Safeguarding Kyiv's Architectural Legacy: A City Reconstructing Itself Under the Threat of War.

Lesia Danylenko proudly presented her recently completed front door. Volunteers had playfully nicknamed its elegant transom window the “croissant”, a playful reference to its arched shape. “In my opinion it’s more of a peacock,” she remarked, admiring its twig-detailed features. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s early 20th-century art nouveau houses was supported by residents, who celebrated with several lively pavement parties.

It was also an demonstration of opposition against a foreign power, she clarified: “We strive to live like ordinary people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the best possible way. We have no fear of staying in our homeland. The possibility to emigrate existed, relocating to another European nation. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance represents our allegiance to our homeland.”

“We strive to live like normal people regardless of the war. It’s about arranging our life in the best possible way.”

Preserving Kyiv’s historic buildings seems paradoxical at a moment when missile strikes frequently hit the capital, resulting in death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, aerial raids have been notably increased. After each assault, workers seal blown-out windows with plywood and try, where possible, to secure residential buildings.

Within the Explosions, a Fight for Identity

Amid the bombs, a band of activists has been attempting to save the city’s crumbling mansions, built in a distinctive 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 prosperous fur dealer. Its facade is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and intricate camomile flowers.

“These buildings represent symbols of Kyiv. These properties are quite rare today,” Danylenko noted. The residence was designed by an architect of Central European origin. Several other buildings in the vicinity display comparable art nouveau elements, including an irregular shape – with a pointed turret on one side and a turret on the other. One much-loved house in the area boasts two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a imp.

Several 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 political leadership indifferent or resistant to the city’s rich architectural history. The bitter winter climate presents another burden.

“Kyiv is a city where money wins. We lack real political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He asserted the city’s mayor was closely associated with many of the developers who flatten important houses. Perov further alleged that the plan for the capital harks back to a bygone era. The mayor has refuted these claims, saying they originate from political rivals.

Perov said many of the public-spirited activists who once defended older properties were now fighting on the frontline or had been killed. The protracted conflict meant that everyone 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 continues the more we see deterioration of our society and state bodies,” he remarked.

Demolition and Neglect

One egregious demolition site is in the historic 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. Shortly following the full-scale invasion, excavators demolished it. Recently, a crane prepared foundations for a new commercial complex, observed 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 demolished old properties while asserting they were doing “historical excavation”, he said. A 20th-century empire also caused 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 notable defenders of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was lost his life in 2022 while engaged in a eastern city. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were continuing his crucial preservation work. There were originally 3,500 brick-built mansions in Kyiv, many erected for the city’s successful entrepreneurs. Only 80 of their authentic doors survived, she said.

“It wasn’t aerial bombardments that got rid of them. It was us,” she lamented. “The war could last another 20 years. If we don’t defend architecture now nothing will be left,” she continued. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique ivy-draped house built in 1910, which acts as the headquarters of her cultural organization and also serves as a film set and museum. The property has a new crimson entrance and period-correct 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 resident, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “incredibly atmospheric and a little bit cold”. Why do many residents not cherish the past? “Regrettably they lack education and taste. It’s all about business. We are striving as a country to go to the west. But we are still a way off from such cultural awareness,” he said. Previous ways of thinking lingered, with people hesitant to take personal responsibility for their architectural setting, he added.

Resilience in Action

Some buildings are collapsing because of official neglect. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa hidden behind a modern hospital. Its roof had caved in; pigeons nested among its smashed windows; refuse lay under a whimsical tower. “Often we are unsuccessful,” she admitted. “Restoration is a form of healing for us. We are striving to save all this past and aesthetic value.”

In the face of destruction and commercial interests, these volunteers continue their work, one door at a time, believing that to rebuild a city’s heart, you must first save its stones.