Real Estate Articles - Page 5

Ivan Franko and Kyiv

…I’m peasant born, son of the working people, That’s going up, though ‘twas in dungeon locked. My slogan’s: labour, happiness and freedom. I am the prologue, not the epilogue. Ivan Franko, “Decadent” Ivan Yakovych Franko is one of the most outstanding artists of Ukrainian culture, great writer, poet, publicist, translator and the revolutionary of social movement in Galicia and Lodomeria, along with Lesya Ukrainka and Taras Shevchenko. His creative work brightly represents the intention of the inhabitants of Ukrainian western regions to achieve national reunification and the unity of culture. Ivan Franko was constantly corresponding with scientists and litterateurs of st. Petersburg, Moscow and Kyiv. In his letters he expressed his aim to strengthen cultural connections of Ukrainian Pondniprivya and Galicia. Influenced by correspondence with Ukrainian professor Mikhailo Dragomanov, Franko started to write many publicist articles and writings. The great poet has been published in “Kyiv antiquity” newspaper, national magazine “the Truth”, “the People” newspaper and many other publishers. During his life Ivan Franko had visited Kyiv three times. His first visit was in February, 1885. He stayed at the place of collage professor Pavlo Galagan on the Fundukleyevska street (now Bogdana Khmelnitskogo street) – the very center of Kyiv. He had also visited this collage, located in the neighborhood (Bogdana Khmelnitskogo street, 11, now the museum of literature). He had meetings with progressive community of the city and attended the library there. The second time Franko came to Kyiv in April, 1909. He stopped at Trygubovs’ place (Bibikovsky boulevard, now Tarasa Shevchenka street, #31) and on Mariino-Blagovishchenska street,#56 (now Saksaganskogo street). This visit was connected with the funeral of Franko’s friend Petro Antonovych Kosach (Lesya Ukrainka’s father). Ivan Franko has been memorized in different parts of Kyiv, as a great cultural worker of Ukraine: Kyiv national academic drama theatre was named after him, as well as one of the city libraries. And there is also Ivana Franka street in the very centre of Kyiv. улица Ивана. КИЕВ. Справочник-путеводитель, 1954 год. АН Терен Плюс, аренда квартир в центре Киева. Дома в аренду. Май 2013

A house in Kyiv where Panas Karpovych Saksaganskiy lived

There is a memorial board on the wall of the house #96, Zhadanivskogo street (now Zhylyanska street), with engraved words on it: “In this house lived since 1912 and died in 1940 the luminary of Ukrainian stage, Peoples’ Artist of USSR Saksaganskiy Panas Karpovych”. Saksaganskiy is one of the founders of Ukrainian professional theatre. His life is the bright example of high artistic achievement. He started his selfless and tireless struggle for democratic art and people’s theatre since Tzarism times. Theatre had been the important tool of fight against Tzar servers and the the Black Hundred… “Theatre stage was like a tribune, on which we manifested to the defense of simple Ukrainian people” – Saksaganskiy wrote, when summarizing his long-lasting activity for the labor people’s good. The troupe under his direction was an example to follow for all Ukrainian artistic groups. Almost every year it gave performances on tours in Kyiv (the most frequent performances were held in the building of today’s Russian drama theatre). The performances of the theatre, directed by Saksaganskiy, had been a real celebration of art for Kyiv workers, students and progressive intelligentsia. He has created the wide gallery of unchallenged characters, mostly in the classical Ukrainian plays. Being the brilliant stage manager, in his plays Saksaganskiy had always opened the depth and brightness of the author’s thought at its best, as well as the harmonious and highly artistic performance. Great contribution was made to the educational activity. His books about actor’s art and directing - is the priceless theoretical heritage, that summarizes the rich artistic experience of Ukrainian coryphees. Those writings were dedicated to young masters of Ukrainian theatre. The government had highly priced the great master’s merits, and had awarded him with the People’s Artist of the USSR title. Ukrainian people are cherishing the memory of the great patriotic artist. Thus, one of the central Kyiv streets was named after him.. © Real estate agency "Teren Plus". Luxury apartments for rent in Kyiv downtown, apartments for daily rent. Property rent, houses for rent, offices for rent. Property management, relocation services. May 2013

