Kultury (Culture) Street

This street defines the site development around the circular part of Svobody Square. It was established together with the whole area in the early 20th century.

Designed in 1928 for Ukrainian writers by M. Dashkevich, the ‘Slovo’ (Word) House became part of Ukraine’s history. Styled in the transitional forms between the Modern and Constructivism, the facade of the building is decorated with a memorial plaque commemorating famous Ukrainian writers, artists, stage directors of the time who used to live here.

In 1913, a villa was built at the corner of Kultury and Sumska Streets (at that time these were the suburbs of the city) for the editor of the Yuzhny Kray newspaper A. Jozefowicz. Designed by A. Gorokhov, it was one of the most attractive mansions of Kharkiv and the oldest building in Kultury Street. Now it houses the Central Palace of Weddings.

This part of the street also features the stylistic search of architects of the early 20th century. For example, buildings in 116, 69 and 71, Kultury Street are practically identical in terms of their geometry and apartments planning, whilst their exteriors are absolutely different. 116, Kultury Street (designed by A. Linetsky, M. Pokorny, 1926) resembles Italian palaces of the 16th century, whilst 69 and 71 (designed by I. Taranov-Belozerov, V. Kostenko, 1930) are marked with the dynamic forms of Constructivism.

This difference of the facades, however, is satisfying. It makes the outlook of the street more vivid, as life herself can’t stand dogmatism, allowing instead for a variety of solutions.