(a) City telephone exchange building. © Unknown, 1930s, Pshenychnyi Central State Film and Photo Archive of Ukraine. (b) © Chahovets, 2020.
A Study of the Kharkiv Architectural Avant-Garde

Challenges of Authenticity Preservation

Authors

  • Kateryna Cherkasova O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv image/svg+xml
  • Olesya Chagovets Art Oborona

Downloads

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52200/docomomo.70.11

Keywords:

architectural avant-garde, early modernism, authenticity, heritage preservation, 1920s-1930s

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of preserving Kharkiv’s architectural heritage from the first third of the 20th century. The main focus is on the preservation of authenticity of the early modernist heritage in the context of a crisis situation associated with the overall state of heritage preservation in Ukraine and during active military operations. The research was conducted in the context of the planning development and spatial structure of the Kharkiv historical center and suburbs, where new workers’ settlements were formed, as well as considering the architectural layers within the structure of historical districts of Kharkiv. The main objective of the study is to determine the value and authenticity of the architectural heritage of early modernism. The study employed the methods of historical, retrospective, and comprehensive analysis. The general plan of the “Socialist Reconstruction of Kharkiv” from 1931-1933 and the historical-architectural reference plan of Kharkiv from 2019 were analysed as additional sources. The research results provide comprehensive information about the architectural and urban heritage of this period and emphasize the attention to the issue of preservation of authenticity. The conclusions of this work will serve as a basis for further development of specific measures for the conservation, restoration, and preservation of historical monuments in Kharkiv from the first third of the 20th century. The research will also contribute to raising public awareness about the value of early modernist architectural heritage and encourage the implementation of restoration programs to preserve these important landmarks.

How to Cite

Cherkasova, K., & Chagovets, O. (2024). A Study of the Kharkiv Architectural Avant-Garde: Challenges of Authenticity Preservation. Docomomo Journal, (70), 86–95. https://doi.org/10.52200/docomomo.70.11

Published

2024-04-15

Plaudit

Author Biographies

Kateryna Cherkasova, O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv

is an architect, Doctor of Architecture, Professor at the O.M. Beketov Kharkiv National Academy of Urban Economy. Author of 1 monograph, about 100 scientific articles on the theory, history of architecture and restoration of monuments in Ukraine and the Slobozhanshchyna region.

Olesya Chagovets, Art Oborona

is an Architect and a PhD student of Kharkiv National Academy of Urban Economy, co-founder of the NGO Art Oborona. In 2020 she curated Constructivism.Kharkiv, an online project that worked with interwar architecture of Kharkiv. https://constructivism-kharkiv.com/en/

References

AKMEN, I., & LOPATKO, V. (2020). The gigant dormitory complex for proletarian student. https://constructivism-kharkiv.com/en/objects/78-06-45-complex-of-student-dormitories-giant, Accessed Sep. 01, 2023.

SHVYDENKO, О., (2020a). How the idea of low-rise housing was considered impractical for Kharkiv. https://constructivism-kharkiv.com/en/objects/114-42-45-village-of-red-october, Accessed Sep. 03, 2023.

SHVYDENKO, О., (2020b). The Ukrainian Red Army is an imprint in architecture. https://constructivism-kharkiv.com/en/objects/116-44-45-quarter-of-a-hundred, Accessed Sep. 01, 2023.

SHVYDENKO, О., (2020c). The new architectural face of the “main facade” of the city. https://constructivism-kharkiv.com/en/objects/90-18-45-chemical-case-new, Accessed Aug. 18, 2023.

БОЖЕНКО, А., & СУХОВЄЄВА, О. (2021). Жити у Соцмісті зараз: Між спадщиною та оновленням. In: Місто: Історія, культура, суспільство [BOZHENKO, A., & Sukhovieieva, O. Zhyty u Sotsmisti zaraz: Mizh spadshchynoyu ta onovlennyam/ Living in Sotsmisto now: Between heritage and renovation], In: The city: History, culture, society, Kyiv (2021), 1(12), 9–23 (In Ukrainian).

ЗВОНИЦКИЙ, Э., ЛЕЙБФРЕЙД А. (1992). Госпром. [ZVONYTsKYI, E., Leibfreid A. Hosprom/ Gosprom], Moscow, p.80. ( In Russian).

