Preserving the Capital's Heritage: A City Rebuilding Itself Amidst the Onslaught of War.

Lesia Danylenko showed off with satisfaction her recently completed front door. Volunteers had affectionately dubbed its elegant transom window the “crescent roll”, a whimsical nod to its curved shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peacock,” she remarked, admiring its branch-like ornamentation. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s pre-World War I art nouveau houses was funded through residents, who marked the occasion with two lively pavement parties.

It was also an demonstration of opposition in the face of an invading force, she clarified: “We are trying to live like everyday people regardless of the war. It’s about shaping our life in the best possible way. Fear does not drive us of living in our country. The possibility to emigrate existed, relocating to Italy. Conversely, I’m here. The new entrance shows our allegiance to our homeland.”

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

Preserving Kyiv’s historic buildings may appear unusual at a moment when missile strikes routinely fall the capital, resulting in death and destruction. Since the start of the current year, bombing campaigns have been dramatically stepped up. After each attack, workers seal broken windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to save residential buildings.

Amid the Bombs, a Battle for History

Amid the bombs, a band of activists has been attempting to conserve 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 erected in 1906 and was first the home of a prosperous fur dealer. Its outer walls is adorned with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers.

“These structures stand as symbols of Kyiv. These properties are increasingly scarce in the present day,” Danylenko stated. The mansion was designed by an architect of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings nearby display similar art nouveau elements, including a lack of symmetry – with a gothic tower on one side and a small tower on the other. One popular house in the area features two sullen white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a demonic figure.

Several Dangers to History

But armed conflict is only one threat. Preservation campaigners say they face profit-driven developers who demolish protected buildings, unethical officials and a political leadership unconcerned or opposed to the city’s rich architectural history. The harsh winter climate presents another challenge.

“Kyiv is a city where capital prevails. We are missing genuine political will to save our heritage,” said Dmytro Perov, an activist. He claimed the city’s leadership was friends with many of the developers who bulldoze important houses. Perov stated that the plan for the capital harks back to a bygone era. The mayor denies these claims, stating they come from political rivals.

Perov said many of the civically minded activists who once protected older properties were now engaged in combat or had been killed. The ongoing conflict meant that everyone was facing monetary strain, he added, including judicial figures who inexplicably ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this continues the more we see decline of our society and public institutions,” he contended.

Destruction and Disregard

One glaring demolition site is in the riverside Podil neighbourhood. The street was the site of classical 19th-century houses. A developer who obtained the plot had committed to preserve its picturesque brick facade. A day after the 2022 invasion, excavators razed it to the ground. Recently, a crane prepared foundations for a new retail and office development, observed by a stern security guard.

Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was little optimism for the remaining blue-green houses on the site. Sometimes developers destroyed old properties while claiming they were doing “historical excavation”, 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 facilitate official processions.

Carrying the Torch

One of Kyiv’s most prominent advocates of historic buildings, a tour guide and blogger, was fell in 2022 while serving in the frontline. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were continuing his vital 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 remain, she said.

“It wasn’t aerial bombardments that got rid of them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could continue for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now little will be left,” she emphasized. Chudna recently helped to restore a unique ivy-draped 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 go on for another 20 years. If we fail to protect architecture now not a thing will be left.”

The building’s occupant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “very cool and a little bit cold”. Why do many citizens not value the past? “Regrettably they are without education and taste. It’s all about business. We are trying 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 lingered, with people unwilling to take personal responsibility for their built surroundings, he added.

Resilience in Action

Some buildings are collapsing because of official neglect. Chudna pointed to a once-magical villa tucked away behind a modern hospital. Its roof had fallen; pigeons roosted among its shattered windows; rubbish lay under a fairytale tower. “Frequently we lose the battle,” she acknowledged. “Restoration is therapy for us. We are attempting to save all this past and beauty.”

In the face of war and commercial interests, these volunteers continue their work, one facade at a time, stating that to rebuild a city’s identity, you must first protect its history.