Poltavskyi Shliakh Street, 22 and 22A

Following the renovation of their façades in 2021, the buildings at Poltavskyi Shliakh Street 22 and 22A have retained the same colour and, from a distance, look like a single building.

^{Building 22a is on the left, 20 on the right. Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2021}

But whereas they used to be grey, they are now earth-toned.

^{Poltavskyi Shliakh Street, 22A. Photo: Ivan Ponomarenko, 2021}

The building on the right (Poltavskyi Shliakh Street, 22) was built to a design by architect Boris Korniyenko in 1910. The building on the left (Poltavskyi Shliakh Street, 22A) was built to a design by Viktor Estrovich in 1914; both are in the Art Nouveau style.

Estrovich’s building is visually more interesting, with an unusual facade design and balconies.

In the 2013 photo, you can see the ruined sculptures under the building’s roof prior to renovation.

Unfortunately, they were completely lost during the renovation of the façade.

From certain angles, the building bears a very distant resemblance to the works of architect Gaudí.

The decoration of the entrance to Estrovich’s building is no less interesting.

The lift here appears to have been installed as part of the original design, but has, of course, undergone numerous modernisations.

The stucco work in the staircase has fared better than that on the exterior.

The staircase railing is decorated with ‘flowers’.

Unfortunately, the stucco work on the façade of Kornienko’s building has fared even worse.

One bas-relief depicting an ancient woman has been completely lost, and the medallions are a mess.

However, the medallions on Estrovich’s building are also empty. On the other hand, the original balcony railings have been preserved on Kornienko’s house.

A skylight has been preserved in the staircase of Kornienko’s building.

As well as the original staircase railings.

In some places, the original doors have also been preserved.

Mettlach tiles at the entrance:

In 1909, plot No. 22 belonged to the Katz brothers, David and Lazar, who were townspeople; researchers say that the apartment block was built by them. Among other residents, the Durov animal trainers lived in the building. Plot No. 20, however, belonged to Olga Petrovna Rudynska, the wife of a nobleman.

The windows of the buildings were damaged by a Russian missile strike on 16 January 2024.