Happy Ukrainian Architecture Day!

If architecture were just about buildings, no one would try to destroy it.

It wouldn’t be rebuilt in a way that erases authentic elements and replaces them with alien symbolism. There would be no fight to preserve historical facades and landmarks. Old buildings would simply be replaced by new ones, without a thought for the fact that a piece of culture vanishes along with them.

Architecture preserves the history of people, their everyday lives, values, and traditions. That is why we recognize the unmistakable style of Antoni Gaudí or Władysław Horodecki. That is why we speak today about the work of Slava Balbek, Oleh Drozdov, and other Ukrainian architects who continue to shape the identity of our cities.

Architecture is culture in its material form.

That is why Russia deliberately targets our historic buildings, museums, theatres, and monuments. By destroying architecture, it seeks to erase our memory, our identity, and the evidence of who we are.

Today, take a closer look at the architecture of your city. Every building that has stood for decades—or even centuries—is more than just a structure. It is a page of history that deserves to be preserved.

Happy Ukrainian Architecture Day! 🇺🇦