Protecting the Capital's Heritage: An Urban Center Reconstructing Its Foundations in the Shadow of Conflict.

Lesia Danylenko proudly presented her freshly fitted front door. Volunteers had affectionately dubbed its ornate transom window the “pastry”, a lighthearted tribute to its arched shape. “Personally, I believe it’s more of a peacock,” she remarked, gazing at its twig-detailed ornamentation. The refurbishment initiative at one of Kyiv’s pre-World War I art nouveau houses was funded through residents, who celebrated with a couple of lively pavement parties.

It was also an act of resistance in the face of a foreign power, she clarified: “We strive to live like everyday people despite the war. It’s about organizing our life in the best possible way. We’re not afraid of staying in our homeland. The possibility to emigrate existed, relocating to another European nation. Instead, I’m here. The new entrance symbolizes our dedication to our homeland.”

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

Preserving Kyiv’s historic buildings seems unusual at a moment when drone attacks routinely fall the capital, bringing death and destruction. Since the start of the current year, offensive operations have been dramatically stepped up. After each attack, workers board up shattered windows with plywood and endeavor, where possible, to secure residential buildings.

Amid the Bombs, a Fight for Identity

Despite the violence, a group of activists has been striving to preserve the city’s crumbling mansions, built in a distinctive style known as Ukrainian modernism. Danylenko’s house is in the downtown Shevchenkivskyi district. It was built in 1906 and was initially the home of a affluent fur dealer. Its outer walls is embellished with horse chestnut leaves and delicate camomile flowers.

“These buildings represent symbols of Kyiv. These properties are increasingly scarce today,” Danylenko noted. The mansion was designed by a designer of Austrian-German origin. Several other buildings in the vicinity showcase similar art nouveau elements, including an irregular shape – with a gothic tower on one side and a small tower on the other. One beloved house in the area features two sullen white stucco cats, as well as owls, masks and a demonic figure.

Several Challenges to History

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

“Kyiv is a city where capital prevails. We don’t have 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 bulldoze important houses. Perov stated that the concept for the capital is reminiscent of a bygone era. The mayor rejects these claims, stating they come from political rivals.

Perov said many of the civically minded activists who once protected older properties were now serving in the military or had been lost. The ongoing conflict meant that the entire society was facing monetary strain, he added, including judicial figures who mysteriously ruled in favour of questionable new-build schemes. “The longer this persists the more we see decline of our society and governing institutions,” he remarked.

Destruction and Abandonment

One notorious location of loss is in the historic Podil neighbourhood. The street was lined with classical 19th-century houses. A developer who purchased the plot had committed to preserve its charming brick facade. In the immediate aftermath of the 2022 invasion, diggers demolished it. Recently, a crane dug foundations for a new commercial complex, watched by a stern security guard.

Anatolii Pohorily, a heritage supporter, said there was little optimism for the remaining turquoise-painted houses on the site. Sometimes developers demolished old properties while stating they were doing “historical excavation”, he said. A previous regime also caused immense damage on the capital, redesigning its primary street after the second world war so it could facilitate official processions.

Upholding the Legacy

One of Kyiv’s most notable defenders of historic buildings, a cultural activist, was killed in 2022 while fighting in a contested area. His colleague Nelli Chudna said she and other volunteers were continuing his important preservation work. There were originally 3,500 brick-built mansions in Kyiv, many built for the city’s successful business magnates. Only 80 of their period doors remain, she said.

“It wasn’t foreign rockets that eliminated them. It was us,” she said with regret. “The war could last another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now little will be left,” she emphasized. Chudna recently helped to restore a full of character vine-clad house built in 1910, which functions as the headquarters of her cultural organization and also serves as a film set and museum. The property has a new red door and authentic railings; inside is a period bathroom and antique mirrors.

“The war could go on for another 20 years. If we neglect architecture now nothing will be left.”

The building’s occupant, artist Yurii Pikul, described his home as “very cool and a little bit cold”. Why do many locals not value the past? “Unfortunately they do not have 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. Outdated ways of thinking persisted, with people unwilling to take personal responsibility for their architectural setting, he added.

Resilience in Preservation

Some buildings are crumbling because of institutional abandonment. Chudna pointed to a once-magical villa hidden behind a modern hospital. Its roof had collapsed; pigeons made their home among its shattered windows; refuse lay under a whimsical tower. “Frequently we lose the battle,” she acknowledged. “Restoration is a coping mechanism for us. We are trying to save all this heritage and splendour.”

In the face of destruction and development pressures, these citizens continue their work, one door at a time, stating that to preserve a city’s identity, you must first protect its stones.