Ukraine -- When Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine in February 2022
the conventional wisdom was that the capital
would soon fall and the rest of the country..
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When Russian troops withdrew from Chernihiv Oblast
Andriy Galyuga and his team of volunteers got to work immediately
they started to make repairs to friends' houses that were destroyed by Russian shelling in Bobrovytsia – a small city halfway between Kyiv and Chernihiv. 
But when the word got out about their efforts to transform rubble into homes
they agreed to assist strangers throughout the region —  anyone in need of a home
To rebuild communities required a workforce
the head of the Bo Mozhemo ("Because We Can") volunteer organization
told Insider but finding helpers was initially a struggle
there were very few people who helped," Galyuga
leading the efforts to rebuild and repair homes
many civilians had fled to safety and were yet to return
But as locals began to make their way back and people heard of the rebuilding efforts
offers to get involved started to flood in
"Now there are a lot of people — more than 300 — helping," Galyuga said
Many volunteers have day jobs but use any spare time they have to bring communities back to life
Galyuga himself works as an electrician and dedicates his breaks
and weekends to coordinating the legion of volunteer builders
he's constantly using Telegram and Facebook to help volunteers navigate the work they need to do
he visits one of many construction sites to offer guidance
he uses his skills as an electrician to get stuck into the work himself
so most of their current work is making simple repairs
He said they've made repairs to more than 40 houses so far
But on one site that was obliterated when a Russian plane crashed into it
a team of skilled volunteers is working to build a house from scratch
and the organization is currently only funded by private donations and some local funding
is to one day receive funds from international NGOs
He added that the volunteers are working tirelessly and with urgency
to ensure that locals are not out on the streets when the Ukrainian weather changes
There's an added time crunch because Ukrainians
many of whom fled the country at the start of the war
"People don't have a place to live now," he said
Volunteering offers the obvious benefit of giving homes to people made homeless by the ravages of war
Galyuga said there's another significant perk: "It unites a common people to help the people in need."
There were several thousand estates and manors on the lands of the Left Bank
At what point in history did we lose most of them
This architecture disappeared before the eyes of generations
and because of the war it may be lost forever
We are talking about the heritage that has become hostage to time
"holes" in laws and even ideologies together with experts - historian and guide Volodymyr Pylypenko
director of the City Manor Museum Andrii Paramonov
architects-restorers Volodymyr Lopatek and Oleksandr Kumeik
How did the magnificent "palace" architecture appear on the Left Bank and what is its special feature
During the existence of the Cossack state of the Hetmanship
Ukraine was divided along the Dnieper River between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Muscovy
but the Hetmanship continued to exist on the Left Bank for some time and acted as a kind of boundary between Muscovy and its rival countries at the time
gave birth to new elites precisely among the Cossacks
The nobility of the Hetmanate — military officers
city officials — had the status of privileged persons
There was a concept of rank property — land holdings that were handed over to elders according to their rank
or Lyzogubs are precisely the landowners from the Cossack noble families
They were wealthy landowners and had their own estates
National historical and cultural reserve "Kachanivka"
the Hetmanate finally lost its subjectivity and was liquidated by the Russian Empire
The territories were transformed into an imperial province
the estates became the private property of Cossack elders and their families
or were returned to state ownership and handed over to Russian landlords
Other landowners - those from noble families and representatives of the then government - moved to the Left Bank
Landowners earned money by organizing commodity agriculture on their estates
where hired workers and settled peasants worked
new industries began to develop in the region
Ukrainian territories provided 90% of sugar production in the empire
We will also mention wealthy people who made their fortunes in the sugar business in this article
With the industrial development of the East by the Russian Empire
factories and factories began to appear here
the owners of which were of both Ukrainian and foreign origin
Production required a developed infrastructure
Ukrainian entrepreneur and philanthropist Ivan Kharitonenko
Sugar factory of the Kharitonenki family in Sumy
So on the Left Bank in the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries
the wealthy classes actively built public buildings
but also according to their place of residence - in small villages and hamlets
they are scattered over the territories of several regions
which makes tourist routes to them very local
and some of the objects are little-known or little-studied
Sometimes all the information is that it is a manor house or an abandoned manor whose architect or owner is unknown
This heritage appeared to a large extent in the specified territories during the rule of the empire
but due to the fact that it was in power at that time
Russia and later the Soviet Union have always treated the eastern territories of Ukraine as their pocket and resource (even the name Donbas eloquently demonstrates this)
