“Bauhaus-Zaporizhzhia” conference
Last year, representatives of the architectural and construction company “PORTAL-21” participated in the scientific-practical conference “Bauhaus-Zaporizhzhia,” organized by the German Consulate and the NGO “Urban Forms Center.” The conference discussed issues related to the study and preservation of modernist architectural monuments. The program was particularly appealing to those familiar with the works of the Bauhaus school and its influence on architecture worldwide. Architects, historians, and public figures from various countries shared their research and restoration experience of similar objects.
Our presentation focused on the cost estimation aspect of restoration and repair projects for historical sites in Ukraine and the experience gained in this field. In the summer of 2017, “PORTAL-21” participated in the restoration of a historical complex in the Kharkiv region. The project, funded by investors from Germany and involving German architects, aimed to restore the building facades to their original state as much as possible. While another company handled the comprehensive renovation of the entire building, including its engineering aspects, our task was specifically the restoration of the facades, funded by the city budget.
It’s worth noting that in Ukraine, most architectural monuments and historical buildings are restored at the expense of the state. Therefore, preserving a building’s status is crucial as it directly affects construction costs. Restoration requires more manual labor, higher-quality materials, and adheres to specific requirements outlined in state building norms. Despite the historical significance of our project – a district-level hospital complex dating back to 1904, which housed various government structures and hosted local community gatherings – it had lost its historical monument status.
However, German investors were keen on restoring the buildings to their original appearance. “PORTAL-21” specialists conducted historical research to understand the original look of the buildings and incorporate necessary measures into the project. Experienced Ukrainian and German restorers were consulted for recommendations on restoring the facade’s original color scheme, replacing windows and doors to resemble their authentic counterparts, and more. This meticulous approach would have been significant had the building retained its monument status, as it would have influenced the budget allocated for restoration works.
Unfortunately, tendering for construction work proved nearly impossible, as companies were unwilling to undertake a substantial volume of work for the allocated budget. Consequently, contractors manipulated the cost estimates and illegally inflated them after expert examination. “PORTAL-21” refused to participate in such practices, leading to the termination of our collaboration with the historical site’s owners (i.e., municipal authorities). They hired another design organization willing to sign off on the unlawful estimates. This story underscores the importance of restoring historical buildings to their rightful status, a topic repeatedly discussed at the Zaporizhzhia conference. In our case, had the designated restoration works been correctly classified as such, the outcome would have been different.
Our experience has taught us valuable lessons. Firstly, we observed the meticulous care foreign partners show towards historical monuments, a sentiment shared not only by us but also by local authorities. Prior to project commencement, our Ukrainian and German architects conducted a public presentation of the future project, showcasing historical documents and our proposed solutions based on them. This effort proved worthwhile, as local authorities and representatives of the hospital complex, despite initially finding some of our design decisions unnecessary, ultimately retained many of them, especially those concerning the main facade. Their primary concern was to obtain a modernized hospital that met contemporary standards, with less emphasis on the facade, understandable given the dismal condition of the complex before comprehensive renovation, lacking even basic amenities like toilets and showers.
Our experience in this field is still relatively limited, and it does not yet extend to modernist monuments from the 1920s and 1930s, as the complex for which we worked was designed in a different style. However, the problems facing many historical and architectural monuments in our country are similar: they are often illegally stripped of their status, frequently left to decay, and eventually privatized. Subsequently, their fate lies in the hands of their owners, who may complete, remodel, or alter them, replacing authentic doors and windows with modern equivalents, among other changes.
The attention devoted to popularizing modernist monuments at the “Bauhaus-Zaporizhzhia” conference seems particularly timely. In Ukraine, historical architectural monuments are often treated with insufficient respect, especially those from the modernist era. To the untrained eye, these buildings may not seem appealing, lacking the decorative elements found in many architectural styles and failing to impress with color schemes. Furthermore, many modernist buildings have been heavily altered over time. It is much easier for the average person to understand the importance of preserving a classical-style mansion than a simple gray constructivist building. It is crucial to convey to people not involved in artistic endeavors the value of modernist buildings and architecture as a whole, which revolutionized traditional concepts and significantly contributed to the development of new technologies in design and construction.
P.S. We would like to add that the project in the Kharkiv region, which was supposed to be funded by the city budget, was ultimately completed! Local officials managed to allocate funds for the reconstruction of the building, restoring its main facade to its original appearance to a large extent!
