UAA during the period of 1945-2021

In the history of the development of Ukrainian architecture from the post-war period to the present, a significant historical event was the transformation of the Ukrainian branch of the Academy of Architecture of the USSR into a more or less independent Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR. Over nearly 80 years, various organizational changes, whether administrative or societal after 1991, have influenced shifts in architectural practice, architectural science, architectural studies, and architectural criticism. These changes had to either respond to societal demands for changes in these realms of human existence and professional activity.

The present Ukrainian Academy of Architecture (UAA) has existed under various names: the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR (AA URSR) in the years 1945–1955, the Academy of Construction and Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR (ACA URSR) in 1955–1963, and since 1992, under its current name.

Materials related to the history of the Academy are scattered across various sources. Firstly, they are found as a complex of reports providing everyday monitoring of events in the informational sections of the "Bulletin," which was published by the Academy from 1945 to 1956, in the materials of the "Bulletin of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture" starting from 1992, and in the professional journal of the Academy, which changed its name from "Architecture and Construction" to "Construction and Architecture" and aimed to objectively reflect the priorities of the technique of creating architectural forms over their artistic aspects or vice versa.

As an addition to the annual publication of the State Construction Committee of Ukraine, "Architectural Heritage of Ukraine," a collection titled "From the History of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture" was issued in response to the initiative of UAA Academician Volodymyr Tymofienko. Unfortunately, this collection is the only center of documentary information (of which there are not many) about AA URSR. The publication contains memories of the first years of the Academy's existence in Ukraine, the preparation of fundamental works on the history of Ukrainian architecture (D. Yablonsky), the work of prominent figures (V. Chepelyk on Stefan Taranushenko), and the first president of AA URSR, Volodymyr Zabolotny (N. Chmutina). An article by V. Tymofienko, "Lines from the Prehistory of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture," sheds light on the creativity of academics and professors of architecture from the late XVIII to the early XX century. A separate array of information includes a bibliographic index of the architectural, organizational, and scientific activities of Academician V. Zabolotny, which has withstood two editions (1998, 2016), as well as three indices of the personnel composition of UAA (1995, 2002, 2007).

The initiative for the creation belonged to Nikita Khrushchev. The initiator of the creation, initially of the Ukrainian branch of the Academy of Architecture of the USSR in February 1944 (nine offices, each with several people working), and later of the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR within a year, was Nikita Khrushchev (1894–1971), the head of the Council of People's Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR. A vivid and eccentric personality, Khrushchev sought to leave behind not only a memory of hands "up to the elbows in blood" and the cleansing of that blood from the tribune of the XX Congress of the CPSU but also a positive legacy: to contribute to the creation of something that could exist without him; the famous "northern corn" appeared later.

Under the signature of the first deputy chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, Doctor of Economic Sciences Mykola Voznesensky (whom Stalin executed in 1950 for the "Leningrad Affair") and the head of affairs of the State Planning Committee (Gosplan), the future Doctor of Economic Sciences Yakov Chadaev (1904–1985), on April 18, 1945, in the Moscow Kremlin, Resolution No. 793 of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR "On the Organization of the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR" was issued. It consisted of four points: firstly, the Council of People's Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR (thus, Khrushchev made a request) was allowed to create the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR based on the Ukrainian branch of the Academy of Architecture of the USSR; then, the president of the Academy of Architecture of the USSR, Academician Viktor Vesnin, was obliged to transfer the property of the branch to the newly created Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR based on the balance as of April 1, 1945; the Council of People's Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR was instructed to approve the regulations and structure of the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR within a month, and the State Personnel Commission under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR was obliged to approve the staff and the size of the official salaries of the employees of the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR.

The decision on organization. Resolution of the People's Commissariat of Ukraine (RNK) and the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolshevik) of Ukraine (CP(b)U) dated June 21, 1945, No. 960, "On the organization of the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR," was more extensive and included, first of all, lyricism, then physics: "with the aim of developing and prospering Ukrainian Soviet architecture as an art that unites all types of monumental arts, artistic industry, and construction technology and has enormous significance in the reconstruction of cities and villages of the Ukrainian SSR, as well as with the aim of providing comprehensive support for the training of creative and scientific personnel in the specified fields of science and art, to organize…"—this is lyricism. To approve the statute, structure, determine the number of first academicians (seven) and corresponding members (eighteen), approve them by name, obligate to "submit to the consideration of the People's Commissariat of Ukraine through the People's Commissariat of Finance of the Ukrainian SSR the budget for all items for the year 1945," and also obligate the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR to take over the Ukrainian branch of the Academy of Architecture of the USSR "with all available institutions, staff, equipment, inventory, premises, budget allocations, available funds, contracts, and obligations as of April 1, 1945"—this is physics, which, in fact, was reduced to three electrified moments:

• finally elect academicians and corresponding members, assigning them a maintenance salary;
• make a normal stamp with the abbreviation of the Ukrainian SSR;
• start working independently of Moscow, and therefore feel more free and even spacious in the realm of Ukrainian architecture.