Our ideas about the past and national memory were intensively forged by propaganda
Taking into account the long-term nature of this process
this is an expected result rather than a surprise
the buildings themselves - the objects of material heritage - should not become hostages of the difficult past
They should not be considered an unwanted dowry or "imperial" monuments
As long as there is still something to discuss
the perception of the East already has a "spot" of industrial territory
where the annals are generally "newer" and the number of bright sights is smaller
If the remaining material evidence of history is lost
it will be a loss of the truth about the lives of generations of Ukrainians
Decorative elements of the facades of the palace in the village
Candidate of Architecture Volodymyr Dudarets says in his monograph that the subject of landscape architecture and objects of palace and park art of the Left Bank region is insufficiently studied
He singles out several stylistic characteristics of the manor complexes of the Left Bank: this is Ukrainian folk architecture (beginning of the XNUMXth century)
early classicism (the middle of the XNUMXth century)
the heyday of classicism (the end of the XNUMXth - beginning of the XNUMXth century)
late classicism and folk romanticism (the middle of the end of the XNUMXth century)
the Ukrainian elite repeated native motifs in the arrangement of estates
The estates of the Cossack elders were characterized by the forms of folk Ukrainian architecture and baroque
Cossack baroque is a unique variant of baroque architecture
the preferences of the owners change under the influence of Western and Russian architectural trends and awareness of their status
some estates are rebuilt according to the new fashion
Kharkiv Region) at the end of the XNUMXth century
The authors of the projects are often European architects arriving through the Russian Empire
individual methods and visions are formed in Ukraine
which distinguish the local palace and park art
We can say that they are less strict and allow departure from inviolable canons
Different stylistic solutions could be used for the main palace and adjacent outbuildings
utility rooms and temples of the same complex
because the parade alleys leading to the building clearly demonstrate the social status and wealth of the owner of the estate
Now that we have defined the characteristics of architecture and its stylistic uniqueness and value
it is time to check the current state of valuable objects and what is happening around their preservation
Historian and organizer of excursions to Chernihiv region Volodymyr Pylypenko says: there are relatively few estates and palace-park complexes in the region
and most of them are monuments of national importance
"Kachanivka" can be considered the "benchmark" palace monument of Chernihiv Oblast
has the status of a national historical and cultural reserve and is under the care of the Ministry of Culture
But not all estates were lucky enough to survive
there is little left of the architecture in the Trostyanets Arboretum
the house of the Skoropadsky Cossack family was destroyed by the Bolsheviks
currently subordinate to the National Academy of Sciences
because it is located far from popular trails
The exterior of the Galagan palace in Sokyryntsy
has been preserved in a fairly good condition
because educational institutions worked here for a long time
It occupies about 50 hectares and was once luxurious
The lyceum cannot take care of a huge park
in the institution they study horticulture and forestry in particular
built for the Galagan family of Cossack chieftains by the architect P
The palace and park complex has the status of a monument of national significance
it doesn't matter whether I come to blow the whistle in the old
mutilated Pokorshchyna in Kozelka or in the Oranta mosaic in Sofia
and under the law it is the same responsibility." — Volodymyr Pylypenko
The historian says: several unique Cossack manors are still preserved in Chernihiv Oblast
The saddest fate among the existing ones is in Pokorshchyna in Kozelka
it is the oldest existing manor complex on the Left Bank and has the protected status of a monument of national significance
its condition is so bad that we risk losing Pokorshchyna soon
"This estate of the Kyiv Cossack colonel Daragan is in a terrible state
in 2021 the regional council approved a financing program for the restoration of monuments
and even if you fantasize that the victory will happen tomorrow
The oldest Cossack estate "Pokorshchyna" in the Left Bank of Ukraine requires the immediate intervention of the responsible monument protection authorities in its fate
and other prominent Ukrainians once visited the Lyzogub estate in Sedniv
Now its buildings are used by the Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum named after V
Activists from Chernihiv gathered people through social networks and came here by public transport to organize the territory
everyone in Chernihiv knows this town and loves it very much," he says
the situation with the crumbling monuments could change thanks to
the question is how to formalize these relations legally
because we are talking about an architectural monument
Sedniv is a small town in Chernihiv region
"Monuments of national importance are the property of the people
They are in the sphere of influence of the ministry
because then the aforementioned assets of the people simply fall apart
The state cannot invest in them - they do not exist
— If the objects do not have the status of a landmark at all
but neither the state nor local self-government bodies can dictate what to do with them
with which the activists of the "Wooden Lace of Chernihiv" project and Stas Ivashchenko are currently working
but at the moment these buildings do not have any special status."