The development of Kyiv telegraph

The Kyiv telegraph was founded in 1854, when the aerial line of communication was laid between Moscow and Kyiv. In 1856 the state telegraph office was opened on Vladimirska street, #22 – in the very centre of Kyiv near Saint Sophia Cathedral. Telegraph (from the classical Greek words to write and far away) – is the method in which signals are transmitted through wire, radio or other electric channels of connection. The history of telegraph originates in 1778, when the optical telegraph was created between observatories in Greenwich and Paris, where fire was used to transmit the signal. The main part of such a telegraph, the heliograph, is a mirror through which light is directed to a specified location, where an identical mirror is installed. The conventional signs are made by short turns of the mirrors to one side or another. But it wasn’t until 1780 that a practical device, invented by the Chappe brothers, saw large scale use.The simplest example of this device was a chain of typical constructions including perches and movable bolsters on the roof. These constructions were located within the range of vision to each other. The perches with movable bolsters - the semaphores, were managed by ropes and controlled by special operators from inside the constructions. Chappe created a special table of codes, where each letter of the alphabet had a matching figure, formed by semaphore, depending on the state of the transversal bolsters to the abutting perches. The Chappe system gave the opportunity to pass messages at a speed of two words per minute, and quickly gained popularity throughout Europe. The first electromagnetic telegraph was created by the Russian scientist Pavel Lvovich Shylling in 1832. It was demonstrated to the public at Shylling’s apartment on the 21 of October, 1832. Pavel Shylling had also developed an original code in which letters of the alphabet coincided with the certain combination of symbols of black and white circles that could be shown on the telegraph device. Following this, telegraphs were constructed in Germany by Karl Gauss and Wilgelm Weber in 1833, in Great Britain by Kuk and Witston in 1837, and in the USA it was patented by S.Morse in 1837. Coming back to the development of the telegraph in Kyiv, the new telegraph lines between Kyiv and Odessa and Kyiv and Berlin became soon functional. In 1881, the first postal-telegraph offices were opened in the city and. They amounted 14 offices by 1914. In 1911 the telegraph exchange amounted more than 8 million telegrams. In 1912, the transcontinental Indo-European line was opened, which also passed trough Kyiv. After the proclamation of the Soviet system in Kyiv, the city telegraph occupied the building of the former Land-bank, located on the Volodymyrska street, 10 (the building by architect Kobelev, 1903). Prior to the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the telegraph connection was provided by photo-telegraph between Kyiv and 7 other cities; here the Bodo nine-multiplex apparatus was used which had the ability to pass two or more messages through one wire to one direction, and allowed the handling and exchange of up to one thousand telegrams per hour. In 1951, the centre of automated telegram receiving was commissioned.The photo-telegraph was first put into operation in 1961 which accepted 14 main newspapers from Moscow. In 1967 the automatic station of the telegraph concentrator began to work. It provided the operational document connection through the teletype network for around 300 subscribers within the enterprises of relevant fields. In 1972, the commutative telegraph station served 2000 telegraph subscribers and had 1100 lines. In 1978 a new data exchange station began functioning. Its subscribers were computer centers of different companies, and their clients. With the course of time, the telegraph became obsolete as was replaced by mobile telephony and later the internet. The word “telegraph” itself has become archaic. © Real estate agency "Teren Plus". Luxury apartments for rent in Kyiv downtown, apartments for daily rent. Property rent, houses for rent, offices for rent. Property management, relocation services. November 2013