But, of course, not only that. The academicians appointed were architects Volodymyr Zabolotny, Pavlo Alyoshin, Oleksandr Verbytsky, Oleksandr Vlasov, architectural historian Serhiy Bezonov, sculptor Mykhailo Lysenko, and engineer Oleksandr Nerovetsky.

Between the resolution of the People's Commissariat and the first General Assembly of the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR on July 10–15, 1945, a plenum of the Union of Soviet Architects of Ukraine took place, where the future president V. Zabolotny emphasized:

"The work of the Academy becomes particularly relevant in connection with the need to redesign, reproject, and build literally the entire Ukraine, where the German barbarians caused terrible destruction"

[18, p. 29]

Academician of architecture (since the tsarist times) Oleksiy Shchusev said on the same platform:

"I heard that in Ukraine you have about 700 architects. In Belgrade, where I was, with a population of 400,000, there are 500 architects. True, their architects walk without work. We don't have enough architects who could quickly solve architectural issues. Therefore, we must warmly welcome the founding of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture, which will seriously undertake the training of personnel"

[18, p. 65].

Professor of architecture in Odessa, Osyp Zeiliger, almost sang a hymn:

"The fact that the government allowed the opening of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture is a great event for us, because the Academy of Architecture is that higher body from which we can get answers to all questions related to the further development of Soviet architecture in Ukraine"

[18, p. 71]

However it may be, the creation of the Academy was welcomed by all reasonable people, not only architects.

The first General Assembly of the Academy, the first academicians, and the first directors of institutes. A month after the government paperwork, on July 25–26, 1945, the first General Assembly took place, which had the name of organizational meetings, and where Volodymyr Zabolotny (1898–1962) was elected as the President of the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR. P. Alyoshin became the Vice President, the Chief Architect of Kyiv O. Vlasov became a member of the presidium, academician-secretary (head) of the Department of Building Sciences and director of the Institute of Building Technology, O. Nerovetsky, academician-secretary of the Department of Monumental Painting and Sculpture, M. Lysenko, director of the Institute of History and Theory of Architecture, S. Bezonov, director of the Graduate Institute, O. Verbytsky. Thus, all academicians found themselves involved, and the newly elected corresponding members were approved in leadership positions in the scientific institutions of the Academy of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR, which amounted to thirteen.

Some directors of institutes, at least in 1947, were acting in their positions. Corresponding Member, Professor Yakiv Shteynberg of KIBI served as Acting Director of the Institute of Architectural Structures; Corresponding Member, Descriptive Geometer, Professor Stepan Kolotov of KIBI [15] acted as the Acting Director of the Institute of Urban Planning; Renowned artist, scenographer, cubo-futurist, constructivist, expressionist, and graphic artist Vadym Meller acted as the Acting Director of the Institute of Monumental Painting and Sculpture; Corresponding Member Nina Manucharova served as the Acting Director of the Institute of Art Industry; Architect Georgiy Govdenko served as the Acting Director of the DIAS "Sophia Museum"; Candidate of Architecture (from 1948) Vasyl Hridin served as the Acting Director of the State Museum of Architecture of the AA of the USSR; Archaeologist and orientalist Mariya Viazmitina acted as the Acting Director of the Scientific Library of the AA of the USSR. Only the Institute of Building Materials was firmly led by the academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences Boris Lysin [16, p. 3, 6, 13, 15, 21, 24, 25].

The structure of the Academy in 1945-1955. The structure of the AA of the USSR was transparent: the Department of Architectural Sciences included the Institute of City Building, the Institute of Architectural Structures, the Institute of History and Theory of Architecture, and four personal architectural workshops (of academicians Alyoshin, Verbitsky, Vlasov, Zabolotny). The Department of Monumental Painting, Sculpture, and Art Industry included the Institute of Monumental Painting and Sculpture with creative workshops and the Institute of Art Industry (nowadays it would be called the Institute of Design) with experimental workshops. Among the research works of this Institute in 1947 were, for example: issues of the style of art industry in Ukraine and the Mezhyhirya Faience Factory (Luka Kalenichenko), the interior of small-sized housing (N. Manucharova), household furniture from wicker (H. Chernyshov), methods of designing large-pattern decorative fabrics for decorating public buildings (M. Khurgin), artistic metalwork ("scobyanca"; V. Dzuhaev [12]), artistic ceramics (P. Musiyenko), Ukrainian carpet (M. Novytska), and others.