Rumyantsev-Zadunaiskyi in the village of Cherries
despite the fact that the status of the monument is rapidly deteriorating
An architectural landmark of national importance is located in the village of Vyshenki
Novgorod-Siverskyi District - Rumyantsev-Zadunayskyi Palace
Built in 1787 for the nobleman and official Rumyantsev-Zadunayskyi
the manor complex consists of several buildings
The style of the complex with the complex plan of the main building is neoclassicism and romanticism with elements of Gothic and oriental motifs
The buildings have an interesting symmetry and many decorative elements
Pylypenko says: the area where the palace is located is picturesque
The road is not in the best condition and runs through villages
The palace in Vyshenki is in a very bad condition
in the summer a children's camp operated in the premises for several years in a row
The building is apparently leased long-term by a public organization
but there is no active activity or maintenance of the monument
the average visitor cannot enter the building and check its condition
"When we came with a tourist group to Vyshenki
people will not understand why all this is necessary
— Apart from enthusiasts who will try to bring their ideas to the regional or local council
At least a small farmer's market could operate in the same village next to the monument
in the "rolled-up" tour of Chernihiv — Sedniv
People said that we had come to the village to buy apples
there is always a large selection of natural honey and products
during the quarantine they asked when the tours will resume
which defenders of monuments can take on board
is the transformation of the Malievetsky Palace in Khmelnytskyi
which became possible thanks to the perseverance of a specific person." — Volodymyr Pylypenko
the key to changing the attitude of users towards heritage objects may be their profitability
both for the owners and for local residents
the uniqueness of such architecture is not always obvious
and it is the possibility of earning money that can play a certain role
the main task of museums is not to make money
I do not mean that museums should not be created
There is a beautiful Spanish experience of the Parador chain
when old monasteries or palaces are transformed into exclusive hotels
such work should be carried out exclusively by architects-restorers of high qualification."
Volodymyr Pylypenko says: information campaigns organized by city councils or local departments of culture and tourism can help ensure that as many ordinary people as possible know about sights and are interested in their fate
"It is up to them to explain to people why it is important
but then why do private transport companies transport tourists
It is my honor to say that the Chernihiv Department of Tourism is very actively working in this direction
A tourist information center was created in the city
which became the first licensed according to the European standard in Ukraine
Chernihiv is interesting to many precisely because there are a lot of authentic Old Russian monuments
The city has preserved a part of the wooden architecture of the late XNUMXth and early XNUMXth centuries
Such brick town estates are unique in the city
The historic manor house in the town of Bobrovytsia
let's say - it was slowly falling into disrepair
the architect drew attention to her Oksana Khoroshavina
she is taking care that the building has a full protection status and real opportunities for revival
The expert says: while staying in Chernihiv Oblast during the quarantine
she began researching local routes for walks
but I did not know that there is this palace in Bobrovytsa
7 kilometers from my grandmother's house," she recalls
they often have no idea about him or who lived there
The Soviet authorities somehow reduced its importance in local cultural life
there was another one in the neighboring village of Markivtsi
The head of the family Petro Andriyovych Katerynych participated in the redemption of Taras Shevchenko from serfdom
later the poet visited Markivtsi and painted several portraits of family members
Four are now kept in the Shevchenko National Museum in Kyiv
Petro Petrovych Katerynych inherited property from his father
He was distinguished by liberal views for his time
Shevchenko Society for Aid to People from Ukraine
he distributed part of the land to the peasants
and gave the specified manor in Markivtsi to the community for the construction of a school and a library
A spectacular detail is the cast iron decor that adorns the covered porch and gallery
in which you can still distinguish the central avenue and two ponds
an extension was made to the nationalized estate
the building is owned by the territorial community represented by the Bobrovytsia City Council
but it should earn a living," — Oksana Khoroshavina
Oksana Khoroshavina says that in 2011 the estate acquired the status of a valuable object
The monument numbered 8029 of the Czech Republic was included in the list of objects of cultural heritage of the Chernihiv region (No
8029a of the Czech Republic — the manor house
8029b of the Czech Republic — the manor park)
In order to complete the entry into the State Register of Monuments of Ukraine
a protection agreement had to be concluded within a month
followed by a submission to the Ministry of Culture
"That's why I'm currently in contact with the city council
the local department of culture and tourism
and the other part will be used for the needs of the community
an art and cultural center can work in the estate
a coffee shop or a restaurant can be located in a certain part of it
earn money for itself," explains the architect
Oksana Khoroshavina: "Now the same landmark can be in several registers under different names or not be in any of the registers at all"
Oksana Khoroshavina carries out all her research on a free volunteer basis
and also attends events dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage in Ukraine in order to draw attention to the building she wants to protect and enlist the support of fellow architects and preservationists
She notes: while working on the registration card
according to which historical and architectural certificates must be signed by the corresponding candidate of sciences
"It would be good to correct this in the law (ZU "On the protection of cultural heritage"
So that an architect who has a certificate and can assess the condition of the house can also do this
the original details of the manor premises can be restored
