🔗 Share this article Protecting the Capital's Heritage: An Urban Center Reconstructing Itself in the Shadow of War. Lesia Danylenko beamed with pride as she displayed her freshly fitted front door. Volunteers had affectionately dubbed its ornate transom window the “croissant”, a lighthearted tribute to its arched shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peafowl,” she stated, gazing at its tree limb-inspired ornamentation. The renovation effort at one of Kyiv’s pre-World War I art nouveau houses was supported by residents, who celebrated with several lively pavement parties. It was also an expression of resistance in the face of an invading force, she clarified: “We are trying to live like everyday people regardless of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the most positive way. We have no fear of staying in our country. I could have left, moving away to another European nation. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance represents our dedication to our homeland.” “Our aim is to live like everyday people in spite of the war. It’s about arranging our life in the optimal way.” Preserving Kyiv’s architectural heritage may appear paradoxical at a time when drone attacks frequently hit the capital, causing death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, bombing campaigns have been notably increased. After each attack, workers cover shattered windows with plywood and attempt, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Among the Explosions, a Fight for Identity Despite the violence, a band of activists has been attempting to save the city’s crumbling mansions, built in a playful style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the central Shevchenkivskyi district. It was built in 1906 and was initially the home of a prosperous fur dealer. Its facade is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and fine camomile flowers. “They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are increasingly scarce today,” Danylenko said. The building was designed by a designer of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings close by exhibit similar art nouveau features, including asymmetry – with a pointed turret on one side and a projection on the other. One much-loved house in the area displays two sullen 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 unscrupulous developers who knock down historically significant buildings, corrupt officials and a political leadership indifferent or resistant to the city’s profound architectural history. The severe winter climate imposes another burden. “Kyiv is a city where money wins. We are missing genuine political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He claimed the city’s mayor was friends with many of the developers who flatten important houses. Perov added that the concept for the capital comes straight out of a bygone era. The mayor denies these claims, stating they come from political rivals. Perov said many of the public-spirited activists who once protected older properties were now serving in the military or had been fallen. The ongoing conflict meant that everyone was facing monetary strain, he added, including judicial figures who mysteriously ruled in favour of suspect new-build schemes. “The longer this continues the more we see deterioration of our society and public institutions,” he argued. Demolition and Neglect One glaring example of destruction is in the riverside Podil neighbourhood. The street was the site of classical 19th-century houses. A developer who purchased the plot had agreed to preserve its attractive brick facade. A day after the onset of major hostilities, excavators demolished it. Recently, a crane excavated foundations for a new commercial complex, observed by a surly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was little optimism for the remaining coloured houses on the site. Sometimes developers destroyed old properties while claiming they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A 20th-century empire also wrought immense damage on the capital, redesigning its main thoroughfare after the second world war so it could facilitate military vehicles. Continuing the Work One of Kyiv’s most notable advocates of historic buildings, a heritage expert, was fell in 2022 while serving in a contested area. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were persevering in his crucial preservation work. There were initially 3,500 stone mansions in Kyiv, many constructed for the city’s wealthy entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their authentic doors survived, she said. “It was not aerial bombardments that got rid of them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now little will be left,” she emphasized. Chudna recently helped to restore a full of character creeper-covered 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 vermilion portal and original-style railings; inside is a vintage sanitary facility and antique mirrors. “The war could last another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now not a thing will be left.” The building’s occupant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “quite special and a little bit cold”. Why do many citizens not value the past? “Sadly they do not have education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to move towards the west. But we are still a way off from such cultural awareness,” he said. Soviet-era ways of thinking lingered, with people unwilling to take personal responsibility for their urban environment, he added. Resilience in Restoration Some buildings are falling apart because of institutional abandonment. Chudna showed a once-magical villa tucked away behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons nested among its shattered windows; refuse lay under a storybook tower. “Many times we don’t win,” she admitted. “This activity is therapy for us. We are trying to save all this heritage and splendour.” In the face of war and neglect, these volunteers continue their work, one facade at a time, believing that to rebuild a city’s identity, you must first cherish its stones.
