Absolutely! Let’s dive into this remarkable story about Derzhprom, the architectural star of Kharkiv that’s taken more hits than a boxing champion on fight night.
Derzhprom: The Tall, Proud Heart of Kharkiv Takes a Hit
Author of the photo, UNIAN
“Many Kharkiv residents consider Derzhprom to be a symbol of their city.”
So here we are in Kharkiv, a city that’s had more ups and downs than a pogo stick convention! Derzhprom, the 13-story constructivist marvel that people lovingly refer to as “our everything,” just got a taste of Russian bombardment. Not exactly the architectural applause it deserves, eh?
Maxim Rosenfeld, an architecture buff and Kharkiv native, describes Derzhprom as “a symbol of the realization of a dream,” but let’s get real for a second. It seems like that dream might need a bit of a makeover—preferably a bomb-proof one!
A Daring Leap into the Unknown
When the blueprints were drafted in 1925, they probably went something like this: “Build the tallest, most impossibly futuristic building possible!” It’s like IKEA, but with fewer Allen keys and more gravity-defying dreams. At the time, the concept of completing such a dramatic feat felt about as plausible as finding a unicorn grazing in Freedom Square.
On October 28, however, a bomb came crashing down on this symbol of modernity. Bomber’s “direct hit” destroyed three floors! I mean, could you imagine? “How do you ruin an architectural marvel?” “With a BIG bomb!”
But on a serious note, those families and lives affected are what matter most. Four casualties in what should have been a vibrant culture hub.
Derzhprom: Our Everything!
Nestled in the busy heart of Kharkiv, the silhouette of Derzhprom stands out like a sore thumb—if the thumb was part of a marvelous sculpture! It houses state organizations and various public entities—think of it like an office Christmas party, but instead of awkward conversations over eggnog, there’s serious bureaucracy in the air. Rosenfeld calls it “our everything,” but if I were to be honest, don’t we all have that one friend who hogs the limelight?
The Hall of Dreams and Aspirations
It’s not just about the bricks and mortar, folks! Derzhprom is a monument to bold dreams and pioneering spirits. Standing tall since 1928, it was like the rebel of its time, challenging the mundane bureaucratic landscape. Could you imagine the architect meetings? “Guys, let’s make it look like a giant letter ‘H’…but, you know, cooler!”
The techniques used to construct it were revolutionary—floating formwork for a monolithic structure? Almost sounds like a real estate agent’s sales pitch gone way too cool.
Living Legends and Urban Myths
Ah, urban legends! They’re like the fairy tales of city life. Did you know some believe that if you look down on Derzhprom from the sky, you can make out the sheet music for the "Internationale"? I’m not saying the building is magical, but if it can survive Soviet bombs and today’s bombardments, I wouldn’t be surprised if it has some secret sorcery up its sleeve.
A Tale of Resilience
The immense cultural and historical weight this building carries is simply staggering. It’s survived the harsh repressions of Soviet times, witnessed creativity flourish, and now, withstands the current conflict. Each hit it takes is a reminder that architecture, much like good comedy, carries deep emotion and history.
Kharkiv locals aren’t letting a few bombs get them down. After the latest attack, the streets were already buzzing with the resilient spirit of the people, cleaning the debris even while the echoes of war rumble ominously nearby.
Rosenfeld reminds us, “No matter how much it hurts, you should treat it, and not shout about terrible wounds.” That’s right! Let’s raise a glass of whatever solidifies spirit!
Final Thoughts: The Heart Beats On
In a world where symbols can be shattered like cheap glass, Derzhprom stands resilient—a poignant reminder that even when we face direct hits, the heartbeat of a city beats louder. The people of Kharkiv seem to have picked up the torch of hope, ready to rebuild, much like the indomitable spirit that continues to shine—no bomb can dim the collective flame that is Kharkiv.
Let’s just hope that the next time someone says “Let’s blow the roof off this place,” they’re only talking about an epic party!
Author of the photo, Unian
Well, that’s my take on this invaluable architectural gem and its unyielding spirit. Now, let’s hope there are no more sudden surprises from above, yeah?
Author of the photo, UNIAN
Photo caption Many Kharkiv residents consider Derzhprom to be a symbol of their city Article information
- Author, Victoria Prysedska
- Role, BBC Ukraine
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October 29, 2024
“Derzhprom is not just a symbol of the technological and architectural avant-garde, it is a symbol of the realization of a dream,” says Maxim Rosenfeld, a researcher of the history of architecture and a native of Kharkiv.
When the project was conceived almost a century ago, in 1925, it seemed like an absolutely unrealistic futuristic idea.
But its creators – architects, engineers and thousands of builders – were not afraid to look into the unknown and they succeeded, says the researcher.
On October 28, a Russian bomb hit Derzhprom.
Oleg Sinegubov, the head of the Kharkiv OVA, reported: it was a direct hit that destroyed three floors of the building. As a result of the Russian attack on the center and residential area of Kharkiv, four people died.
“Our everything”
The 13-story constructivist skyscraper stands in the very center of Kharkiv on Freedom Square.
A large office center with an area of 60,000 square meters. m accommodates various state and public organizations today.
