The Kyiv Flying Saucer: A Battle to Preserve Ukraine’s Modernist Heritage

Introduction: A Futuristic Icon on the Brink

In the heart of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, the “Flying Saucer” building stands as a testament to an ambitious era of architectural history. This bold concrete structure, completed in 1971 from a design by architect Florian Yuriev, originally housed the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information, becoming a prominent example of Soviet Modernist architecture. The building features a futuristic disc-shaped cinema and lecture hall, inspired by the space race between the superpowers of the time, dramatically perched atop a horizontal glass and steel base. Today, however, this landmark finds itself besieged by a construction site for a new shopping mall, a fate that threatens many of Ukraine’s modernist architectural treasures.

Dmytro Solovyov: Guardian of a City’s Endangered Memory

Dmytro Solovyov, a architectural heritage activist and photographer, stands against this fate, dedicating his efforts to protecting the “Flying Saucer” and other Soviet-era architectural legacy from oblivion. With a firm belief in the value of this heritage, Solovyov states, “This is how things are in Kyiv, there is no respect for the past.”

His fascination with modernist architecture and his anxiety over its fate fueled his ambitious documentation project. Solovyov compiled around one hundred architectural examples, mostly built from the 1960s to the 1980s, into his celebrated book “Ukrainian Modernism,” published by London-based FUEL earlier this year. His work extends beyond print; he manages an Instagram account of the same name, attracting over 100,000 followers, and leads architectural tours through Kyiv’s streets to introduce residents to the endangered architectural wonders of their city.

Standing in front of the “Flying Saucer” itself, Solovyov recalls the turning point in his journey: “I had just become interested in Modernism and couldn’t understand how this famous building was about to be turned into a shopping mall. I realized I couldn’t do much about it, but I could at least photograph it.”

A Tour Through Kyiv’s Memory: Modernism Under Fire

On a grey Sunday afternoon in late June, one of Solovyov’s tours offered a stark example of Kyiv’s contradictions. These well-attended walks exemplify how daily life continues normally by day, while the city suffers severe bombardment at night. Kyiv, like the rest of Ukraine, was a stage for an architectural boom during the Soviet era, adorned with experimental buildings, mosaics, and public art inspired by the conquest of space.

“I admire the philosophy behind Modernism: the idea of breaking away from traditional architectural principles and creating something completely new,” Solovyov explains to participants. “It’s a very optimistic style, where architects considered the people who

would live in these buildings.”

A Generational Divide: An Architectural Legacy Between Acceptance and Rejection

Solovyov’s tours reveal a generational schism in the perception of this architectural legacy. While most attendees appear to be young people under 35, Solovyov points out that older generations often view these buildings as unattractive and outdated.

Polina Karpinenko, a 32-year-old tour participant who works as a product manager in the tech sector, expresses her appreciation for the aesthetics of these buildings: “Everyone wants to get rid of everything connected to the Soviet era, but there is so much we can learn from this architecture. The planning paid more attention to people’s needs, like healthcare and culture. Entire neighborhoods were built at once, and the infrastructure was more organized than it is today.”

The Dual Threat: The Scars of War and the Hammer of Development

Russian attacks on Ukraine pose a direct and tragic threat to this heritage. Documenting the destruction has become a fundamental part of Solovyov’s work, as he posts images on Instagram of damaged buildings, such as the Palace of Culture in Pavlohrad, which was struck last summer.

The night following the tour served as a grim reminder of the war’s reality. Hundreds of Russian drones attacked the city, resulting in casualties. Yet war is not the only threat; market forces, corruption, and a lack of clear legislation to protect this cultural heritage constitute a danger no less severe. Buildings like the “Flying Saucer” face the fate of demolition or commercial redevelopment that lacks historical sensitivity.

Documenting Heritage Under Threat

To complete his book “Ukrainian Modernism,” Solovyov had to travel to some of the country’s most war-damaged cities, including his hometown of Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy. The mission was not easy, as he faced serious challenges, most notably the risk of forced conscription into the Ukrainian army. He explains, “Many local residents who were supposed to show me the buildings were hesitant to meet in public for this reason.” He himself was at risk of arrest due to his student status.

Erasing the Past: The Dilemma of National Identity

The struggle with the Soviet past adds another layer of complexity. Since 2014, Ukraine has enacted laws aimed removing Soviet and communist symbols from public space. In some instances, this policy has been directed against modernist buildings themselves, as when nationalists tried to cancel a lecture by Solovyov in Lviv.

Solovyov clarifies this dilemma: “Instead of protecting what the Russians are destroying, they want to get rid of everything Soviet because they consider it Russian. But that is exactly what Putin claims: that everything Soviet is Russian. These buildings are often dismissed as Russian colonialism, but they were created by Ukrainian architects who tried to shape a better world for the Ukrainian people.”

Conclusion: A Picture for the Future

In the end, Dmytro Solovyov’s work represents more than just documenting buildings; it is an attempt to preserve a collective memory and a unique architectural identity in the face of existential threats. Through his camera, his book, and his tours, Solovyov is recording not only the details of concrete and glass but also the spirit of creativity and optimism from a turbulent era, calling upon contemporary Ukraine to reconcile with its complex past by preserving its distinctive architectural legacy.

✦ Archup Editorial insight

The article focuses on efforts to preserve Ukraine’s modernist architectural heritage, exemplified by the “Flying Saucer” building, against neglect and the dual threats of war and commercial redevelopment. The design presents a bold futuristic concept through its suspended disc-shaped form. However, the relationship between the elevated main volume and its glazed base creates a visual and functional disconnection, weakening the overall volumetric integration of the structure. The interior design faces challenges in distributing natural light due to the unconventional roof, and the relationship between the internal spaces and the surrounding external area appears limited. Despite this, the building offers a unique architectural model in its sculptural expression of the “flying saucer” concept, achieving a strong visual presence that forms a landmark within its urban context.

Brought to you by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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