Mykhailivska street

It is one of the most ancient streets in the northern part of the former city of “Yaroslav”. It spreads from the Lyadski Gates (now the area of the Independence square) to the Mykhaylivskiy monastery. The street was named after the monastery. On the Kyiv map of 1803 it is marked as one of the main streets of old Kyiv. In 1921 it was renamed to “The Street of Paris Commune”. It was dedicated to celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Paris Commune. In 1990, the ancient name - Mykhailivska - was returned to the street. Intensive building of the street started in the second half of the 19th century. At the beginning of 20th century, numerous shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels were located here, next to the former State Duma. The famous little “Milky” café was located in the two-storied house on the corner of Mala Zhytomyrska and Mykhailivska streets in the 70th of the past century. The prices here were very democratic. It was one of the favourite places for students. The café attracted visitors by the advertisement located on the roof: “Eat ice-crème for fun and shine like sun!” Mykhailivska street is connected with names of many famous people and historical facts. Thus, the famous Ukrainian writer Taras Shevchenko had been often attended the house #1 (not saved till our times), as a guest of his friend Gudovskiy. The house #8 served as a printing-office for the “Kyiv antiquity” newspaper editors. The offices of “Public thought” newspaper and the “New community” magazine were located in the house #10. Such famous writers as Franko, Kotsubynskiy, Teslenko and Myrniy worked here. The works of Taras Shevchenko, Lasya Ukrainka, Mykhailo Kotsubinskiy, Pavlo Grabovskiy were published in the magazine, as well as works of famous foreign writers, including Heine, Frans, Beranzhe and others. Famous Russian writer Kuprin and philosopher Berdiayev used to stay at the apartment of Kyiv journalist M.Kislev (house #12), while visiting Kyiv. Many famous scientists and artists lived on the street. In the house #7- lived doctor S.Tomilin; in the house #12- movie director P.Nyatko, and historian F.Lebedintsev, the founder of the “Kyiv antiquity” magazine. There lived a famous doctor M.Volkovich, the director of the Alexander’s city hospital, in the house #21. And in house #22 stayed the owner of Kyiv hydropathical hospital, doctor N.Deich. Glorious Ukrainian writer Panas Myrniy often stayed at his brother’s place in the house #24, while visiting Kyiv. And the house #16a was a place for the musical-dramatic college of M.Lesnevich-Nosova. © Real estate agency "Teren Plus". Luxury apartments for rent in Kyiv downtown, apartments for daily rent. Property rent, houses for rent, offices for rent. Property management, relocation services. November 2013

Ukrainian Revolution of 60-ies

Stalin has died; Khrushchev has brought thaw, “live has become merrier”. Expecting for better life, generation of Ukrainian intelligents begins an active struggle for the right for their culture existence. A rebellious temper, drastic changes of life conception, freedom of preconceptions and archaic canons describe the sixtieth. On the west the youth struggled for sexual revolution, women turned into feminists, the moonfall , the science went ahead rapidly and everyone learned to dance twist. In USSR, especially at the territory of modern Ukraine, the phenomenon had its own peculiarity: Soviet intellectuals were possessed by the idea of Ukrainian language and culture revival, to edge out russification, to save its national identity. A young intelligentsia, that asserted cultural revival, has got an extended name “sixtiers”. So called subculture included writers, translators, painters, sculptors, musicians, etc. The most popular were Lina Kostenko, Ivan Drach, Borys Oliynyk, Mykola Vingranovskyi, Vasyl Symonenko, Yevgen Hutsalo, Matviy Shestopal, Viacheslav Chornovil, Borys Rohoza, Sergei Parajanov, Les Tanyuk. Inspired by ideas of humanism ( the human is the biggest value, cult of mind, free expression of it’s ideas, right on happy life), carried their knowledge and conception of “good” and “bad” to the Ukrainian ground and opposed in their works the dominate totalitarian regime, fought for universal and national ideals, defended patriotism and democratism… They organized illegal literary soiree, evenings of creativity, exhibitions and showings, the phenomena of self publishing – secret clandestine activity, publishing of creative products, which was uncontrolled by censor. There is no doubt, that the resistance movement was a threat to the totalitarian ideology of the regime, that’s why the activists of 60-ies were persecuted, arrested, they were not allowed to publish their works. The sixtiers museum in Kyiv was opened not long ago – in August, 2012. It is located on 33, Oles Honchar street. The exposition is located in three rooms and counts near 20 thousands of items which include: manuscripts, pictures, photos, letters, and personal belongings of sixtiers. The museum was created in order to acquaint people with activity of sixtiers, to show the importance of this period in the history of Ukraine. © Daria Bilokon’ Real estate agency "Teren Plus". Luxury apartments for rent in Kyiv downtown, apartments for daily rent. Property rent, houses for rent, offices for rent. Property management, relocation services. August 2013