The building with a recognizable silhouette far beyond the borders of Kharkiv consists of three parts in the shape of the letter “H”, which are connected by bridges.
Two buildings of Kharkiv National University named after Karazin and the legendary “House of the Word” – the home of poets and writers of the “Shooted Revival”.
image captionA direct hit by a Russian aerial bomb destroyed three floors of the building
Derzhprom and the entire neighborhood around it are an important cultural heritage, says Rosenfeld, candidate of architecture and author of the book “Facades” about Kharkiv houses.
Last year, UNESCO included Derzhprom in the list of objects of enhanced protection. But for the people of Kharkiv, it is somewhat more important.
“We call it ‘our everything,'” Rosenfeld says.
He lived all his life next to the monument, passes by it every day and says that Derzhprom will stand forever.
His feelings are shared by many residents of Kharkiv, who reacted emotionally to the Russian attack on social networks.
“It hurts to see the real, indisputable symbol of the city wounded,” – says the posts another iconic place in Kharkiv, the “Krystal” cafe.
Pioneers
The name “Derzhprom” stands for House of State Industry.
The building was planned for the government of the USSR and the industrial sector, because Kharkiv became the capital of the republic in December 1919.
Despite this, Derzhprom is “not Soviet history, but a dreamer’s,” insists Rosenfeld.
The project embodied the boldest ideas about architecture and engineering technologies of that time.
“Also on democratic grounds,” the researcher adds. A large competition was held among architects, in which 19 projects took part. The winners were architects Serhiy Serafimov, Samuil Kravets and Mark Felger.
Builders have developed a unique technology of industrial reinforced concrete. And the building itself was erected using the “floating formwork” method, so it is actually monolithic.
Photo caption Built in 1928, Derzhprom became a breakthrough in architectural and engineering thinking
The architectural complex consists of a group of towers of different heights, which are connected by passages.
Due to this, the resonant frequencies of the towers, superimposed on each other, weaken the vibrations of the entire structure. Later, this method was used in Japan for the construction of skyscrapers in earthquake-prone areas.
“These people were pioneers,” says Rosenfeld, because at that time there was not enough knowledge about such technologies.
Derzhprom also became the embodiment of selfless work of thousands of Kharkiv residents. It was built in three shifts by five to 15 thousand builders and just enthusiasts, such as students of craft schools.
Avant-garde thinking
Many did not believe in the success of the project, these were times of crisis, depression and ruin. But when the construction was completed in record time in 1928, Derzhprom became a real example of the realization of the impossible.
He also embodied the avant-garde thinking of the time, which blossomed in the short-lived period of cultural revival on the eve of Stalinist repressions.
This thinking went beyond architecture, spreading to literature, art and science.
These were the times when Les Kurbas created his “Berezil”, when Mykola Khvylovy, Ivan Bagryaniy and other residents of the “House of the Word” wrote their works, when scientists of the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology were the second in the world to split the atom.
And Derzhprom inspired many writers and poets – from Khvylovy, who called it a “grand grandiose” to Mayakovsky, who was impressed by the scale of the construction, and Henri Barbus.
Author of the photo, Unian
Photo caption The House inspired more than one generation of artists
“That’s why this is a story about the spirit of a city of dreamers, avant-gardes, pioneers,” Rosenfeld concludes.
But already in the early 1930s, this story ended with harsh repressions and executions by the Soviet authorities.
It is symbolic that in 1933 the head of the Ukrainian SSR government, Mykola Skrypnyk, shot himself in the building of Derzhprom.
Legends
Derzhprom is shrouded in urban legends.
When it was built, it was one of the largest and tallest skyscrapers in the Soviet Union. The height of the building was so impressive that some compared Kharkiv with New York.
But Derzhprom continues to captivate even today. In 2021, The Telegraph columnist wrote about his trip to Kharkiv, in which he paid special attention to the style of the historic building.
While digging the pit, the builders discovered mammoth bones, which are now kept in the Kharkov Museum of Nature.
In Soviet times, there was a myth that if you look at the roof of Derzhprom from the sky, you can see the sheet music with the beginning of the “International” anthem.
During the Second World War, retreating from the city in 1943, the German military mined Derzhprom, as well as many other important buildings of the city. The building was damaged, but the Nazis did not manage to destroy it completely.
After the war, Derzhprom was rebuilt, and a television tower was installed on the roof. Thus, the height of the building became 108 meters, which is 15 meters higher than the Statue of Liberty in the USA.
Photo caption: Kharkiv is subjected to devastating attacks by Russian missiles and aerial bombs almost every day
This is not the first time the building has been damaged since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022. Kharkiv is subjected to devastating attacks by Russian missiles and aerial bombs almost every day.
But Kharkiv residents are confident that Derzhprom will be rebuilt.
“He is also a symbol of Kharkiv’s stability,” says Maxim Rosenfeld, although he adds that he does not like this expression.
In the evening after the impact, he came to look at the consequences and the first thing he saw was people who were cleaning up the debris, closing the windows, quickly putting things in order.
“In my opinion, this is the main symbol of Derzhprom,” says the researcher. “No matter how much it hurts, you should treat it, and not shout about terrible wounds.”
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