I point out that it would be good to have a clear algorithm of what the community should do to protect objects
but not everyone knows the ministerial language
you have to be a lawyer to understand what to do
Before the digitization of data on monuments
I and my colleagues from the professional circle have a wish for this register to become a working tool
This is currently a line of text about the memo
"A big problem is that architectural monuments are currently under the control of two ministries - the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Regions
but they were covered with dozens of layers of oil paint and in some places damaged due to leaking roof
the floor and most of the joinery have survived to our time
in some parts of the building its condition requires urgent action
Oksana Khoroshavina says that there is an official figure in the studies for the object's record card — 39% of destruction
Compared to many historical buildings that have been waiting for restoration
it is worth fighting for the Katerynichy estate now
director of the private Museum of the city estate Andriy Paramonov says: as of 1917
there were more than 1500 estates in the Kharkiv province
there were no more than a few dozen of them left in the Kharkiv region
"The palace in Stary Merchyk is located only half an hour's drive from Kharkiv
It could house a cultural residence or administration
The palace has a powerful acoustic hall for musical performers
It would be possible to create a museum of painting or a museum of the history of the estate
The park area could serve as a place for family recreation for families coming from Kharkiv," explains Paramonov
he devoted a lot of time to researching the sight
Andriy Paramonov says: the palace and park complex is a landmark not only on the scale of the region or the former Kharkiv province
but of the entire Slobid Ukraine and the Left Bank
erected at the end of the XNUMXth century by a talented but still unknown architect
The authorship of the project is attributed to several local architects
but their level of skill would not allow it to be implemented; yes
in some sources there are allusions to the provincial architects Oleksandr Palitsyn and Peter Yaroslavsky
or also to the Russian Vasyl Bazhenov or someone from his school
The local historian notes: in historical research
there is always the possibility of an error in dating or authorship due to the incorrect interpretation of archival data by other researchers
«We always said that this is the best palace in Eastern Ukraine
The letters of the administration wrote that every effort should be made to preserve it." — Andriy Paramonov
He says that four brothers from the Shidlovsky family received the first wooden estate as an inheritance from their father
who held the position of Slobid-Ukrainian vice-governor and actual state adviser
He started the construction of a large palace and park ensemble on the inherited land
the complex consisted of the two-story palace building itself
the Staromerchan Palace gravitates towards the late Baroque — the so-called Louis XVI style
born in France and rare for Ukraine — and early classicism
The palace in Stary Merchyk in the photos of art critic H
he took care of the palace and cared about its fate to the extent that he made it bequeathed - the descendants could not sell it in parts or divide it among themselves
Dukhivskyi was a man with an entrepreneurial spirit and developed the economy of the estate to an unparalleled state
his tenacity can be compared with the way the more famous landowners Koenig or Kharitonenka conducted their affairs
his land and equipment were taken over by the Bolsheviks
we see the former beauty of the palace - luxurious facades with pilasters and stucco
interiors with elegant furniture and decoration
Lukomsky made a detailed description of the estate in Stary Merchyk and published an essay in one of the publications of that time
He became known far beyond the Kharkiv region
The halls of the Shidlovsky Palace in the village Stary Merchyk before the fire of 2018
the building housed educational institutions
the building stood empty and gradually faded away
The question of restoring the palace was raised several times in the 40s-60s of the XNUMXth century
Andriy Paramonov: "When foreign journalists ask how many houses Russia destroyed
they certainly destroyed a lot of housing stock
how much have we destroyed since the early 2000s
lack of understanding on the part of the owners"
the City Manor Museum took the initiative to lease the palace and the territory of the former park for a long term
the main entrance gate were still in good condition
the carriage sheds were partially preserved
the garden was very well preserved," he says
because you cannot get both the estate and the park
The buildings were taken care of by the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning
and the former park is under the control of forestry and forestry
but they also refused to rent the palace for some reason
the overlap between the floors was damaged
Photo: Mykhailo Titarenko CC BY-SA 4.0/wikimedia.org
The local historian says that local residents supported his initiative to revive the palace
"Together with journalist Oleksandr Zinchenko
we organized an action - "Funeral of Old Merchyk" - with which we wanted to draw attention to the state of the estate
collected some money and wanted to conserve the building
close the roof in cooperation with the students of the architectural university
— The ability to breathe life into the monument was there
we won one interesting project and had the opportunity to develop complete project documentation for the restoration of the park and palace
There were investors from the USA who were also interested in this project
But the administration of that time did not respond."
so it was probably set on fire either intentionally or through carelessness
Andrii Paramonov recalls that the fire brigade
They just made sure it didn't spread outside the house
One fire engine was not enough to extinguish the fire in the large area of ​​the two-story palace
the metal ceilings between the floors melted
"From the cracks in the ceiling of the first floor
we can see that it is necessary to dismantle the floor and restore these connections
and only after that work with the second level
It is possible to restore the palace today
but the funds that this process would require in 2004-2005 and now are completely different
The state of the monument is deteriorating
The last time I was there was in the spring of this year."
