16 most beautiful buildings of Kiev

The architecture of Kiev is something incredible. I’ve already visited a lot in my life and have seen a lot, but I have probably seen such an accumulation of beautiful buildings only in Helsinki. Each house in the center of Kiev can be examined for hours, and I won’t be too lazy if I say that, at least in terms of architecture, Kiev is a real pearl of Europe (and the world). Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to fully inspect all the structures, but I managed to do something and want to tell you about the ones that I liked the most.

House with Chimeras

Trite, but what to do, the most famous house of the city, built by Vladislav Gorodetsky - the leading architect of Kiev. Nowadays, you cannot approach the house, because the residence of the President of Ukraine is nearby, and the street is blocked, but real heroes will always find workarounds.

Apartment building Sirotkina

This house was built in 1902 by the architect Karl Szymany. At the time of completion, the building became the tallest in Kiev (42.5 meters). On the ground floor of the building was the Marquise Cafe, which Bulgakov mentioned in his novel The White Guard. During the time of the scoop, the house was brought to a state of complete devastation, and it was only miraculously saved by inviting special restorers. What a blessing that at least something of the red Soviet plague could not be completely destroyed.

Puppet show

Surprisingly, this is a completely new building, it was built in 2005 by the architect Vitaly Yudin. It is deservedly considered one of the best structures of modern architecture in Kiev.

Apartment building Snezhko and Khlebnikova

A stunning house in the "Teremkovo" style of the architect Artynov (1899-1901). On the facade you can see the date of completion and initials of the names of the owners of "CX". When the house first appeared, it was considered so spectacular and original that the photographer Markov (the publisher of postcards with views of Kiev) included the image of the Artynovo building in the series "Beautiful Buildings of the City of Kiev". Objects for her were selected very meticulously, they could be counted on the fingers. Another house included in the series was opposite - the mansion of Leo Bendersky (it was built by the legendary Gorodetsky already mentioned above). Despite the fact that the house was considered one of the most beautiful in the entire Russian Empire, the Communists in 1930 barbarously destroyed it.

Inconsolable widow's house

"Arshavsky Mansion" (House of the "Weeping Widow") was built in 1908 according to the project of Eduard Bradtman. The estate belonged to a wealthy Jewish merchant, in 1918 it was taken away by the Soviet government. Since 1994, it has been one of the residences of the President of Ukraine (it’s good that they let her take pictures calmly, unlike a house with chimeras). Due to the architectural features of the house, it so happened that when it rains, water flows down the drains near the woman's eyes on the facade, so it seems like she is crying - hence the unofficial name of the estate - the House of the “Weeping (inconsolable) widow.” In fact, despite numerous legends, no widow has ever lived here.

Cradle of the Spirit

Another house of the architect Bradtman, as well as the first house of Kiev (and the entire Russian Empire), built in the Art Nouveau style (1886-1888). In 1941, the NKVD burned down the house, and it was partially restored in 1948, but, alas, some of the stunning scenery was lost. However, the majority has survived, including a mascaron with an open mouth on the facade, symbolizing the encrypted ancient Greek myth of Kronos and Zeus.

Baron Castle

The castle, also known as the "House of Podgorsky" or "Shelter of the Knight", was built around the middle of the XIX century. It is noted that there is no other such house, and such a staircase, decorated with alabaster curly balusters. In 1915, the castle belonged to the “sugar king” Lev Brodsky (of course, a Jew) and in 1918, of course, was taken away by the Soviet government. Then he, as is customary in the scoop, for many years collapsed, until in an interesting way he became the property of one of the deputies of the city council. He wanted to restore the house, but because of the crisis he could not, and now he is trying to sell it. "Baron Castle" is estimated at nine million dollars.

Ikskül-Hildebranda Mansion

We pass from modern to neo-Gothic. The fabulous "Gingerbread House" was built in 1902. During the Second World War it burned, then rebuilt, then continued to collapse, until one of the seven Gothic styles remained. In the 2000s was restored. Even for a style house, historicism is overloaded with decorative details, but this is done on purpose - in this way it does not make the impression of a majestic castle, but is more easily perceived as a fabulous house.

"Chocolate House" (Mogilevtsev's mansion)

As you can see, we stayed on Silk Street. Immediately behind the Ikskul-Hildebrand mansion is another beautiful mansion called the Chocolate House. According to legend, the millionaire merchant Mogilevtsev was in love with a married woman, either a princess or a countess, and built this luxurious mansion for secret meetings with her. The house itself is a landmark of the era of historicism, and the murals are a rare example of monumental art nouveau painting. After the merchant, many famous people lived here, until, as you probably guessed, in 1934 the mansion was not overcome by the Soviet regime.

Kovalevsky Mansion ("Arab House")

To close the "Holy Trinity" of Silk Street, another mansion, which was nicknamed "Arab" because of borrowed eastern elements. Built in 1911 by architect Pavel Alyoshin. It is notable for the combination of different styles - the facades interpret the forms of Romanesque architecture and amaze with the sophistication of details, and the interiors are decorated mainly in the Renaissance motifs.

The building of the National Bank of Ukraine

A stunning building in the "Venetian" style, imitating the Italian palazzo. Facing the facade was the Italian sculptor Elio Sala, who also worked closely with Gorodetsky and took part in the design of the House with Chimeras, the Karaite Kenasa, the National Art Museum ("House with Lions") and the Nikolaev Church.

Rodzianko Mansion

"Richard's Castle - Lionheart"

Another stunning neo-Gothic building in Kiev - this time the English one. The house was built in 1902-1904 by order of the Kiev industrialist Dmitry Orlov, who planned to make a tenement house out of the building and rent out the apartments. However, in 1911 Orlov was shot dead, and since then the building has become overgrown with numerous legends. From the apartments, according to the residents, terrible howls and groans were heard, it seemed to them that the house was teeming with ghosts, and they left it in fear. The house still stands empty, and local guides continue to scare tourists with various stories)

Shleifer Mansion

Another architectural monument, built in 1909 by the architect George Shleifer for his own needs - he lived in this house. Also, Schleifer designed Brodsky’s Choral Synagogue and the famous “Ginzburg House” on 9 Gorodetsky Street, which survived very partially. The Soviet government took this mansion back in 1922.

Apartment building Shlenzhevich

Unfortunately, I have not yet found information about this amazing house. I only know that it was built in 1912 according to the project of the architect Alexander Verbitsky.

House on the street Yaroslavov Val №4

And so far I have not learned anything about this house, I don’t even know if it has any curious name. But since Yaroslavov Val Street is perhaps the most beautiful in Kiev, I wanted to finish the story about the city’s houses on it.