Kateryna Kublytska is a practicing architect and restorer, laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Architecture (2011). Director of architecture and conservation for PORTAL-21 Architectural and Construction, and member of the N.G.O. Urban Forms Centre. Since 2017 she has been a member of the “Save Kharkiv” initiative group for the protection of cultural heritage; since 2018 – a member of the Advisory Council for the Protection of Cultural Heritage at the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration. She graduated from Kharkiv State Technical University of Civil Engineering and Architecture with a postgraduate degree in History and Theory of Architecture, where she also holds an undergraduate degree in Architecture (specialization: reconstruction and restoration of architectural objects). Kublytska researches architecture of the late 19th – early 20th century, the relationship and evolution of construction of the periods Art Nouveau and interwar modernism. Her architectural preservation advocacy work includes nominations of 20th century Ukrainian architectural monuments which should be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, participation in the implementation of the project “Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage,” as well as many media appearances on television and preservation discussion panels. For 2022-23, she is the Samuel H. Kress Foundation Visiting Fellow at The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London.
Education
Kharkiv State Technical University, Civil Engineering and Architecture dept., PhD studies in Architecture. PhD thesis topic: Rehabilitation of multi-storey housing stock (before 1917) in the historic district of Kharkiv, and its further rehabilitation in the present day (2012 – ).
Kharkiv State Technical University, Civil Engineering and Architecture dept., MA degree in History and Theory of Architecture, MA thesis: Modern Steel Residential Architecture and its Restoration (2007 – 2008).
Kharkiv State Technical University, Civil Engineering and Architecture dept., BA degree in Architecture, with a specialization in the reconstruction and restoration of architectural objects (2002 – 2007).
Publications (selection)
Kateryna Kublytska, Olena Kupina, Olena Rofe-Beketova, ‘The Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Ukraine’ in Bauhaus — Zaporizhzhia. Zaporizhzhia Modernism and Bauhaus School: Universality of Phenomena. Problems of Preserving Modernist Heritage, edited by Ievgeniia I. Gubkina (Kharkiv: Disa Plus, 2018), pp. 403-413.
Kateryna Kublytska, ‘Interiors of stairwells of residential and apartment buildings of the beginning: 20th century Kharkiv as an object of rehabilitation,’ Modern Problems of Architecture and Urban Planning: Scientific and Technical Collection, ed. N. N. Demin, vol. 36 (KHNUBA [Kyiv National University of Civil Engineering and Architecture], 2014), pp. 100-109.
Kateryna Kublytska, ‘The era of Kharkiv modernism,’ in Monuments of Ukraine: History and Culture (Kyiv: Ministry of Culture of Ukrain, 2014), pp. 12-25.
Kateryna Kublytska, ‘Substantiation of the relevance of the revitalization of the function of an apartment house,’ Scientific Bulletin of Construction, ed. D. F. Goncharenko, vol. 72 (Kyiv: KHNUBA, 2013), pp. 51-55.
Kateryna Kublytska, ‘Problems of rehabilitation of multi-storey residential buildings 19-20th centuries,’ Proceedings of the Third All-Ukrainian conference, Student Research section (Kyiv: KHNUBA, 2008), pp. 151-154.
Kateryna Kublytska, ‘Aspects of restoration and adaptation of apartment houses in the Art Nouveau style to modern use (using the example of Kharkiv),’ Proceedings of the Second All-Ukrainian conference, Student Research section (Kyiv: KHNUBA, 2007), pp. 38-40.
Kateryna Kublytska, ‘The architecture of apartment buildings in the city of Kharkiv in the Art Nouveau style,’ Scientific Bulletin of Construction, ed. D. F. Goncharenko, vol. 39 (Kyiv: KHNUBA, 2006), pp. 59-62.
Professional Experience
PORTAL-21 Architecture and Construction
2020 – present. Director, architecture and conservation.
2007 – 2020 – Kharkivproekt Institute, conservation architect.
2015 – 2020 Lead architect
2010 – 2015 Architect of the I category
2007 – 2010 Architect
Other experience
2022-23 – Samuel H. Kress Foundation Visiting Fellow, The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London.
2007 – State Scientific and Technical Centre, dept. Conservation and Restoration, intern.
2006 – State Enterprise Research Institute “UkrProektrestavratsiya”, intern.
2004 – Kharkiv branch of State Enterprise Research Institute “UkrProektrestavratsiya”, architect-technician.
