Safeguarding the Capital's Architectural Legacy: An Urban Center Reconstructing Itself Under the Threat of War.

Lesia Danylenko proudly presented her newly installed front door. The restoration team had playfully nicknamed its ornate transom window the “pastry”, a whimsical nod to its arched shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peafowl,” she stated, appreciating its tree limb-inspired features. The restoration project at one of Kyiv’s pre-World War I art nouveau houses was made possible by residents, who commemorated the work with two lively pavement parties.

It was also an expression of resistance in the face of an invading force, she clarified: “Our aim is to live like normal people in spite of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the optimal way. We’re not afraid of living in our homeland. I could have left, starting anew to Italy. On the contrary, I’m here. The new entrance represents our allegiance to our homeland.”

“Our aim is to live like everyday people in spite of the war. It’s about arranging our life in the best possible way.”

Safeguarding Kyiv’s architectural heritage may appear unusual at a period when aerial assaults regularly target the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, offensive operations have been notably increased. After each attack, workers seal broken windows with plywood and attempt, where possible, to salvage residential buildings.

Amid the Bombs, a Fight for Beauty

Amid the bombs, a band of activists has been striving 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 first the home of a wealthy fur dealer. Its exterior is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers.

“These structures stand as 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 exhibit analogous art nouveau features, including an irregular shape – with a pointed turret on one side and a projection on the other. One beloved house in the area displays two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a demonic figure.

Dual Dangers to Heritage

But armed conflict is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unprincipled developers who raze listed buildings, corrupt officials and a administrative body apathetic or hostile to the city’s rich architectural history. The harsh winter climate presents another difficulty.

“Kyiv is a city where money wins. We are missing real political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He alleged the city’s leadership was friends with many of the developers who flatten important houses. Perov stated that the vision for the capital is reminiscent of a bygone era. The mayor has refuted these claims, stating they come from political rivals.

Perov said many of the community-oriented activists who once protected older properties were now serving in the military or had been lost. The protracted conflict meant that the entire society was facing financial problems, he added, including judicial figures who curiously ruled in favour of dubious new-build schemes. “The longer this continues the more we see deterioration of our society and governing institutions,” he argued.

Demolition and Neglect

One egregious 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 attractive brick facade. A day after the 2022 invasion, heavy machinery 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 coloured houses on the site. Sometimes developers demolished old properties while claiming they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A 20th-century empire also caused immense damage on the capital, redesigning its main thoroughfare after the second world war so it could allow for official processions.

Upholding the Legacy

One of Kyiv’s most notable champions of historic buildings, a tour guide and blogger, was fell in 2022 while serving in a contested area. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were carrying on his vital preservation work. There were originally 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many erected for the city’s wealthy industrialists. Only 80 of their authentic doors are still in existence, she said.

“It wasn’t aerial bombardments that eliminated them. It was us,” she admitted sadly. “The war could go on for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now nothing will be left,” she continued. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique creeper-covered house built in 1910, which serves as the headquarters of her cultural organization and also serves as a film set and museum. The property has a new vermilion portal 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 tenant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “incredibly atmospheric and a little bit cold”. Why do many residents not cherish the past? “Regrettably they do not have education and taste. It’s all about business. We are attempting as a country to move towards the west. But we are still not yet close from such cultural awareness,” he said. Outdated ways of thinking remained, with people reluctant to take personal responsibility for their built surroundings, he added.

Resilience in Preservation

Some buildings are collapsing because of institutional abandonment. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa hidden behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons nested among its shattered windows; rubbish lay under a storybook tower. “Many times we don’t win,” she acknowledged. “Preservation work is a coping mechanism for us. We are trying to save all this heritage and aesthetic value.”

In the face of destruction and development pressures, these citizens continue their work, one door at a time, believing that to preserve a city’s heart, you must first cherish its walls.