In the very center of Kyiv, we managed to identify and preserve the oldest small architectural form (MAF) of Khreshchatyk. This structure is a rare surviving example of the post-war reconstruction of the capital, which has retained its original appearance from the middle of the last century.
The architectural legacy of Anatoly Dobrovolsky
It's about a kiosk located on a street corner. Khreshchatyk and ProriznaIt was installed in in 1949 designed by the prominent architect Anatoly Dobrovolskyi, one of the main authors of the ensemble of Khreshchatyk restored after World War II.
Design features:
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Ukrainian Baroque: The decoration uses characteristic national motifs.
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Decor: The facade is decorated with graceful twisted columns and intricate floral elements.
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Context: The building is an integral part of the single architectural ensemble of the main street.
Why is this object unique?
For a long time, there were two identical symmetrical kiosks on the corner of Prorizna Street. However, in the 2010s, one of them (on the even side) was dismantled and replaced with a modern replica that only vaguely resembles the original.
Thus, the pavilion on odd side of Prorizna today there are:
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The only authentic example There are MAFs of this type all over Khreshchatyk.
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A living element of the "design code" Kyiv 1940s.
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Witness of the era, which miraculously escaped numerous waves of "cleansing" the city of kiosks.
Historical background
Anatoliy Dobrovolsky, the author of this kiosk, also designed such iconic objects as the Ukraina Hotel, the Kyiv City Council Building, and the Khreschatyk metro station. Even in a small architectural form, he was able to embody the monumental style that made the central street of Kyiv recognizable throughout the world.
Now this object is considered not just a point of trade, but as a full-fledged monument of urban design that requires special status and protection.