Lesia Danylenko beamed with pride as she displayed her freshly fitted front door. Volunteers had affectionately dubbed its ornate transom window the “croissant”, a lighthearted tribute to its arched shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peafowl,” she stated, gazing at its tree limb-inspired ornamentation. The renovation effort at one of Kyiv’s pre-World War I art nouveau houses was supported by residents, who celebrated with several lively pavement parties. It was also an expression of resistance in the face of an invading force, she clarified: “We are trying to live like everyday people regardless of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the most positive way. We have no fear of staying in our country. I could have left, moving away to another European nation. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance represents our dedication to our homeland.” “Our aim is to live like everyday people in spite of the war. It’s about arranging our life in the optimal way.” Preserving Kyiv’s architectural heritage may appear paradoxical at a time when drone attacks frequently hit the capital, causing death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, bombing campaigns have been notably increased. After each attack, workers cover shattered windows with plywood and attempt, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Among the Explosions, a Fight for Identity Despite the violence, a band of activists has been attempting to save the city’s crumbling mansions, built in a playful style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the central Shevchenkivskyi district. It was built in 1906 and was initially the home of a prosperous fur dealer. Its facade is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and fine camomile flowers. “They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are increasingly scarce today,” Danylenko said. The building was designed by a designer of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings close by exhibit similar art nouveau features, including asymmetry – with a pointed turret on one side and a projection on the other. One much-loved house in the area displays two sullen 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 unscrupulous developers who knock down historically significant buildings, corrupt officials and a political leadership indifferent or resistant to the city’s profound architectural history. The severe winter climate imposes another burden. “Kyiv is a city where money wins. We are missing genuine political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He claimed the city’s mayor was friends with many of the developers who flatten important houses. Perov added that the concept for the capital comes straight out of a bygone era. The mayor denies these claims, stating they come from political rivals. Perov said many of the public-spirited activists who once protected older properties were now serving in the military or had been fallen. The ongoing conflict meant that everyone was facing monetary strain, he added, including judicial figures who mysteriously ruled in favour of suspect new-build schemes. “The longer this continues the more we see deterioration of our society and public institutions,” he argued. Demolition and Neglect One glaring example of destruction is in the riverside Podil neighbourhood. The street was the site of classical 19th-century houses. A developer who purchased the plot had agreed to preserve its attractive brick facade. A day after the onset of major hostilities, excavators demolished it. Recently, a crane excavated foundations for a new commercial complex, observed by a surly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was little optimism for the remaining coloured houses on the site. Sometimes developers destroyed old properties while claiming they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A 20th-century empire also wrought immense damage on the capital, redesigning its main thoroughfare after the second world war so it could facilitate military vehicles. Continuing the Work One of Kyiv’s most notable advocates of historic buildings, a heritage expert, was fell in 2022 while serving in a contested area. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were persevering in his crucial preservation work. There were initially 3,500 stone mansions in Kyiv, many constructed for the city’s wealthy entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their authentic doors survived, she said. “It was not aerial bombardments that got rid of them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now little will be left,” she emphasized. Chudna recently helped to restore a full of character creeper-covered 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 vermilion portal and original-style railings; inside is a vintage sanitary facility and antique mirrors. “The war could last another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now not a thing will be left.” The building’s occupant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “quite special and a little bit cold”. Why do many citizens not value the past? “Sadly they do not have education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to move towards the west. But we are still a way off from such cultural awareness,” he said. Soviet-era ways of thinking lingered, with people unwilling to take personal responsibility for their urban environment, he added. Resilience in Restoration Some buildings are falling apart because of institutional abandonment. Chudna showed a once-magical villa tucked away behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons nested among its shattered windows; refuse lay under a storybook tower. “Many times we don’t win,” she admitted. “This activity is therapy for us. We are trying to save all this heritage and splendour.” In the face of war and neglect, these volunteers continue their work, one facade at a time, believing that to rebuild a city’s identity, you must first cherish its stones.