Protecting Kyiv's Architectural Legacy: A City Reconstructing Its Foundations Amidst the Onslaught of Conflict.

Lesia Danylenko beamed with pride as she displayed her newly installed front door. Local helpers had affectionately dubbed its graceful transom window the “croissant”, a lighthearted tribute to its bowed shape. “I think it’s more of a peacock,” she commented, admiring its tree limb-inspired features. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s early 20th-century art nouveau houses was supported by residents, who commemorated the work with a couple of neighbourhood pavement parties.

It was also an act of defiance against a neighboring state, she explained: “We are trying to live like ordinary people regardless of the war. It’s about arranging our life in the most positive way. We’re not afraid of living in our country. The possibility to emigrate existed, starting anew to another European nation. On the contrary, I’m here. The new entrance represents our dedication to our homeland.”

“Our aim is to live like everyday people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the most positive way.”

Safeguarding Kyiv’s historic buildings could be considered unusual at a time when drone attacks frequently hit the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, bombing campaigns have been dramatically stepped up. After each attack, workers board up shattered windows with plywood and try, where possible, to salvage residential buildings.

Amid the Conflict, a Fight for History

In the midst of war, a group of activists has been attempting to save 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 prosperous fur dealer. Its exterior is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and fine camomile flowers.

“These structures stand as symbols of Kyiv. These properties are increasingly scarce in the present day,” Danylenko noted. The residence was designed by a designer of Central European origin. Several other buildings in the vicinity display analogous art nouveau elements, including a lack of symmetry – with a pointed turret on one side and a turret on the other. One much-loved house in the area features two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a demonic figure.

Several Dangers to Heritage

But military aggression is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unscrupulous developers who raze historically significant buildings, unethical officials and a administrative body apathetic or opposed to the city’s rich architectural history. The harsh winter climate presents another challenge.

“Kyiv is a city where money wins. We lack real political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He alleged the city’s mayor was closely associated with many of the developers who flatten important houses. Perov stated that the plan for the capital harks back to a different time. The mayor denies these claims, stating they come from political rivals.

Perov said many of the civically minded activists who once defended older properties were now engaged in combat or had been killed. The ongoing conflict meant that everyone was facing economic hardship, he added, including those in the legal system who curiously ruled in favour of dubious new-build schemes. “The longer this persists the more we see decline of our society and public institutions,” he argued.

Demolition and Disregard

One egregious demolition site is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was the site of classical 19th-century houses. A developer who acquired the plot had committed to preserve its picturesque brick facade. Shortly following the 2022 invasion, diggers razed it to the ground. Recently, a crane excavated foundations for a new shopping and business centre, watched by a stern security guard.

Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was faint chance for the remaining turquoise-painted houses on the site. Sometimes developers destroyed old properties while stating they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A former political system also wrought immense damage on the capital, rebuilding its central boulevard after the second world war so it could facilitate official processions.

Continuing the Work

One of Kyiv’s most notable champions of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was lost his life in 2022 while fighting in the frontline. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were continuing his crucial preservation work. There were initially 3,500 brick-built mansions in Kyiv, many erected for the city’s wealthy business magnates. Only 80 of their period doors survived, she said.

“It wasn’t external attacks that destroyed them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now not a thing will be left,” she emphasized. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique vine-clad 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 crimson entrance and authentic railings; inside is a historic washroom and antique mirrors.

“The war could continue for 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 “very cool and a little bit cold”. Why do many locals not appreciate the past? “Unfortunately they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are striving as a country to move towards the west. But we are still a way off from such cultural awareness,” he said. Previous ways of thinking remained, with people unwilling to take personal responsibility for their built surroundings, he added.

Resilience in Restoration

Some buildings are collapsing because of bureaucratic indifference. Chudna showed a once-magical villa tucked away behind a modern hospital. Its roof had caved in; pigeons nested among its broken windows; debris lay under a storybook tower. “Many times we lose the battle,” she admitted. “Restoration is therapy for us. We are attempting to save all this past and beauty.”

In the face of conflict and commercial interests, these volunteers continue their work, one door at a time, stating that to save a city’s heart, you must first protect its history.