One of the first buildings for which architect Vasyl Krychevsky worked on the façade design is located at Chobotars’ka Street, 80.

The house was built in 1887 for Klavdiya Vasylivna Hostynopolska, the widow of an engineer. The list of Kharkiv’s architectural landmarks credits I. Zagoskin as the probable author, but modern researchers, thanks to archival work, have identified the true designer as the technician Babkin.

Vasyl Krychevsky is known as one of the founders of the Ukrainian Art Nouveau style. However, the architect would adopt this style later; in Kharkiv, during his early creative period, he is better known for his eclectic buildings with Gothic Revival touches. It was in this very style that the façade of the building at Chobotars’ka Street, 80 was executed.

During the Soviet era, the building became an administrative office, housing the Association of the Grain Processing and Flour Milling Industry; it was part of a grain terminal (demolished in 2020–21). It now houses a private enterprise.

It is heartening to see that during the recent replacement of the windows, the historic window frame shape were preserved – an extremely rare occurrence in Kharkiv.

The absence of any decoration or mouldings on the façade facing Yevhena Kotliara Street is due to the fact that for around 100 years, this façade did not face any street.

When the building was constructed in 1887, what is now Yevhena Kotliara Street ended at the junction with Chobotars’ka Street. It was not until the early 1980s that Yevhena Kotliara Street was extended to Velyka Panasivska Street.

In 2017, the building’s façade was renovated – it became a beautiful and striking white spot against the grey backdrop of the surrounding buildings.