🔗 Share this article Protecting Kyiv's Heritage: An Urban Center Rebuilding Its Foundations in the Shadow of War. Lesia Danylenko beamed with pride as she displayed her freshly fitted front door. The restoration team had playfully nicknamed its elegant transom window the “pastry”, a lighthearted tribute to its arched shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a showy bird,” she remarked, gazing at its tree limb-inspired details. The restoration project at one of Kyiv’s early 20th-century art nouveau houses was funded through residents, who commemorated the work with two neighbourhood pavement parties. It was also an expression of defiance against a foreign power, she explained: “Our aim is to live like everyday people regardless of the war. It’s about arranging our life in the most positive way. We’re not afraid of remaining in our country. The possibility to emigrate existed, relocating to a foreign land. On the contrary, I’m here. The new entrance shows our dedication to our homeland.” “Our aim is to live like everyday people despite the war. It’s about arranging our life in the most positive way.” Protecting Kyiv’s historic buildings may appear strange at a moment when missile strikes routinely fall the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the start of the current year, bombing campaigns have been dramatically stepped up. After each strike, workers cover blown-out windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to salvage residential buildings. Among the Conflict, a Campaign for Identity Amid the bombs, a group of activists has been working to save the city’s crumbling mansions, built in a distinctive 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 prosperous fur dealer. Its outer walls is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and intricate camomile flowers. “They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are uncommon nowadays,” Danylenko noted. The building was designed by an architect of Central European origin. Several other buildings nearby exhibit analogous art nouveau elements, including an irregular shape – with a medieval spire on one side and a turret on the other. One much-loved house in the area features two unhappy white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil. Multiple Dangers to Legacy But external attacks is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face profit-driven developers who raze historically significant buildings, corrupt officials and a administrative body unconcerned or resistant to the city’s rich architectural history. The bitter winter climate imposes another burden. “Kyiv is a city where capital prevails. We lack genuine political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He alleged the city’s leadership was closely associated with many of the developers who flatten important houses. Perov added that the plan for the capital harks back to a bygone era. The mayor rejects 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 lost. The ongoing conflict meant that the entire society was facing financial problems, he added, including those in the legal system who mysteriously ruled in favour of dubious new-build schemes. “The longer this persists the more we see deterioration of our society and governing institutions,” he argued. Destruction and Neglect One egregious example of destruction is in the waterside Podil neighbourhood. The street was lined with classical 19th-century houses. A developer who purchased the plot had agreed to preserve its attractive brick facade. In the immediate aftermath of the full-scale invasion, diggers razed it to the ground. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new retail and office development, watched by a surly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was faint chance for the remaining blue-green houses on the site. Sometimes developers destroyed old properties while claiming they were doing “scientific study”, he said. A 20th-century empire also wrought immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its central boulevard after the second world war so it could facilitate military vehicles. Continuing the Work One of Kyiv’s most prominent champions of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was killed in 2022 while engaged in the frontline. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his important preservation work. There were initially 3,500 brick-built mansions in Kyiv, many constructed for the city’s prosperous entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their original doors remain, she said. “It wasn’t external attacks that got rid of them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now not a thing will be left,” she emphasized. Chudna recently helped to restore a characterful vine-clad house built in 1910, which functions 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 historic washroom and antique mirrors. “The war could last another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s tenant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “incredibly atmospheric and a little bit cold”. Why do many residents not value the past? “Regrettably they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to move towards the west. But we are still some distance away from civilization,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking remained, with people hesitant to take personal responsibility for their urban environment, he added. Therapy in Action Some buildings are collapsing because of official neglect. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa concealed behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons nested among its broken windows; refuse lay under a fairytale tower. “Many times we are unsuccessful,” she acknowledged. “This activity is a form of healing for us. We are striving to save all this history and splendour.” In the face of war and neglect, these activists continue their work, one door at a time, stating that to preserve a city’s identity, you must first save its history.
Lesia Danylenko beamed with pride as she displayed her freshly fitted front door. The restoration team had playfully nicknamed its elegant transom window the “pastry”, a lighthearted tribute to its arched shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a showy bird,” she remarked, gazing at its tree limb-inspired details. The restoration project at one of Kyiv’s early 20th-century art nouveau houses was funded through residents, who commemorated the work with two neighbourhood pavement parties. It was also an expression of defiance against a foreign power, she explained: “Our aim is to live like everyday people regardless of the war. It’s about arranging our life in the most positive way. We’re not afraid of remaining in our country. The possibility to emigrate existed, relocating to a foreign land. On the contrary, I’m here. The new entrance shows our dedication to our homeland.” “Our aim is to live like everyday people despite the war. It’s about arranging our life in the most positive way.” Protecting Kyiv’s historic buildings may appear strange at a moment when missile strikes routinely fall the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the start of the current year, bombing campaigns have been dramatically stepped up. After each strike, workers cover blown-out windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to salvage residential buildings. Among the Conflict, a Campaign for Identity Amid the bombs, a group of activists has been working to save the city’s crumbling mansions, built in a distinctive 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 prosperous fur dealer. Its outer walls is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and intricate camomile flowers. “They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are uncommon nowadays,” Danylenko noted. The building was designed by an architect of Central European origin. Several other buildings nearby exhibit analogous art nouveau elements, including an irregular shape – with a medieval spire on one side and a turret on the other. One much-loved house in the area features two unhappy white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil. Multiple Dangers to Legacy But external attacks is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face profit-driven developers who raze historically significant buildings, corrupt officials and a administrative body unconcerned or resistant to the city’s rich architectural history. The bitter winter climate imposes another burden. “Kyiv is a city where capital prevails. We lack genuine political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He alleged the city’s leadership was closely associated with many of the developers who flatten important houses. Perov added that the plan for the capital harks back to a bygone era. The mayor rejects 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 lost. The ongoing conflict meant that the entire society was facing financial problems, he added, including those in the legal system who mysteriously ruled in favour of dubious new-build schemes. “The longer this persists the more we see deterioration of our society and governing institutions,” he argued. Destruction and Neglect One egregious example of destruction is in the waterside Podil neighbourhood. The street was lined with classical 19th-century houses. A developer who purchased the plot had agreed to preserve its attractive brick facade. In the immediate aftermath of the full-scale invasion, diggers razed it to the ground. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new retail and office development, watched by a surly security guard. Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was faint chance for the remaining blue-green houses on the site. Sometimes developers destroyed old properties while claiming they were doing “scientific study”, he said. A 20th-century empire also wrought immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its central boulevard after the second world war so it could facilitate military vehicles. Continuing the Work One of Kyiv’s most prominent champions of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was killed in 2022 while engaged in the frontline. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his important preservation work. There were initially 3,500 brick-built mansions in Kyiv, many constructed for the city’s prosperous entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their original doors remain, she said. “It wasn’t external attacks that got rid of them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now not a thing will be left,” she emphasized. Chudna recently helped to restore a characterful vine-clad house built in 1910, which functions 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 historic washroom and antique mirrors. “The war could last another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now nothing will be left.” The building’s tenant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “incredibly atmospheric and a little bit cold”. Why do many residents not value the past? “Regrettably they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to move towards the west. But we are still some distance away from civilization,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking remained, with people hesitant to take personal responsibility for their urban environment, he added. Therapy in Action Some buildings are collapsing because of official neglect. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa concealed behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons nested among its broken windows; refuse lay under a fairytale tower. “Many times we are unsuccessful,” she acknowledged. “This activity is a form of healing for us. We are striving to save all this history and splendour.” In the face of war and neglect, these activists continue their work, one door at a time, stating that to preserve a city’s identity, you must first save its history.