Andriy Paramonov: "We see that this is a systematic destruction of the antiquity of the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries
associate professor of the department of reconstruction and restoration of architectural objects of KhNUBA Volodymyr Lopatko also took part in the fate of the palace in Stary Merchyk
he and students from the department visited him during practice
They held "negotiations" with local grandmothers
convinced them that the monument should be preserved
a fire broke out and everything inside was burnt
I prepared a proposal for its preservation
But then the coronavirus pandemic happened
everything stopped and is in the same state as after the fire
The colossal park is also an object of national importance."
"The managers of funds and permits for the protection of cultural heritage - the Department of Culture - need to be restructured and start working at least on monitoring the condition of the objects"
mentions that the palace is located close to Kharkiv
His students repeatedly defended their diplomas
the topic of which was options for adapting this monument
The architect notes: there are property problems with regard to the palace in Stary Merchyk
but they are still within the framework of available solutions at the regional level
there are no positive developments regarding his fate
all architectural monuments of our region have been handed over to the regional department of culture and tourism
This means that now all problems will be solved in one place
the department of culture was responsible for some things
the department of architecture was responsible for others
I would also create an organization under the regional department of culture
where we would recruit at least two specialists who could monitor the condition of these estates
preliminary calculations of repair works."
The great hall of Sharivka still impresses with its decoration
but the estate has recently been left to its own devices
Volodymyr Lopatko says that today almost all estates of the Kharkiv region
which are considered preserved or semi-preserved
"On the tourist route along the lines Merchyk — Sharivka and further to Natalivka
all are in such a state that tomorrow they will either burn or collapse
and we will lose them for one reason or another
the new manager of both funds and permits for the protection of cultural heritage
needs to reorganize and start working at least on monitoring the condition of these objects
I understand that now is not the right time for this job
But it is necessary to at least find out and describe the problem to the local authorities
what is happening with the security contracts
then sue through the prosecutor's office."
The palace and park complex in Sharivka has the status of a monument of national significance; the snow-white palace
the style of which gravitates towards Neo-Gothic with elements of the Renaissance
was built by the landowner Olhovsky in 1836
built up the infrastructure of the estate — greenhouses and a large park with rare plants
the owner of the estate became the entrepreneur Leopold Koenig
who made a fortune in the production of sugar
alcohol and sawmills and was a well-known person of that time
a researcher of the history of Slobozhanshchyna
says that Koenig purchased from Dmytro Gebenshreit (Son of H
note) a huge plot of about 5 acres of land
he was interested in the modern distilleries of the previous owner
The palace itself was rather an addition to this economically successful deal
Koenig's main Ukrainian residence at that time was an estate in Trostyanka in modern Sumy Oblast
Sharivka resembles a real castle: paying tribute to the neo-Gothic style
decorated with battlements similar to those of a fortress
The main palace has more than 20 rooms and 3 halls
and paintings were used in the interior decoration of the premises
an anti-tuberculosis treatment facility operated in the estate
A "people's" museum has been created at the palace
which is headed by local resident Nataliya Tverdokhlib
the state of the monument remains very vulnerable
Architect-restorer Volodymyr Lopatko recalls that they were interested in Sharivka more than once
the authorities of that time had plans to carry out restoration measures
but they ended in a red tape about the allocation of funds
"In the days when the dispensary was working
and the object came into the possession of the regional architecture department
which allocated funds for emergency conservation works
later a utility company was organized there
recalls that during the time when Arsen Avakov was the head of the region
employees of the regional administration came to Sharivka on "Saturdays" and cleared the territory
how exactly they did it in the ancient park is anyone's guess
Neither horticulture nor landscape design specialists were involved in the process
BASF (Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik) showed some interest in Sharivka
Producing oil from Ukrainian local raw materials
the business allocated funds from its profits for restoration works
but the level of their implementation was low
because restoration specialists were not involved in them
Volodymyr Lopatko notes that the palace was damaged because of this
he performed an analysis of the state of the complex at the request of the new local government
which was planning comprehensive emergency work
this documentation is still in the Kharkiv Department of Capital Construction
Such "protection" will not lead to anything good
I reported this to the Department of Culture." — Volodymyr Lopatko
The head of the charity fund "Dream Ukraine"
wanted to lease the palace and park complex in order to restore it and turn it into an international cultural center
but the regional administration refused him
After many unsuccessful attempts to "break through" to Sharivka
Shariv Palace was an anti-tuberculosis sanatorium for 80 years and must receive a new adequate function in order to be preserved
The palace is also a hostage of its location — a village almost 100 km from Kharkiv
a possible solution would be to create a separate KP there within the framework of state policy
recruit a staff of employees and carry out restoration work under the guidance of experienced restorers
the Shariv Palace and Park Complex was to be included in the government program "Great Restoration"
instead of life - both inside the premises and around the palace - more and more wasteland dominates
founder of the Kumeiko Architects studio Oleksandr Kumeik we asked about his attitude to the issue of heritage preservation and the specifics of the work of a restorer in the restoration of castle and palace and park architecture
the estates are man-made masterpieces with a formed composition and filling
in most cases performed at the highest level
therefore the task of the restorer is to return them to their former beauty and grandeur and
harmonize them with modern requirements and not harm them
The main task is to preserve the heritage object or its element that is under protection
It could be the monumentality of such an object
or certain town-planning characteristics that are protected
but this kind of work is also very difficult
The architect-restorer follows the already created idea and has no right to alter it or bring something of his own."
