The research book "Ukrainian Modernism" by the architectural tour guide Dmytro Soloviov has been published by the British publisher FUEL Publishing.
This was reported by DesignBoom.
The volume spans 240 pages and documents over 120 structures, ranging from iconic landmarks such as the Kyiv Crematorium and Salut Hotel to lesser-known sites like the Novoarkhanhelsk Police Station and the Uzhhorod Airport Terminal. These buildings, designed during a time of state-led experimentation in form and function, combine utilitarian purpose with distinct formal and material innovation. While focusing on their distinct architectural elements, Soloviov’s photographs also spotlight the buildings’ monumental mosaics, stained glass, and sculptural reliefs that artfully become integral to the identity of these spaces.
"I aimed not only to capture architectural forms but also to convey the atmosphere of the time and space in which these structures were created," says Dmytro Soloviov.
Modernist architecture in Ukraine holds a complex place in the collective consciousness. While some of these structures are celebrated for their striking formal design, many others are neither listed nor safeguarded. The post-Soviet stigma, coupled with inconsistent heritage preservation policies and commercial pressures, has contributed to their gradual decline. The ongoing conflict has only intensified these challenges, accelerating the deterioration of buildings that were already in a state of decay for decades. As a result, Dmytro Soloviov takes a pragmatic, rather than idealized, approach to documenting what remains in his homeland. His photographs present these structures with a clear visual style that resonates with their original functionalist purpose.
In Ukrainian Modernism, architectural critic Owen Hatherley’s introductory essay places the work within a broader historical framework, highlighting Ukraine’s modernist architecture as a unique regional variation shaped by local materials, spatial practices, and institutional histories. This blend of meticulous documentation and critical analysis makes the publication the most thorough examination of the topic to date.
"Ukrainian Modernism" is currently the most comprehensive visual and analytical study of Ukraine's modernist architecture.
