developer who purchased the plot had pledged to preserve its charming brick facade. Shortly following the onset of major hostilities, heavy machinery razed it to the ground. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new shopping and business centre, observed by a surly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was little optimism for the remaining blue-green houses on the site. Sometimes developers demolished old properties while stating they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A 20th-century empire also inflicted immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its primary street after the second world war so it could allow for large-scale parades. Upholding the Legacy One of Kyiv’s most prominent defenders of historic buildings, a tour guide and blogger, was killed in 2022 while serving in the frontline. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were persevering in his crucial preservation work. There were originally 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many constructed for the city’s successful industrialists. Only 80 of their period doors remain, she said. “It wasn’t aerial bombardments that eliminated them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now little will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a full of character vine-clad house built in 1910, which acts as the headquarters of her cultural organization and doubles as a film set and museum. The property has a new red door and original-style railings; inside is a period bathroom and antique mirrors. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now not a thing will be left.” The building’s tenant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “very cool and a little bit cold”. Why do many citizens not appreciate the past? “Sadly they lack education and taste. It’s all about business. We are striving as a country to move towards the west. But we are still not yet close from civilization,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking lingered, with people reluctant to take personal responsibility for their architectural setting, he added. Therapy in Action Some buildings are crumbling because of institutional abandonment. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa concealed behind a modern hospital. Its roof had fallen; pigeons nested among its shattered windows; rubbish lay under a whimsical tower. “Many times we are unsuccessful,” she conceded. “Restoration is therapy for us. We are attempting to save all this past and splendour.” In the face of destruction and development pressures, these citizens continue their work, one building at a time, stating that to preserve a city’s identity, you must first cherish its stones.
Lesia Danylenko beamed with pride as she displayed her recently completed front door. The restoration team had playfully nicknamed its ornate transom window the “croissant”, a playful reference to its arched shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peafowl,” she remarked, gazing at its tree limb-inspired features. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s turn-of-the-century art nouveau houses was supported by residents, who celebrated with a couple of lively pavement parties. It was also an expression of defiance in the face of a neighboring state, she explained: “Our aim is to live like ordinary people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the optimal way. Fear does not drive us of living in our country. I could have left, starting anew to a foreign land. Instead, I’m here. The new entrance represents our dedication to our homeland.” “We strive to live like ordinary people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the best possible way.” Protecting Kyiv’s architectural heritage seems unusual at a moment when missile strikes regularly target the capital, resulting in death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, offensive operations have been significantly intensified. After each attack, workers seal blown-out windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to save residential buildings. Among the Bombs, a Fight for History In the midst of war, a band of activists has been attempting to save the city’s decaying 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 facade is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and intricate camomile flowers. “These buildings represent symbols of Kyiv. These properties are quite rare in the present day,” Danylenko stated. The residence was designed by an architect of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings nearby display similar art nouveau characteristics, including a lack of symmetry – with a pointed turret on one side and a projection on the other. One popular house in the area boasts two unhappy white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a demonic figure. Dual Threats to Legacy But external attacks is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unprincipled developers who demolish historically significant buildings, dishonest officials and a administrative body unconcerned or resistant to the city’s vast architectural history. The harsh winter climate presents another challenge. “Kyiv is a city where wealth dictates. We lack genuine 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 bulldoze important houses. Perov added that the vision for the capital comes straight out of a bygone era. The mayor rejects these claims, saying they originate from political rivals. Perov said many of the civically minded activists who once defended older properties were now engaged in combat or had been lost. The ongoing conflict meant that everyone was facing economic hardship, he added, including those in the legal system who mysteriously ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this continues the more we see degradation of our society and state bodies,” he contended. Destruction and Abandonment One notorious example of destruction is in the waterside Podil neighbourhood. The street was home to classical 19th-century houses. A developer who purchased the plot had pledged to preserve its charming brick facade. Shortly following the onset of major hostilities, heavy machinery razed it to the ground. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new shopping and business centre, observed by a surly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was little optimism for the remaining blue-green houses on the site. Sometimes developers demolished old properties while stating they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A 20th-century empire also inflicted immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its primary street after the second world war so it could allow for large-scale parades. Upholding the Legacy One of Kyiv’s most prominent defenders of historic buildings, a tour guide and blogger, was killed in 2022 while serving in the frontline. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were persevering in his crucial preservation work. There were originally 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many constructed for the city’s successful industrialists. Only 80 of their period doors remain, she said. “It wasn’t aerial bombardments that eliminated them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now little will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a full of character vine-clad house built in 1910, which acts as the headquarters of her cultural organization and doubles as a film set and museum. The property has a new red door and original-style railings; inside is a period bathroom and antique mirrors. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now not a thing will be left.” The building’s tenant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “very cool and a little bit cold”. Why do many citizens not appreciate the past? “Sadly they lack education and taste. It’s all about business. We are striving as a country to move towards the west. But we are still not yet close from civilization,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking lingered, with people reluctant to take personal responsibility for their architectural setting, he added. Therapy in Action Some buildings are crumbling because of institutional abandonment. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa concealed behind a modern hospital. Its roof had fallen; pigeons nested among its shattered windows; rubbish lay under a whimsical tower. “Many times we are unsuccessful,” she conceded. “Restoration is therapy for us. We are attempting to save all this past and splendour.” In the face of destruction and development pressures, these citizens continue their work, one building at a time, stating that to preserve a city’s identity, you must first cherish its stones.