Soviet Era Apartments in Ukraine: Fid-Bau Portal

Soviet Era Apartments in Ukraine

Then and Now

Kozinets, Nadya

Theories of social change posit an ongoing, inevitable transformation of cultural symbols, behavioral norms, value systems, and social hierarchies. The family, widely perceived as society's cornerstone, positions the house at the epicenter of this transformative process, forever adapting under the influence of evolving socio‐economic and socio‐cultural norms, technological progress, and emerging trends. The Soviet era's mass‐produced, prefabricated modular apartment buildings serve as testaments to the design history of Soviet architecture while offering a historical backdrop for current micro‐housing trends and cost‐effective residential construction approaches. This chapter undertakes a comprehensive examination of the evolutionary timeline of Soviet era multi‐family housing in Ukraine, investigating examples that fostered intergenerational communities, nurturing social interactions and bonds. Furthermore, it explores the gradual evolution of these spaces into contemporary environments tailored to individuals seeking limited interactions, as a new contemporary society emerges characterized by novel modes of communication and a distinct set of expectations.