Oleksandr Kumeiko: "From the point of view of the investment attractiveness of the Ukrainian architectural heritage
currently investing in it - it's like making a very expensive monument for yourself"
the state registration of the right of communal ownership of the Tereshchenko estate
The city authorities will restore the building
Image source: social networks of the "Mapa Renovation" NGO
The architect notes the sad situation that has developed in Ukraine with the objects of cultural heritage
and offers to look at the problem through the prism of the investment attractiveness of valuable architecture:
dealing with cultural heritage in Ukraine is a big problem
When everything is protected and a person has no right to change anything
in which capital accumulation has not yet occurred
we have not yet reached the point when an entrepreneur can afford to spend money without the desire to return it in a short time
there are projects in Europe or the USA that can give such a return
but usually work with real estate involves a period of 10 years or more
it is still not clear to us how it is possible to invest a hundred or two hundred million hryvnias in the restoration of some object
it is not known how to use it when it is under protection
it is cheaper to put a sculpture or benches in the park
But the situation will change in the near future
then the Europeans will pay attention to it and will spend money
we will mention a monument that is located somewhere outside the city — the responsible authorities and owners in Ukraine lack understanding of its potential," — Oleksandr Kumeiko
A story with a happy ending: the palace in Khmelnytskyi
was saved thanks to the perseverance of public figure and historian Anastasia Donets
an anti-tuberculosis center was located here
and now it is the Malievet Historical and Cultural Museum
Kumeiko says: the problem of exploitation and restoration of immovable cultural heritage existed even before the full-scale invasion
and now it has only intensified because many others have appeared
except for litigation with the owners of the premises or estates to restore them to a normal state
— In addition to the normalization of responsibility and relations with the owners of the monuments
the state heritage protection authorities were still unable to answer the question and understand what functionality should be given to the monuments
how to make them alive and economically attractive
This stops any movement towards their restoration."
He continues: for expensive attractions with a large territory located outside the city
there are still no guaranteed successful scenarios that would interest the business
Their territory or planning plots are under protection
"I haven't heard many conversations about someone wanting to buy an estate or territory cheaply
Or now these ideas cease to exist immediately at the stage of preliminary calculations," states the architect
Oleksandr Kumeiko says that the restoration of historical architecture is painstaking work
the work of restorers first involves the study of historical documents — the study of the history of the creation and life of the object
although many monuments do not have one: it allows you to determine what exactly is under protection in the building or complex
what types of changes and works can be implemented
Instrumental and chemical-technological studies are being carried out to determine the list of necessary measures for restoration works at the monument
Incompetent waterproofing can be a big risk for old masonry or foundation
Masonry or masonry that has stood for hundreds of years can turn into a pile of materials
this work can be completed in about three months
with a sufficiently thorough level of research
if Ukrainian monuments are still restored - whether they are Ukrainian
the duration of which can vary greatly depending on the customer and those involved in the processes
The architect calls the definition of functionality the most difficult part of this work
because it determines all subsequent decisions and designs
"It is important to correctly understand what this object will offer to people after restoration
The Spanish hotel Parador de Granada is located on the territory of the Alhambra architectural and park complex in the buildings of the XNUMXth century monastery
PRAGMATICS.MEDIA: Continuing the topic of numbers: there is a popular opinion that restoration is always expensive
and restoration of historical objects is very expensive
So much so that it is difficult to approach some objects
Is quality restoration always worth millions
Oleksandr Kumeiko: Any kind of restoration will be more expensive than a reconstruction
but I wouldn't call it "for all the money in the world"
Under a certain coincidence of circumstances - I am not referring to museums under the care of the state
but rather to business projects - this can be justified
It cannot be said that the restoration is 20% or twice as expensive
because it is a completely individual thing
Each monument has its own set of elements that are under protection
I believe that if our state has the political will to provide entrepreneurs with the opportunity to use landmarks for business under certain conditions — provided they are restored
and the specified parameters are preserved
then there will be businessmen who will take this matter into their own hands and create new attractive and profitable businesses
This is the case everywhere in the civilized world
Great Britain and Scotland have a very powerful experience
Good experience with Spaniards and Italians
bring more harm than good to memory," Oleksandr Kumeiko
and the hotel and restaurant infrastructure coexist
the main thing for us is that in this case the object has life in itself and does not perish