Preservation and Cultural Heritage Work
Participated in projects for the preservation and development of cultural heritage sites in Ukraine (selection):
2020 Pavlograd preservation. Participated in the development of research and design documentation “Amendments to the historical and architectural reference plan and project of cultural heritage protection zones of Pavlograd to determine the boundaries and modes of use of protected areas and historical areas of Pavlograd ”, and in the development of accounting documentation for architectural monuments of Pavlograd (under the auspices of PORTAL-21, together with Institute Kharkivproekt).
2020 Socialist-era Zaporozhye. Participated in the development of research and design documentation for “Project of cultural heritage protection zones of the historical area of Socialist Zaporozhye” (under the auspices of PORTAL-21, together with Institute Kharkivproekt).
2019 Slovyansk. Participated in the development of scientific and project documentation “Historical and architectural reference plan of Slovyansk” and “Project of protection zones of Slovyansk”.
2018-2019 Kharkov and Kharkiv region. Consultant at PORTAL-21 for projects implemented under agreements with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ, German Society for International Cooperation) for Kharkov and Kharkiv regional architecture and monuments that did not have protection status but were historic buildings that required an appropriate approach based on their construction epochs.
2018 Zaporozhye. Conducted historical, architectural and urban studies of Zaporozhye in the framework of the project to create a “City Code for Zaporozhye.” Prepared documentation of the historical background as well as the articulation of the architectural identity of the city.
Team projects:
Team member in the development of research and design documentation (selection, 2007 – 2016):
St. Oleksandrs Church, Kyiv. Restoration of a section of an architectural monument of national importance; repair and restoration works of the church roof (2015-2016)
Regional Clinical Hospital, Slovyansk. Restoration of the architectural monument of local significance, “Surgical Building № 2″ (2015 – 2016)
Regional Sports Complex “Metalist,” Kharkiv. Restoration of the architectural monument of local significance, “Rotonda Cash Pavilion” (2009-2010); restoration of the wall of the Eastern Tribune of “Metalist Stadium” (2007)
Derzhprom (Gosprom) building, Kharkiv (on UNESCO World Heritage List). Participated in the development of scientific and project documentation for the restoration of the architectural monument of local significance Derzhprom (or Gosprom) building (2004)
State Prize in Architecture (as part of the restoration team) for the 2011 reconstruction of the stadium “Metalist,” restored in time for the matches of the European Football Championship UEFA EURO2012.
Heritage and Preservation Advocacy
Participation in International Scientific Conferences on Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Monument Protection.
Department of Urban Planning and Architecture of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration. Member of the Advisory Council for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (2018 – present).
#SaveKharkiv. Member of the initiative group for the protection of cultural heritage in Kharkiv. Active monitoring of the condition of at-risk cultural heritage sites located in Kharkiv. Promotion of measures for the preservation of cultural heritage through active participation in television broadcasts on local television channels and press conferences (see below for list of media appearances). Educational activities in relation to legislative issues in the field of cultural heritage protection (2017 – present)
N.G.O. Urban Forms Centre (https://www.urbanforms.org.ua/en/)
2017 – present (selection):
Project “SlobodaKult” as a participant in the discussion “Monstrosity in the urban space” on the preservation of historic areas of cities (2018)
In partnership with the Charitable Foundation “Kharkiv with you” participated in the project “Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage” and the creation of a documentary “Save can not be destroyed” as a scientific consultant (this project was presented Kharkiv with You Charitable Foundation within the framework of the project “Support the Public Activity Program, Get Involved! ” Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Pact in Ukraine (2017-2018)
Conference leadership and publication: “Bauhaus — Zaporizhzhia. Zaporizhzhia Modernism and Bauhaus School”. In partnership with Dr. Thomas Flierl (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar), the Gallery of Contemporary Art Barannik, Generalkonsulat der Bundesrepublik Deutschland Donezk/Dienstsitz Dnipro (Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Donetsk/ Dnipro Office); (2017)
UNESCO World Monument List, nomination of Derzhprom (Gosprom) building, Kharkiv. Participated in the preparation of the successful nomination dossier of the architectural monument of local significance to UNESCO (2017)
Media (selection)
Newspapers, Print media:
The Guardian, 5 May 2022, featured in article ‘Kharkiv catalogues war’s toll on its architectural gems’.
The Canadian News, 29 May 2022, featured in article ‘In Ukraine, the race to “memorize” historic buildings’.