Developers have set their sights on yet another prime piece of Kyiv land
Another intriguing structure on the Kyiv map is at risk of disappearing. This concerns the Holosiivska water tower. Currently, it is embroiled in legal disputes: the developer is asking the court to recognize a supplementary agreement to the lease contract, which effectively paves the way for construction on the site and the demolition of the tower. In contrast, local residents and activists are urging the judiciary to preserve and protect this unique architectural object.
1 Kashтан NEWS has been investigating the situation.
Historical Background
The water tower is located in Holosiivskyi Forest, at its highest point, which is the third highest location in Kyiv after Arsenalna Square and Constitution Square. The tower is an example of post-war industrial architecture from the mid-20th century.
2 In 1925, construction began on a complex of buildings for an agricultural academy on one of the Holosiiv hills. Thirty years later, a 37-meter-high water tower was erected here. Although the tower was never officially commissioned, local residents cherished it for the panoramic views of Kyiv and Holosiivskyi Forest it offers.
The Tower and the Developer
The land on which the tower stands belonged to the former agricultural academy (now the Kyiv National University of Bioresources and Nature Management). More than 20 years ago, the Kyiv City Council granted the university permanent use of the land with the tower. However, just two years later, the university administration renounced this, and the city authorities allowed the land to be leased for development, which met with strong opposition from Kyiv residents. Nevertheless, the tower remains under the university’s balance, meaning it is under its operational management. Consequently, transferring ownership of the tower is quite challenging. Given this, construction cannot currently proceed here. By the way, the land is quite large—almost a hectare—and it borders Holosiivskyi National Park, which naturally adds to its appeal. There used to be garages for local residents here, but they were demolished a few years ago. The water tower remains. Like a stumbling block...
3 Who is the Developer
According to open sources, the contender for the demolition of the tower and development of the surrounding area is MZhK "Obolon." This is the same developer that aims to pave over the well-known Literary Square in the city center.
Currently, the Department of Land Resources of the Kyiv City State Administration and the capital's prosecutor's office are attempting through the courts to annul the supplementary lease agreement between the city and this developer.
The Object Claims Protection
The tower, as a property complex, has the status of an emergency building, which allegedly cannot be restored.
This was shared by Kyiv heritage protector Dmytro Perov.
“The object has already been fenced off, but they have not dared to demolish it because local residents intervened, who were categorically opposed to such developments. After all, the tower is one of the unique symbols of the district. Moreover, it is unique in terms of post-war architecture, as there are no similar structures in the city,” said Perov.
Incidentally, he added that the tower recently received the status of a newly discovered cultural heritage object, thus it can rightfully claim the status of a monument of science and technology. During its construction, some interesting engineering solutions were invented and implemented, which had not been used before its appearance or afterward.
Notably, a similar water tower exists in the territory of the National Exhibitions Center, commonly known as VDNH, and it has the status of a monument of architecture and a monument of science and technology.
4 “Therefore, by analogy, this building can also reasonably acquire protective status, which is precisely what local residents are advocating for,” noted Dmytro Perov.
Moreover, the public activist pointed out that the tower serves as a kind of visual landmark for the area. Just as the bell towers of St. Sophia or St. Michael's Cathedrals, Andriyivska Church, or the TV tower can be seen from many points in the city center, this water tower can be seen from numerous locations in the Holosiivskyi district and Holosiivskyi Forest.
“It stands at a height, thus serving as a kind of guidepost, a marker of the locality,” the activist explained.
The Tower as a Viewpoint
If the tower is preserved in its current form and then reinforced and restored, it can serve a cultural and educational function.
This opinion was expressed by historian and architecture researcher Semen Shyrochin.
He explains this by noting that the tower is located at the highest point, making it suitable for adaptation as an observation deck.
There are numerous precedents for the use of water towers in the world. For instance, in Finland, in the city of Haukilahd, a tower was converted into a restaurant, in the German city of Rostock into a museum, and in many other cities around the world, they serve as observation platforms.
5 Environmental Risks
At the same time, local residents understand well that if the tower is demolished, high-rise construction will undoubtedly begin here, leading to a series of unpleasant consequences. As noted earlier, the tower is situated on elevated ground, thus providing a certain load on the soil. However, this load will be immensely greater if a high-rise building or buildings are constructed in its place. In such a case, landslide processes may begin, which can currently be observed on Batyi Hill. Moreover, the soils in Holosiivskyi Forest predominantly consist of sand—a substance that is unstable.
By the way, another court hearing was supposed to take place recently, but it has been postponed to January 2025. It seems that the final fate of the Holosiivska water tower will be decided then.
Yevhen DEM’YANOV