If the object has the status of a monument
we cannot talk about a wide range of adaptations or changes
then it is about a detailed reproduction of it in the best condition available to specialists
but this fate simply does not happen to them
With this "sacredness" we as a society do more harm than good to memory
It cannot be said that there are no norms or legislation for working with heritage in Ukraine
but for some reason they do not work effectively enough
Evidence of this is the unsatisfactory state of many facilities
and new decisions that are adopted from time to time by the authorities to improve the situation
Now the situation has worsened due to the war — both from the point of view of specialists' access to the territories where the objects are located and their supervision
and from the point of view of the distribution of funds for operation and restoration
many objects of cultural heritage were damaged or destroyed due to the invasion of Russia
but you cannot blame all the losses on him
the war exposed all the defects and deficiencies that had been accumulating for many years
according to which the restoration of monuments must be carried out
are DBN A.2.2-14-2016 "Composition and content of scientific and project documentation for the restoration of architectural monuments and urban planning"
developed by the "UkrNDIproektrestavratsiya" institute
This basic scientific and technical organization of Ukraine performs scientific and technical support of state normative documents in the field of restoration of monuments of immovable cultural heritage
The Institute is subordinate to the Ministry of Regional Development
Construction and Housing and Communal Economy of Ukraine (Ministry of the Region)
The palace of Count Shuvalov in Cherkasy Region is being restored by a team of Ukrainian architect-restorers led by Anatoly Izotov
Objects of architectural heritage may or may not have the status of a monument and be in different forms of ownership - state
A landmark building is not always a museum
many of them are inhabited by people or are the location of institutions or utilities
Monumental status (of local or national significance) is protective
so ideally it should help preserve the site
virtually anything can happen to the building
The main legal document that defines and describes legal
social and economic activities with valuable heritage objects (works
landscapes and places) is the current law of Ukraine "On the protection of cultural heritage"
The law provides key terminology for the study
The types and types of immovable cultural heritage and the state institutions that have the authority to manage its protection
the responsibility of individuals and legal entities for violating the legislation on the protection of cultural heritage
we find the definition of the concept of a monument and the procedure for acquiring this status by an object
data on the bodies that make these decisions
it is valid at MKIP Expert commission on accounting of cultural heritage objects
it is she who studies the submitted documents and evaluates objects regarding their inclusion or removal from the register of monuments
after the transformation of the Ministry of Culture into the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
a new one was created Scientific and methodical council on matters of cultural heritage protection of the ICIP of Ukraine
This consultative and advisory body of the Ministry considers scientific recommendations and proposals for the development and protection of cultural heritage
scientific project documentation for conservation
adaptation of monuments of national importance
Rumyantsev-Zadunaiskyi in the village Cherries
They also work with heritage on the ground - in cities
on the territory of regions and communities advisory boards from leading scientists and practitioners
They are created by cultural heritage protection bodies of regional
Specialists in the field of cultural heritage protection
natural persons with the rights of public inspectors may be involved in the discussions
In addition to the Ministry of Regions and the ICIP
we can mention state and public organizations that work with the preservation and protection of cultural heritage in Ukraine
the Ukrainian State Institute of Cultural Heritage (UDIKS) - a cultural and educational center that belongs to the sphere of administration of the Ministry of Culture
the NGO "All-Ukrainian Association Protection of Cultural Heritage"
NGO "Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments" (UTOPIK)
International Council for the Protection of Monuments and Historical Sites (ICOMOS) and others
The law "On the protection of cultural heritage" lists information on property rights and the procedure for financing protection measures
the conditions for the alienation or transfer of objects
the establishment of a monetary value and the conclusion of protection contracts with the owners
Even such "little things" as access and guided tours
It seems that you only need to open the right article - and you can get answers to many questions
but for some reason the miracle does not happen
The law needs to be modernized and changed
especially regarding responsibility for the destruction and destruction of monuments
An interesting episode in efforts to systematize efforts to protect cultural heritage and divide powers was the creation of two institutes by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2021
which should become central bodies of executive power: State Service for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Ukraine and State Inspection of Cultural Heritage of Ukraine
both were liquidated in January 2022 without ever starting to work
The agencies were to be responsible for the implementation of state policy in the spheres of cultural heritage protection