Tears of a stone widow

A marvelous building in modern stile is located on 23, Lyuteranska street. This is a house of widow. It rains – and one can see traces on the face of the woman, which decorates the house. The traces remind tears. It’s impossible to count how many legends and narrations surround this mysterious house. But, the facts remain the facts: in distant 1908 Sergiy Arshavskyi, a merchant from Poltava, decided to built a house at one of the richest Kyiv street. Edward-Ferdinand Bradtman was the architect of the building. A lot of Kyiv buildings were made by his projects – Solovtsov theatre, “Kontynental” hotel, circus, fire-fighting department on Podol district, commercial houses, private residences, clinics… An attentive passerby could find name engraving –first letters of the owners name – “SA”. In 1913 the owner of he house was changed - the house started to belong to the merchant from Kyiv Toviy Apshtein. A wonderful coincidence – the abbreviation “SA” matched to this owner, as both names of his suns names begun from “S” – Solomon and Samuil. Since 1918 the house passed to governmental ownership. Nowadays, the building is an official residence of Ukrainian President and serves for reception of top-ranking foreign officials. Generally, the historical facts are not as interesting as rumors, which form a sorrowful and mysterious image of the house. Whose face is modeled on the facade? It is not known with certainty. A lot of art critics and historicist tried to find out whose image is it - is it Medusa, or Siren, or Gamayun (it’s important to pay attention to the wings on both sides). It’s very interesting that during the rain the drops run in such way, that even in sunny day the traces from “tears” are visible. But the facts, that this is a widow are only surmises. One makes comparison with a wife of another owner: than he has died, the inconsolable widow went on at the house. Taking all this facts together, a new intriguing name has appeared! Also the myths concern famous people of that time. For example, there is a rumor that the sketch of stone face belongs to Mikhail Vrubel. One suppose the authorship to Vladyslav Gorodetskyi. One may trust the legends about widow and her tears, and may criticize it. But the refinement of the architecture remains truth and one should see the house only for that, as arched windows and doors of the house, columns, stone modeling, luxurious balconies create a complete perfect form. © Daria Bilokon’ Real estate agency "Teren Plus". Luxury apartments for rent in Kyiv downtown, apartments for daily rent. Property rent, houses for rent, offices for rent. Property management, relocation services. August 2013

The Architect of Kyiv and his own life

There is no doubt, that every resident of Kyiv knows Vladyslav Gorodetsky. The House with Chimaeras is an architecture heritage which must be seen by everyone visiting the capital of Ukraine. Vladyslav Vladyslavovych Gorodetsky (real name Leshek Dezyderiy Vladyslav Gorodetsky) came from Poland. He is very often called as a man of the world. And it’s not surprising since his creative work is not limited only with borders of his country. For a long time he had been living on the territory of Ukraine, namely in Kyiv. The House with Chimaeras (10, Bankova street), the St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Cathedral (77, Chervonoarmiyska street) Karaite kenesa (7, Yaroslaviv Val street), the National Art Museum of Ukraine (6, Grushevskogo street), the auditorium of “Solovtsov” theatre (3, Ivan Franko square) are among buildings created by Gorodetsky. Considering his work abroad, Gorodetsky has built a railway station and Shah’s palace in Teheran (Iran). The list of Gorogetsky buildings can be also widened with a lot of dwelling houses, factories, hospital, gymnasium, hotel, casino… Only in Ukraine the amount of his works is more than thirty. Besides his architectural activity, Gorodetsky was an inveterate hunter – he admired safari, also traveled around the world a lot. His life journey finished in Teheran, where he was buried. The St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Cathedral slightly resembles Notre Dame de Paris. Concerning Gorodetsky, he is not a project designer of this building, but only a proof-reader of S.V. Valovskyi’s work. The style of work is Gothic, the building is decorated with multiple spires, towers, sculptures, figures. The cathedral was built with usage of high technology and materials of that time – concrete and reinforced concrete. Besides of outside beauty, the building conceals an inside attraction – the cathedral is decorated with glass painting and frescos. Also there is an organ in the building. Attracted to the beautiful can divine service and entirely plunge into the atmosphere of high art. Karaite kenesa is decorated in Morisco-Arabic style with molding. The concrete dome is on the top of the building. The church-house is used not for its primary purpose now: cultural-educational institution is located here – The house of Actor and Ukrainian Union of Theater Workers. Looking at the House with Chimaeras, the first thing that strikes one’s eyes is a variety of concrete animals, which are located on the modern building: dears, elephants, crocodiles, rhinoceroses, salamanders, frogs... In reality, there are no any monsters. The sculptures were made by Emilio Sala (Italian) and Gorodetsky was responsible for drafts. But the house is freakish as it is located on the slope. Three stores can be seen from Bankova street side, six floors - from Ivan Franko square. The building was meant to be a dwelling house for reach families. During some time the Veterinary control of the Kyiv Military District was located here, later – clinic of Communist Party of Ukraine (Bolsheviks) № 1. Now the building serves as a Small residence of Ukrainian Presidential reception. The monument to Gorodetsky is located in Passage (15, Khreschatyk street). Bronze architect sits at the table holding a cup in his hand. One more vacant chair stands near him. Very often people join to Vladyslav and make photos with him. © Daria Bilokon’ Real estate agency "Teren Plus". Luxury apartments for rent in Kyiv downtown, apartments for daily rent. Property rent, houses for rent, offices for rent. Property management, relocation services. August 2013

