A typical constructivist building from the late 1920s at Sumska Street, 86 stood out from other constructivist residential buildings with its clear, unglazed balconies. Until recently, this building looked almost exactly as the architect intended. The building was called “Coal,” apparently housing employees of the agencies responsible for the coal industry.

An interesting fact: according to architectural researchers, many of Kharkiv’s Constructivist buildings turned gray during post-war renovations, when additional layers of cement were added. In the 1920s and 1930s, many of them were white or light beige.

The building was seriously damaged by a Russian missile strike in the spring of 2022.