Preserving the Capital's Architectural Legacy: A City Rebuilding Itself Under the Threat of Conflict.

Lesia Danylenko showed off with satisfaction her freshly fitted front door. The restoration team had playfully nicknamed its graceful transom window the “crescent roll”, a whimsical nod to its arched shape. “In my opinion it’s more of a peacock,” she remarked, gazing at its tree limb-inspired details. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s early 20th-century art nouveau houses was funded through residents, who celebrated with several lively pavement parties.

It was also an expression of opposition in the face of a neighboring state, she clarified: “We are trying to live like ordinary people in spite of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the optimal way. Fear does not drive us of staying in our country. The possibility to emigrate existed, relocating to another European nation. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance represents our allegiance to our homeland.”

“Our aim is to live like ordinary people despite the war. It’s about shaping our life in the optimal way.”

Safeguarding Kyiv’s built legacy may appear unusual at a moment when missile strikes routinely fall the capital, causing death and destruction. Since the beginning of the current year, bombing campaigns have been notably increased. After each attack, workers cover broken windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to secure residential buildings.

Within the Conflict, a Campaign for Beauty

Amid the bombs, a collective of activists has been attempting to preserve the city’s decaying mansions, built in a whimsical style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the downtown Shevchenkivskyi district. It was constructed in 1906 and was first the home of a wealthy fur dealer. Its outer walls is decorated with horse chestnut leaves and intricate camomile flowers.

“These structures stand as symbols of Kyiv. These properties are increasingly scarce nowadays,” Danylenko said. The residence was designed by a designer of Central European origin. Several other buildings nearby exhibit similar art nouveau elements, including asymmetry – with a gothic tower on one side and a turret on the other. One popular house in the area features two forlorn white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a devil.

Several Threats to Heritage

But external attacks is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face unprincipled developers who demolish listed buildings, dishonest officials and a political leadership unconcerned or opposed to the city’s rich architectural history. The bitter winter climate presents another challenge.

“Kyiv is a city where money wins. We don’t have substantive political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He alleged the city’s leadership was allied with many of the developers who destroy important houses. Perov stated that the vision for the capital harks back to a previous decade. The mayor has refuted these claims, stating they come 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 lost. The ongoing conflict meant that the entire society was facing monetary strain, he added, including judicial figures who inexplicably ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this goes on the more we see degradation 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 the site of classical 19th-century houses. A developer who obtained the plot had pledged to preserve its charming brick facade. Shortly following the 2022 invasion, diggers tore it down. Recently, a crane excavated foundations for a new commercial complex, observed by a stern security guard.

Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was not much hope for the remaining coloured houses on the site. Sometimes developers levelled old properties while asserting they were doing “archaeological research”, he said. A 20th-century empire also caused immense damage on the capital, redesigning its primary street after the second world war so it could accommodate military vehicles.

Carrying the Torch

One of Kyiv’s most renowned defenders of historic buildings, a tour guide and blogger, was killed in 2022 while serving in a contested area. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were persevering in his important preservation work. There were initially 3,500 masonry mansions in Kyiv, many erected for the city’s successful industrialists. Only 80 of their original doors survived, she said.

“It was not aerial bombardments that eliminated them. It was us,” she admitted sadly. “The war could last another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now not a thing will be left,” she emphasized. Chudna recently helped to restore a full of character vine-clad house built in 1910, which acts as the headquarters of her cultural organization and operates 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 go on for 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 “incredibly atmospheric and a little bit cold”. Why do many citizens not value the past? “Unfortunately they lack education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying as a country to integrate with the west. But we are still some distance away from civilization,” he said. Soviet-era ways of thinking remained, with people unwilling to take personal responsibility for their urban environment, he added.

Resilience in Preservation

Some buildings are crumbling because of bureaucratic indifference. Chudna indicated a once-magical villa hidden behind a modern hospital. Its roof had fallen; pigeons made their home among its broken windows; rubbish lay under a whimsical tower. “Often we are unsuccessful,” she admitted. “This activity is a coping mechanism for us. We are attempting to save all this heritage and splendour.”

In the face of destruction and commercial interests, these citizens continue their work, one door at a time, arguing that to save a city’s heart, you must first protect its walls.