КАЧЕМЦЕВА, Л., ДІДЕНКО, К., & КЄПОВА, Д. (2021). УФТІ: Історія виникнення та архітектурно-містобудівні особливості формування комплексу в кінці 1920-х – 1930-х рр. In: Науковий вісник будівництва [KACHEMTSEVA L., Didenko K., & Kiepova D. UPhTI: Istoriia vynyknennia ta arkhitekturno-mistobudivni osoblyvosti formuvannia kompleksu v kintsi 1920-kh – 1930-kh rr./ History of emergence and architectural-urban features of complex formation in 1920s-1930s], In: Scientific Bulletin of Civil Engineering], Kharkiv (2021), 106(4), pp. 45-50. (In Ukrainian).

МЕЛЕЖИК, О. (2020). Щодо створення музею науки в національному науковому центрі «Харківський фізикотехнічний інститут», In: Вісник НАН України [Melezhyk, O., Shchodo stvorennia muzeiu nauky v Natsionalnomu naukovomu tsentri “Kharkivskyi fizykotekhnichnyi instytut”/ On the establishment of a science museum at the National Science Centre “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology”], In: Bulletin of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv (2020), № 3, pp. 46-49 (In Ukrainian).

СЕМЯКИН, Г. (2014). Историко-культурные и типологические особенности лечебных зданий и комплексов архитектуры конструктивизма 1920 – 1930 - х годов на примере городов северо-восточного региона Украины. In: Сучасні проблеми архітектури та містобудування [SEMYAKIN, H. Ystoryko-kulturnye y typolohycheskye osobennosty lechebnykh zdanyi y kompleksov arkhytektury konstruktyvyzma 1920 – 1930 na prymere horodov severo-vostochnoho rehyona Ukrayny/ Historical-cultural and typological features of sanatoriums and complexes of constructivism architecture of 1920-1930s in the cities of the north-eastern region of Ukraine], In: Modern Problems of Architecture and Urban Planning, Kyiv (2014), Vol. 37, pp. 67-79 (In Russian).

СМОЛЕНСЬКА, С. (2015). Зберегти пам’ятки конструктивізму в Україні. In: Сучасні проблеми архітектури та містобудування [SMOLENSKA, S. Zberehty pamiatky konstruktyvizmu v Ukraini/ To Preserve the Monuments of Constructivism in Ukraine], In: Modern Problems of Architecture and Urban Planning, Kyiv (2015), Vol. 41, pp. 190-198 (In Ukrainian).

ЧЕРКАСОВА, Е. (2010) / ред. Косенкова, Ю. Идеи и реализация плана социалистической реконструкции Харькова 1933-1935 гг. In: Советское градостроительство 1920 – 1930-х годов: Новые исследования и материалы [CHERKASOVA, E./ editor Kosenkova, Yu. Іdeі і realyzatsyia plana sotsyalystycheskoi rekonstruktsіі Kharkova 1933-1935/ Ideas and implementation of the plan for the socialist reconstruction of Kharkov in 1933-1935], In: Soviet urban planning of the 1920s and 1930s: New research and materials, Moscow (2010), pp. 129-155 ( In Russian).

ЕЙНГОРН, А. (1935). Проект соціалістичної рекоснтрукції м. Харкова. In: Будівництво [EINHORN, A. Proiekt sotsialistychnoi rekonstruktsii m. Kharkova/ The project of socialist reconstruction of Kharkiv], In: Construction, Kyiv (1935), 4, pp. 18-23 (In Ukrainian).

ЯНОВИЦЬКИЙ, Є., & ГАЛАК, K. (2015). Особливості та досвід проєктування і будівництва сучасного готельного комплексу “Харків-Палас” на площі свободи в м. Харків. In: Сучасні проблеми архітектури та містобудування [YANOVYTSKYI, YE., Halak, K. Osoblyvosti ta dosvid proiektuvannia i budivnytstva suchasnoho hotelnoho kompleksu “Kharkiv-Palas” na ploshchi svobody v m. Kharkiv/ Features and experience of design and construction of a modern hotel complex Kharkiv-Palace on Freedom Square in Kharkiv], In: Modern Problems of Architecture and Urban Planning, Kyiv (2015), 38, (2015), pp. 490-512 (In Ukrainian).