🔗 Share this article Protecting Kyiv's Heritage: A City Rebuilding Its Foundations in the Shadow of Conflict. Lesia Danylenko proudly presented her freshly fitted front door. The restoration team had given the moniker its ornate transom window the “crescent roll”, a lighthearted tribute to its arched shape. “In my opinion it’s more of a peafowl,” she stated, gazing at its tree limb-inspired features. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s early 20th-century art nouveau houses was made possible by residents, who celebrated with two impromptu pavement parties. It was also an expression of resistance towards a foreign power, she elaborated: “We are trying to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the best possible way. Fear does not drive us of staying in our homeland. The possibility to emigrate existed, starting anew to another European nation. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance shows our commitment to our homeland.” “Our aim is to live like everyday people despite the war. It’s about shaping our life in the most positive way.” Preserving Kyiv’s architectural heritage could be considered unusual at a period 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 strike, workers board up shattered windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Within the Explosions, a Campaign for Beauty Despite the violence, a group of activists has been striving to preserve the city’s deteriorating mansions, built in a playful style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the historic Shevchenkivskyi district. It was built in 1906 and was initially the home of a wealthy fur dealer. Its facade is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers. “These structures stand as symbols of Kyiv. These properties are quite rare nowadays,” Danylenko noted. The residence was designed by a designer of Central European origin. Several other buildings in the vicinity showcase similar art nouveau elements, including a lack of symmetry – with a gothic tower on one side and a projection on the other. One popular house in the area displays two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a imp. Several Threats to Heritage But armed conflict is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unscrupulous developers who knock down historically significant buildings, unethical officials and a governing class apathetic or hostile to the city’s rich architectural history. The bitter winter climate presents another difficulty. “Kyiv is a city where money wins. We don’t have genuine political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He asserted the city’s mayor was friends with many of the developers who destroy important houses. Perov stated that the vision for the capital comes straight out of a previous decade. The mayor has refuted these claims, saying they originate from political rivals. Perov said many of the community-oriented activists who once defended older properties were now fighting on the frontline or had been killed. The lengthy conflict meant that all citizens was facing financial problems, he added, including those in the legal system who curiously ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see decline of our society and public institutions,” he argued. Demolition and Disregard One notorious location of loss is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was home to classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had committed to preserve its picturesque brick facade. Shortly following the onset of major hostilities, diggers razed it to the ground. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new shopping and business centre, watched by a unfriendly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was not much hope for the remaining coloured houses on the site. Sometimes developers demolished old properties while stating they were doing “historical excavation”, he said. A former political system also inflicted immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its primary street after the second world war so it could allow for large-scale parades. Continuing the Work One of Kyiv’s most prominent champions of historic buildings, a tour guide and blogger, was killed in 2022 while fighting in a contested area. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his important preservation work. There were originally 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many constructed for the city’s successful entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their original doors remain, she said. “It was not external attacks that got rid of them. It was us,” she admitted sadly. “The war could last another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now little will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique creeper-covered house built in 1910, which functions as the headquarters of her cultural organization and doubles 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 go on for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s tenant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “quite special and a little bit cold”. Why do many citizens not value the past? “Regrettably they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to integrate with the west. But we are still not yet close from such cultural awareness,” he said. Previous ways of thinking lingered, with people reluctant to take personal responsibility for their architectural setting, he added. Resilience in Restoration Some buildings are crumbling because of bureaucratic indifference. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa tucked away behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons roosted among its shattered windows; refuse lay under a whimsical tower. “Many times we are unsuccessful,” she admitted. “This activity is a form of healing for us. We are striving to save all this past and aesthetic value.” In the face of conflict and commercial interests, these volunteers continue their work, one building at a time, believing that to rebuild a city’s identity, you must first protect its history.
Lesia Danylenko proudly presented her freshly fitted front door. The restoration team had given the moniker its ornate transom window the “crescent roll”, a lighthearted tribute to its arched shape. “In my opinion it’s more of a peafowl,” she stated, gazing at its tree limb-inspired features. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s early 20th-century art nouveau houses was made possible by residents, who celebrated with two impromptu pavement parties. It was also an expression of resistance towards a foreign power, she elaborated: “We are trying to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the best possible way. Fear does not drive us of staying in our homeland. The possibility to emigrate existed, starting anew to another European nation. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance shows our commitment to our homeland.” “Our aim is to live like everyday people despite the war. It’s about shaping our life in the most positive way.” Preserving Kyiv’s architectural heritage could be considered unusual at a period 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 strike, workers board up shattered windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to secure residential buildings. Within the Explosions, a Campaign for Beauty Despite the violence, a group of activists has been striving to preserve the city’s deteriorating mansions, built in a playful style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the historic Shevchenkivskyi district. It was built in 1906 and was initially the home of a wealthy fur dealer. Its facade is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers. “These structures stand as symbols of Kyiv. These properties are quite rare nowadays,” Danylenko noted. The residence was designed by a designer of Central European origin. Several other buildings in the vicinity showcase similar art nouveau elements, including a lack of symmetry – with a gothic tower on one side and a projection on the other. One popular house in the area displays two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a imp. Several Threats to Heritage But armed conflict is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unscrupulous developers who knock down historically significant buildings, unethical officials and a governing class apathetic or hostile to the city’s rich architectural history. The bitter winter climate presents another difficulty. “Kyiv is a city where money wins. We don’t have genuine political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He asserted the city’s mayor was friends with many of the developers who destroy important houses. Perov stated that the vision for the capital comes straight out of a previous decade. The mayor has refuted these claims, saying they originate from political rivals. Perov said many of the community-oriented activists who once defended older properties were now fighting on the frontline or had been killed. The lengthy conflict meant that all citizens was facing financial problems, he added, including those in the legal system who curiously ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see decline of our society and public institutions,” he argued. Demolition and Disregard One notorious location of loss is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was home to classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had committed to preserve its picturesque brick facade. Shortly following the onset of major hostilities, diggers razed it to the ground. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new shopping and business centre, watched by a unfriendly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was not much hope for the remaining coloured houses on the site. Sometimes developers demolished old properties while stating they were doing “historical excavation”, he said. A former political system also inflicted immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its primary street after the second world war so it could allow for large-scale parades. Continuing the Work One of Kyiv’s most prominent champions of historic buildings, a tour guide and blogger, was killed in 2022 while fighting in a contested area. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his important preservation work. There were originally 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many constructed for the city’s successful entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their original doors remain, she said. “It was not external attacks that got rid of them. It was us,” she admitted sadly. “The war could last another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now little will be left,” she added. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique creeper-covered house built in 1910, which functions as the headquarters of her cultural organization and doubles 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 go on for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s tenant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “quite special and a little bit cold”. Why do many citizens not value the past? “Regrettably they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to integrate with the west. But we are still not yet close from such cultural awareness,” he said. Previous ways of thinking lingered, with people reluctant to take personal responsibility for their architectural setting, he added. Resilience in Restoration Some buildings are crumbling because of bureaucratic indifference. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa tucked away behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons roosted among its shattered windows; refuse lay under a whimsical tower. “Many times we are unsuccessful,” she admitted. “This activity is a form of healing for us. We are striving to save all this past and aesthetic value.” In the face of conflict and commercial interests, these volunteers continue their work, one building at a time, believing that to rebuild a city’s identity, you must first protect its history.