Киев (Kiev/Kyiv), Ukraine - Page 2

architext · #21 Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 9:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CentralGrad258

Thanks for the kind words everyone, I'll put up more pictures when I get home from work. I hadn't been back in the 17 years since I left and didn't really know what to expect, but the city really is beautiful and very lush with trees and parks everywhere. The newer neighborhoods aren't quite as architecturally striking (bit of an understatement), but interesting in their own right, as they represent the prototypical model of Soviet urban planning from late 1960s going forward.

The Soviet Metro stations are amazing. It's hard to imagine how much it would cost to build these marble palaces so far deep underground, in today's dollars. And yes, they are absolutely spotless, not sure I can explain the reason, maybe it's the culture, maybe it's the fact that the Metro is widely used and requires constant investment (doesn't seem to matter in New York). The SEPTA subways feel positively third-world in comparison. Did I mention the system is still expanding?

Actually, the reason they built ornamental subway stations, buildings (whatever remains from the Stalinist period), large parks, squares, avenues etc - was to showcase Communist way of life to the people. Pretty much all publicly accessible areas of the city (subways in particular) were used as a tool to showcase the power and greatness of the Soviet government.

Kiev is beautiful in this case because it combines the above, with mideival era (and earlier) churches and other well preserved buildings.

CentralGrad258 · #22 Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 12:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by architext

Actually, the reason they built ornamental subway stations, buildings (whatever remains from the Stalinist period), large parks, squares, avenues etc - was to showcase Communist way of life to the people. Pretty much all publicly accessible areas of the city (subways in particular) were used as a tool to showcase the power and greatness of the Soviet government.

I am well aware of the reason for the opulence of the metro stations. I was wondering how they've staid so spotless and in such a good state of repair, especially compared to the local transit infrastructure that is barely kept together by duct tape, chicken wire and prayer.

Update- more pics have been uploaded.

Rusty van Reddick · #23 Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 1:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

And in those places, as a person of color, xenophobia and blantat, outward racism is very real, making these places are pretty much no-go zones -- unless, of course, I want my head kicked in on a subway train or something.

My partner is the colour brown and he's been to Ukraine many times, working on environmental remediation in the Dnieper River. He's been to Kharkiv (many times), Kiev and Yalta, and had not one negative experience that he recognised as racist. That's not to say it was all pleasant, but racist attacks weren't an issue for him.

BEAUTIFUL photos!!!

robertR · #24 Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 1:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

The foreground here looks like a movie set... or I guess Potemkin village would be somewhat more appropriate

I agree, some of the faux-historic pseudo-architecture, combined with distasteful advertisements and billboards creates a kind of Vegas impression on me. I know this is quite trendy in eastern Europe....

architext · #25 Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 2:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CentralGrad258

I am well aware of the reason for the opulence of the metro stations. I was wondering how they've staid so spotless and in such a good state of repair, especially compared to the local transit infrastructure that is barely kept together by duct tape, chicken wire and prayer.

Update- more pics have been uploaded.

Well I think that the opulence is the reason - If NYC put as much thought into the subway stations as they did in the construction of the skyscrapers, it would be a different story. Digging a tunnel in the ground and putting down concrete piles & slabs is hardly going to look good once moisture takes its toll.

I don't know about Kiev but Moscow has deepest subway stations in the world - mostly because of Moscow's swampy soils. As far as I know NYC uses pumps to keep the water out of the tunnels and they are just below the street, same with Toronto, so water damage is really problematic.

CentralGrad258 · #26 Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 3:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by architext

Well I think that the opulence is the reason - If NYC put as much thought into the subway stations as they did in the construction of the skyscrapers, it would be a different story. Digging a tunnel in the ground and putting down concrete piles & slabs is hardly going to look good once moisture takes its toll.

I don't know about Kiev but Moscow has deepest subway stations in the world - mostly because of Moscow's swampy soils. As far as I know NYC uses pumps to keep the water out of the tunnels and they are just below the street, same with Toronto, so water damage is really problematic.

New York and Kiev exist in vastly different economies. All I'm saying is that the government must invest substantial resources maintaining the quality of the metro system and in a relatively poor country like Ukraine that certainly shows where their priorities lie.

As far as the depth of the stations, I'm sure Moscow station are very deep too, St. Petersburg's were quite deep as well, no doubt part of the reason was that they were meant to be bomb shelters in time of war. Here's where I'm getting my info:

Quote:

Arsenalna (Ukrainian: Арсенальна, Russian: Арсенальная Arsenalnaya) is a station on Kiev Metro's Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line. The station was opened along with the first stage and is currently the deepest station in the world (102 metres).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenalna_(Kiev_Metro)

xzmattzx · #27 Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 4:01 AM**

Great pictures!

ethereal_reality · #28 Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 1:01 PM**

Wonderful thread. Thanks for posting your amazing photographs.

ShadowMaster · #29 Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 9:34 PM**

Top notch work!

DLLB · #30 Posted **Jul 13, 2009, 7:48 PM**

Excellent thread!

Do you have any more? Please!

maels · #31 Posted **Jul 13, 2009, 10:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLLB

Excellent thread!

Do you have any more? Please!

Kyiv | Kiev thread

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=296415

FrancoRey · #32 Posted **Jul 13, 2009, 10:39 PM**

I think we have another strong candidate for a future Bond Movie.

Great looking city!

Xing · #33 Posted **Jan 3, 2011, 12:12 AM**

Damn! Impressive architecture and photos! Thanks braw.

Expat · #34 Posted **Jan 3, 2011, 1:50 AM**

Beautiful city. Love the colors.

ColDayMan · #35 Posted **Jan 3, 2011, 2:33 AM**

It seems so intimate.

vasiliymeshko · #36 Posted **Jan 4, 2011, 9:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

Nice. Haven't spent much time in Eastern Europe but Kiev is on the list (along with Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Baltic capitals and maybe Sofia).

The foreground here looks like a movie set... or I guess Potemkin village would be somewhat more appropriate

This is the Vozdvyzhenka project. More about it here

Boroda · #37 Posted **Jan 5, 2011, 2:41 PM**

Прекрасные фотографии! Показана практически вся центральная часть города

Как нибудь и у меня руки дойдут выложить свои фотографии Киева.

olga · #38 Posted **Jan 6, 2011, 2:06 PM**

Great photos of a great city! I was in Kyiv in 2002 and enjoyed it very much!

CentralGrad258 · #39 Posted **Jan 6, 2011, 5:24 PM**

Wow, I see my Kiev thread got revived! That was an epic trip for sure, thanks again for all the compliments for my original hometown. Coming back to Europe in the spring (Spain), can't wait!

zkiv · #40 Posted **Feb 3, 2011, 8:03 AM**

[QUOTE=CentralGrad258;4343861]

Monument to city's founders