The State Service for the Protection of Cultural Heritage was supposed to take care of permitting and administrative services in the field of heritage protection
and the return of cultural values ​​to Ukraine
The State Inspectorate — to exercise supervision and control in the field of cultural heritage protection
According to the then minister Oleksandr Tkachenko
these decisions of the government were supposed to complete the reforms in the culture management system
One cannot fail to mention the government project "Great Restoration" within the framework of "Great Construction"
His task was to restore 150+ important architectural monuments
the initiative was called a flagship and unprecedented for the country
13 projects were completed during the year
they faced the problem of financing the restoration of communal property and those that were not subordinated to the Ministry of Culture
MKIP together with project partners (the Ministry of Regions
the USAID/UK aid project "Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services/TAPAS" and the Eastern Europe Fund) presented the ePamyatka accounting system for immovable objects of cultural heritage of Ukraine
The digital system "State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine" is in the final stage of implementation and is expected to start working in January 2024
ePamyatka will allow the use of a single database on all cultural heritage sites of Ukraine
including those located in temporarily occupied territories
and should become a tool of state management and a transparent array of information about monuments for the public
there are 105 objects of cultural heritage in the register
the ICIP presented the Information and Communication System "State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine" — ePamyatka
the forum "Restoration and Restoration of the Cultural Heritage of Ukraine after the Great War" was held in Kyiv with the participation of representatives of state authorities
The event was held under the patronage of the International Center for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Values ​​ICCROM (Italy)
The purpose of the forum was to develop strategies for saving and restoring Ukrainian cultural heritage
the Minister of Culture and Information Policy
announced the figures of losses: as of September 2023
the ministry will initiate the creation of a resuscitation aid package for monuments of Ukraine
the ministry expects about UAH 250 million in revenue from gaming business licensing
which will be used for urgent restoration work
at the forum "Restoration and restoration of the cultural heritage of Ukraine after the Great War"
the concept of a strategy for the preservation of monuments and a resuscitation package for the support of cultural heritage were discussed
Can we hope that the next round of struggle for the objects and places dear to Ukrainians will be crowned with success this time and the mechanisms proposed by the government and specialists will work
And also that the "lucky list" will include not only the chosen ones
but the majority of objects that deserve it
there is a lack of understanding of who has a sufficient level of expertise to participate in the restoration of important facilities
There is a big problem with the restoration of the cult architecture of the Left Bank
especially the churches used by the UOC (MP)
We asked the architect-restorer Oleksandr Kumeik how long the buildings wounded by time and bad attitude can wait
there is a concept of the life cycle of a product or object
The assessment of the condition of buildings is based on many factors
but it can be assumed that if it has stood for 100 or 200 years
unless unavoidable circumstances intervene
this does not mean that the condition of such an object will not deteriorate if no measures are taken
we can see this on the example of the buildings that were reported
Oleksandr Kumeiko: "One day we will fight for objects of this type
The architect says: the event when the building remains without a roof
as happened with the estate in Stary Merchyk
can be considered an important moment that speeds up the countdown
it is protected from atmospheric and temperature influences
the hope is only for the stability of the walls
usually in old buildings they are thick enough
this was due to constructive solutions and construction traditions of that time
The fire that occurred in the mentioned estate most likely destroyed not only the roof
and it will have the same appearance as in the photo of the early 1900s
It could become an ideal place for family visits for the weekend
Staromerchansky Palace (Shydlovsky Palace)
Kumeiko calls Staromerchansky Palace a potential Klondike
There are many such locations in Central Europe
and they are wildly popular among supporters of local tourism
infrastructure grows organically next to it
such places are very popular with visitors abroad
A private college or high school can function in facilities such as Sharivka
"There is no problem to create a working business in it
In order to open an educational institution
It is possible to remove certain partitions
because the classrooms must have a certain area according to the standards
it seems that the people in charge haven't really tried to help him yet
although of course I don't know the whole story."
among the objects that we examined together
the worst situation is with the Cossack estate "Pokorshchyna" in Chernihiv Oblast
If qualified specialists do not immediately intervene in its fate
I really want to believe in the justice of fate and people
that noteworthy sights will wait for a caring helping hand
then experts who will at least not be hindered
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