🔗 Share this article Preserving the Capital's Heritage: A City Rebuilding Its Foundations in the Shadow of Conflict. Lesia Danylenko proudly presented her recently completed front door. Local helpers had affectionately dubbed its graceful transom window the “croissant”, a playful reference to its arched shape. “I think it’s more of a peacock,” she commented, admiring its twig-detailed ornamentation. The renovation effort 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 opposition towards an invading force, she elaborated: “We strive to live like everyday people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the most positive way. We have no fear of remaining in our country. I could have left, starting anew to Italy. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance symbolizes our dedication to our homeland.” “We strive to live like normal people despite the war. It’s about arranging our life in the best possible way.” Preserving Kyiv’s historic buildings may appear strange at a period when missile strikes routinely fall the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the onset of the current year, aerial raids have been significantly intensified. After each strike, workers cover broken windows with plywood and try, where possible, to save residential buildings. Among the Explosions, a Fight for History In the midst of war, a group of activists has been attempting 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 exterior is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and fine camomile flowers. “They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are uncommon in the present day,” Danylenko noted. The building was designed by an architect of Central European origin. Several other buildings close by display comparable art nouveau characteristics, including an irregular shape – with a gothic tower on one side and a turret on the other. One popular house in the area displays two unhappy white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a imp. Several Threats to Heritage But external attacks is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unprincipled developers who knock down listed buildings, dishonest officials and a administrative body unconcerned or hostile to the city’s rich architectural history. The bitter winter climate presents another challenge. “Kyiv is a city where wealth dictates. We are missing substantive political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He asserted the city’s mayor was allied with many of the developers who flatten important houses. Perov further alleged that the vision for the capital comes straight out of a different time. The mayor rejects these claims, attributing them from political rivals. Perov said many of the public-spirited activists who once championed older properties were now engaged in combat or had been fallen. The ongoing conflict meant that everyone was facing financial problems, he added, including judicial figures who inexplicably ruled in favour of suspect new-build schemes. “The longer this continues the more we see degradation of our society and governing institutions,” he contended. Loss and Abandonment One glaring example of destruction is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was home to classical 19th-century houses. A developer who obtained the plot had agreed to preserve its charming brick facade. In the immediate aftermath of the onset of major hostilities, heavy machinery tore it down. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new commercial complex, monitored by a surly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was faint chance for the remaining coloured houses on the site. Sometimes developers levelled old properties while claiming they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A previous regime also wrought immense damage on the capital, redesigning its main thoroughfare after the second world war so it could allow for large-scale parades. Upholding the Legacy One of Kyiv’s most renowned champions of historic buildings, a heritage expert, was lost his life in 2022 while serving in a eastern city. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were persevering in his important preservation work. There were originally 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many erected for the city’s successful business magnates. Only 80 of their original doors survived, she said. “It was not foreign rockets that eliminated them. It was us,” she admitted sadly. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now little will be left,” she emphasized. Chudna recently helped to restore a characterful creeper-covered 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 authentic railings; inside is a period bathroom and antique mirrors. “The war could last another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s occupant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “very cool 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 attempting as a country to go to the west. But we are still not yet close from that standard,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking lingered, with people hesitant to take personal responsibility for their urban environment, he added. Resilience in Restoration Some buildings are falling apart because of institutional abandonment. Chudna pointed to a once-magical villa tucked away behind a modern hospital. Its roof had fallen; pigeons roosted among its shattered windows; refuse lay under a whimsical tower. “Many times we lose the battle,” she conceded. “This activity is therapy for us. We are striving to save all this history and beauty.” In the face of conflict and commercial interests, these citizens continue their work, one building at a time, believing that to preserve a city’s identity, you must first protect its history.
Lesia Danylenko proudly presented her recently completed front door. Local helpers had affectionately dubbed its graceful transom window the “croissant”, a playful reference to its arched shape. “I think it’s more of a peacock,” she commented, admiring its twig-detailed ornamentation. The renovation effort 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 opposition towards an invading force, she elaborated: “We strive to live like everyday people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the most positive way. We have no fear of remaining in our country. I could have left, starting anew to Italy. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance symbolizes our dedication to our homeland.” “We strive to live like normal people despite the war. It’s about arranging our life in the best possible way.” Preserving Kyiv’s historic buildings may appear strange at a period when missile strikes routinely fall the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the onset of the current year, aerial raids have been significantly intensified. After each strike, workers cover broken windows with plywood and try, where possible, to save residential buildings. Among the Explosions, a Fight for History In the midst of war, a group of activists has been attempting 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 exterior is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and fine camomile flowers. “They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are uncommon in the present day,” Danylenko noted. The building was designed by an architect of Central European origin. Several other buildings close by display comparable art nouveau characteristics, including an irregular shape – with a gothic tower on one side and a turret on the other. One popular house in the area displays two unhappy white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a imp. Several Threats to Heritage But external attacks is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unprincipled developers who knock down listed buildings, dishonest officials and a administrative body unconcerned or hostile to the city’s rich architectural history. The bitter winter climate presents another challenge. “Kyiv is a city where wealth dictates. We are missing substantive political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He asserted the city’s mayor was allied with many of the developers who flatten important houses. Perov further alleged that the vision for the capital comes straight out of a different time. The mayor rejects these claims, attributing them from political rivals. Perov said many of the public-spirited activists who once championed older properties were now engaged in combat or had been fallen. The ongoing conflict meant that everyone was facing financial problems, he added, including judicial figures who inexplicably ruled in favour of suspect new-build schemes. “The longer this continues the more we see degradation of our society and governing institutions,” he contended. Loss and Abandonment One glaring example of destruction is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was home to classical 19th-century houses. A developer who obtained the plot had agreed to preserve its charming brick facade. In the immediate aftermath of the onset of major hostilities, heavy machinery tore it down. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new commercial complex, monitored by a surly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was faint chance for the remaining coloured houses on the site. Sometimes developers levelled old properties while claiming they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A previous regime also wrought immense damage on the capital, redesigning its main thoroughfare after the second world war so it could allow for large-scale parades. Upholding the Legacy One of Kyiv’s most renowned champions of historic buildings, a heritage expert, was lost his life in 2022 while serving in a eastern city. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were persevering in his important preservation work. There were originally 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many erected for the city’s successful business magnates. Only 80 of their original doors survived, she said. “It was not foreign rockets that eliminated them. It was us,” she admitted sadly. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now little will be left,” she emphasized. Chudna recently helped to restore a characterful creeper-covered 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 authentic railings; inside is a period bathroom and antique mirrors. “The war could last another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s occupant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “very cool 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 attempting as a country to go to the west. But we are still not yet close from that standard,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking lingered, with people hesitant to take personal responsibility for their urban environment, he added. Resilience in Restoration Some buildings are falling apart because of institutional abandonment. Chudna pointed to a once-magical villa tucked away behind a modern hospital. Its roof had fallen; pigeons roosted among its shattered windows; refuse lay under a whimsical tower. “Many times we lose the battle,” she conceded. “This activity is therapy for us. We are striving to save all this history and beauty.” In the face of conflict and commercial interests, these citizens continue their work, one building at a time, believing that to preserve a city’s identity, you must first protect its history.