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

Lesia Danylenko proudly presented her newly installed front door. Local helpers had affectionately dubbed its elegant transom window the “pastry”, a playful reference to its bowed shape. “I think it’s more of a peafowl,” she stated, gazing at its tree limb-inspired details. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s early 20th-century art nouveau houses was made possible by residents, who commemorated the work with a couple of neighbourhood pavement parties.

It was also an demonstration of defiance in the face of a neighboring state, she explained: “We strive to live like everyday people in spite of the war. It’s about organizing our life in the best possible way. We’re not afraid of remaining in our country. I could have left, moving away to another European nation. On the contrary, I’m here. The new entrance symbolizes our dedication to our homeland.”

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

Preserving Kyiv’s architectural heritage seems paradoxical at a moment when drone attacks routinely fall the capital, causing death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, aerial raids have been dramatically stepped up. After each attack, workers cover broken windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to save residential buildings.

Amid the Explosions, a Campaign for History

Despite the violence, a collective of activists has been attempting to save the city’s decaying mansions, built in a distinctive style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the central Shevchenkivskyi district. It was constructed in 1906 and was initially the home of a affluent fur dealer. Its facade is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and intricate camomile flowers.

“They are symbols of Kyiv. These properties are uncommon today,” Danylenko noted. The residence was designed by an architect of Central European origin. Several other buildings in the vicinity showcase comparable art nouveau characteristics, including a lack of symmetry – with a medieval spire on one side and a projection on the other. One much-loved house in the area boasts two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil.

Multiple Threats to History

But military aggression is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unscrupulous developers who knock down protected buildings, dishonest officials and a administrative body unconcerned or hostile to the city’s rich architectural history. The bitter winter climate adds another challenge.

“Kyiv is a city where wealth dictates. We are missing genuine political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He claimed the city’s mayor was closely associated with many of the developers who destroy important houses. Perov further alleged that the vision for the capital is reminiscent of a previous decade. The mayor denies these claims, saying they originate from political rivals.

Perov said many of the public-spirited activists who once championed older properties were now serving in the military or had been killed. The lengthy conflict meant that everyone was facing economic hardship, he added, including those in the legal system who inexplicably ruled in favour of suspect new-build schemes. “The longer this persists the more we see deterioration of our society and state bodies,” he contended.

Destruction and Disregard

One glaring example of destruction is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was lined with classical 19th-century houses. A developer who obtained the plot had pledged to preserve its attractive brick facade. Shortly following the onset of major hostilities, diggers tore it down. Recently, a crane excavated foundations for a new commercial complex, watched by a surly security guard.

Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was not much hope for the remaining turquoise-painted houses on the site. Sometimes developers levelled old properties while asserting they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A 20th-century empire also wrought immense damage on the capital, reconstructing its primary street after the second world war so it could facilitate large-scale parades.

Continuing the Work

One of Kyiv’s most prominent defenders of historic buildings, a tour guide and blogger, was killed in 2022 while serving in a eastern city. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his vital preservation work. There were originally 3,500 stone mansions in Kyiv, many built for the city’s prosperous industrialists. Only 80 of their period doors are still in existence, she said.

“It wasn’t aerial bombardments that eliminated 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 unique 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 historic washroom and antique mirrors.

“The war could last another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now not a thing will be left.”

The building’s resident, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “very cool and a little bit cold”. Why do many locals not value the past? “Unfortunately they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are attempting as a country to go to the west. But we are still a way off from civilization,” he said. Soviet-era ways of thinking lingered, with people hesitant to take personal responsibility for their urban environment, he added.

Resilience in Action

Some buildings are collapsing because of institutional abandonment. Chudna showed a once-magical villa hidden behind a modern hospital. Its roof had caved in; pigeons nested among its shattered windows; debris lay under a fairytale tower. “Often we lose the battle,” she acknowledged. “Restoration is a coping mechanism for us. We are striving to save all this past and aesthetic value.”

In the face of conflict and neglect, these volunteers continue their work, one door at a time, stating that to preserve a city’s soul, you must first protect its walls.