38 C O N T E X T 1 7 2 : J U N E 2 0 2 2 3 5 2 Pechersk Lavra The Pechersk Lavra is an Orthodox Christian monastery and cave complex. Founded in 1051, it has the appearance of its own township. Its most prominent structure is the 96.5-metre, 18th-century Great Bell Tower, designed by Gottfried Johann Schädel. The monks make traditional soup borscht, which they serve to visitors and worshippers. After your visit, you will walk through the park of the Mariinskyi Palace, home of the Ukrainian president.Walk down Shovkovychna Street and to the left you will see the Chocolate House. 3 The Chocolate House The Chocolate House was built for a famous philanthropist, Semen Mogilevstev. The building is a copy of a Renaissance palace. Now a museum, it can be hired for events and functions. Yevgeniia, a writer, chose the Chocolate House. ‘Not only because you want to eat it when you see it, but also because of its unique rooms inside. On the second floor each room has its own style, and you feel as though you are travelling through the history of design. It used to be the house where couples got married.’ Nearby are the presidential buildings, of one which is Gorodetsky House. 4 Gorodetsky House (The House with Chimeras) This was a notable backdrop to one of the videos that President Zelensky made early in the war. It was built in 1903 by Vladislav Gorodetsky, a prominent Ukrainian architect. Designed as a bet with his friends, the ornate exterior includes mythical beasts and creatures which capture the imagination. It is now a government building, used for receptions and meetings. Heading further south, but worth the walk, you will pass the Planetarium and the main sports stadium before you reach a rather impressive gothic church. 5 St Nicholas Cathedral In 1909, Gorodetsky led the construction of the gothic St Nicholas Roman Catholic cathedral. It is said that an innovative construction technology of reinforced concrete was used to create its piles. Many of its other elements were also made from reinforced concrete. The building is now suffering from defects of this modern material, but it remains a much-loved and prominent building. ‘St Nicholas stands out for me among Kyiv’s structures,’ says Natalia, a designer. ‘The majesty of the church occupies your attention instantly when you drive down the street.’ As you walk towards the Golden Gates, you 2 (Opposite) Pechersk Lavra, an Orthodox Christian monastery founded in 1051 (Photo: Caitlin Maloney) 3 The Chocolate House, built for the philanthropist Semen Mogilevstev (Photo: Bohem Edition) 4 Gorodetsky House with its mythical beasts and creatures (Photo: Amy Cowell) 5 St Nicholas Cathedral: innovative construction dating from 1909 (Photo: Louise Priestman) 4
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