Author Iegeniiva Gubkina’s Architectural Guide Kharkiv passionately advocates for the preservation of Constructivist heritage in her hometown. This 300-page publication highlights the ongoing destruction of buildings due to war, making it challenging to remember Ukraine’s architectural history. A notable example is the Railway Workers’ Club, severely damaged in March and again in August 2022. More than a mere documentation of significant structures in Ukraine's second-largest city, this guide serves as a heartfelt tribute to a city that has faced direct combat multiple times during World War II and remains a frontline area since February 2022. Gubkina explores Kharkiv's layout, contrasting the Old Town and New Town, with Sumska Street linking the two. She emphasizes that these two centers engage in a dialogue rather than simply opposing each other, embodying a dialectical relationship. This interaction reflects a classic unity and struggle between the old and the new, culminating in a synthesis of ideas. The significance of this ambivalence is heightened in light of the ongoing Russian aggression. This title is part of the Histories of Ukrainian Architecture program initiated by DOM publishers in response to the attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty on February 24, 2022.