Truth and fiction of a fairy castle on Andriyivskyy Spusk

To visit Kyiv without visiting Andriyivskyy Spusk? It’s impossible! Going up and down the street, the travelers are dip into the atmosphere of past, see the march of history, which has done an imprint on the smallest details. Andriyivskyy Spusk attracts not only residents of Kyiv, but tourists from the entire world. If one walks – it’s along the roadway of this ancient street. Every minor at the first sight building with old walls, the color of which is not like it was previously, hides secrets; art galleries, theaters, museums promise to bring closer to history, to reveal mysterious. The sellers of rarity and local dwellers share with travelers legends about Andriyivskyy Spusk with pleasure. The building, which is made in traditions of English neo-Gothic – Richard the Lion Heart castle - is s glorified with mystery and fantasy. This poetic name of the building has appeared thanks to soviet writer and dissident, Viktor Nekrasov, who was inspired by the histories about King of England. But the last one has never been at the territory of Ukraine, and is not concerned with the castle on the Descent. Everybody talks a lot about the castle, and they do it in different ways, decorating the histories with mystical fantasy. The construction was built during 1902-1904 for money of the merchant Dmytro Orlov, who was going to impress the people of Kyiv with refined towers, spires, perpendicular staircase, porches and secret passages. From the beginning, the house was not to be a family estate, but to serve for commercial aims – apartments for rent. But it turned out not like the owner wanted: he had bankrupted, and soon he was killed. Multiple debts and unfinished castle passed to his wife Lidia and their children. The wife continued the business of her husband and managed to finish the building. But the workers were given an unfair payment and they left a little surprise … Every night, when the wind rose up, the inhabitants of the house were penetrated with horror. Because of unknown origin howl, people came to the decision that besides of them the ghosts live in the castle. The question of destroying of the house was arised. As such a source of evil spirits on one of the central Kyiv streets was not pleasant for anyone. But very soon it made itself clear, that there was no any threat – the egg shall and broken glass were founded in the ventilation tubing. The waves of air in the pipes moved “the surprise and horrible sounds made people crazy. The house was overcrowded with connoisseurs of luxury and fantastic landscapes again after a destruction of the myth. The empty rooms turned into studios and residential apartments. Every people willing to fill equal with king’s family went to the fantastic castle. Now the building is an architecture treasure of XIX century. The excursions are not held on the territory and people do not live here. One could admire the fairy-tail house only from far away. Looking at the spires bottom-up, one can easily imagine that we are in ancient England under kings, knights, honorable ladies, heroic deeds period. A magic time travel happens during the walking through Andriyivskyy Spusk. © Daria Bilokon’ Real estate agency "Teren Plus". Luxury apartments for rent in Kyiv downtown, apartments for daily rent. Property rent, houses for rent, offices for rent. Property management, relocation services. August 2013