Commercial buildings in Kiev | Dmitry Malakov

This publication is dedicated to the unique phenomenon of affordable residential buildings in Kyiv, which were characteristic of urban development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Through the prism of these structures, the authors explore the social, architectural, and cultural transformations of Kyiv over the past hundred years.

The book tells the story of two great "building fevers" (1895–1901 and 1907–1914), when over a thousand multi-story buildings appeared in the city, apartments in which were rented out and brought profit to the owners. These buildings, with their yellow-brick facades, became a defining element of Kyiv's urban environment and the embodiment of the aesthetics of the era.

The publication traces the fate of apartment buildings after their nationalization in 1919, their transformation into communal housing, and the changes that occurred during major renovations during the Soviet period. The destruction of interiors and the reformatting of apartments reflect deeper social shifts that affected the lifestyle of Kyivans.

The book is illustrated with a large number of archival and modern photographs, contains reference material and will be of interest to architects, historians, art critics, local historians, as well as everyone who is interested in the history of Kyiv and its architectural heritage.