It is important to emphasize the functioning of the Academic Council for the Defense of Candidate Dissertations at the AA of the Ukrainian SSR, which was led by Zabolotnyi. Secretaries in various years included Hryhoriy Frumin, Heorhiy Lebedev, Nina Manucharova, and others. A candidate dissertation in architecture ("architectural sciences") was treated as an independently developed project with a detailed explanatory section, ranging from the theoretical justification of the chosen design solution to the description of interior design nuances. Only in the early 1950s did dissertations for the degree of candidate in architecture acquire modern features. The first to defend such a work in 1954 under the guidance of Academician Anatoliy Dobrovolskyi was Igor Fomin [22]. Alexander Khorkhot defended a dissertation for the degree of candidate of technical sciences based on a monograph [23]. However, this work already dealt with issues of industrial construction with urban planning practice.

Following the "old" model - a large project + a small text - Musiy Katernoha, Vsevolod Kolesnikov, and Oleksandr Marynchenko defended their dissertations using this approach. Later, they shaped their issertations into monographs, attempting to give them a more scientific appearance [14; 2]. Thus, starting from the second half of the 1940s, with the work of the Institute of Graduate Studies of the AA of the Ukrainian SSR, architectural science in Ukraine gained its first graduate students and, consequently, its first future researchers with a candidate degree, who were highly regarded among specialists in the USSR at that time. They were relatively few, as architectural practice prevailed over theory, and only postgraduates engaged in theory. Despite the fact that the decision of the Academic Council of the AA of the Ukrainian SSR on awarding degrees was approved by the Moscow Higher Attestation Commission, signing as "candidate in architecture" was very prestigious, not to mention the three doctors who received their degrees honoris causa in 1945 - Pavlo Alyoshin, Volodymyr Zabolotnyi, and Yevhen Katonin, who received these degrees "for a set of merits," without writing dissertations and without being candidates of sciences.

In addition to applied research in the field of architectural science (urban planning, city and village planning [18], housing, standard design, engineering-geological zoning, etc.), the results of which settled in scientific reports and were not widely published, a vast amount of architectural monuments and monumental art were studied in a relatively short time. This found reflection in beautifully published albums (title sheets and elements of decoration were developed by architects-artists Petro Yavorovskyi and Mark Aghuf, art historian Mykhailo Kryvolapov) and collective monographs, which laid the groundwork for the subsequent creation of the fundamental two-volume "Sketches of the History of Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR" (1957, 1962) and the corpus study of the history of Ukrainian architecture. These aspects, as well as the principles formed for working with graduate students, which, as noted by Valentin Shtolko (also a graduate of the Academy), included constant attention from President Zabolotnyi, "the ability to see and develop in them the creative heritage of generations, [provide] personal mentoring care and [provide] practical assistance in their daily scientific and practical work" [9, p. 4], represent the most valuable organizational and scientific contribution of the AA of the Ukrainian SSR, which remains among at least the Kyiv researchers - leaders of architectural dissertations to this day.

Dmytro Yablonskyi, who defended his candidate dissertation in 1953 [24], mentions that Khrushchev's patronage of the activities of the AA of the Ukrainian SSR ceased in 1956. This happened after a meeting in the House of Architects where Volodymyr Hnatovych showed little enthusiasm for the idea of building a huge bridge between Volodymyrska Street and Pechersk (across Khreshchatyk), a plan promoted by the
bold Mykita Serhiyovych [13, p. 8].

Transformation into the Academy of Construction and Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR (ABiA). Despite Khrushchev's good knowledge of Zabolotnyi and support for his initiatives, Khrushchev's arbitrary actions ("lashing under the tail"), and "voluntarism" led to the cessation of the existence of the AA of the Ukrainian SSR. By the resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR dated September 22, 1955, the ABiA of the Ukrainian SSR was established. In Moscow, theorists of architecture Konstantin Ivanov and urban planner Georgy Gradov (both doctors of architecture) joined this desperate cause. They were close to Khrushchev and managed to tune him accordingly: giving priority to construction in solving creative tasks during the formation of architectural forms through the harmonious combination of functional and aesthetic aspects using progressive engineering and technical means, which should continuously improve. There seems to be nothing wrong with this, but the microclimate of the academies of architecture of the USSR and the Ukrainian SSR forcibly expelled the spirit of combining the creative intuition of architects with historical tradition, with the principles of classical architectural construction, with something alive that exists in architectural form.

However, the struggle against the artistic form of architecture was systematically carried out by state authorities: in less than a month and a half, a resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union dated November 5, 1955, No. 1871, was adopted to eliminate excesses in design and construction. Thus, the ventilation of the living creative spirit from the walls of architectural academies was not a sudden phenomenon, although many architects were hit by it as if "with an axe on the head." There were also some personnel changes: not all corresponding members of the AA of the Ukrainian SSR automatically moved to the ABiA of the Ukrainian SSR. Zabolotnyi was removed from office and sent into local exile: he was appointed as the head of the Department of Folk Creativity and the History of Ukrainian Art — one of the research departments under the presidium of the ABiA of the Ukrainian SSR.

President (and, of course, initially an academician) of the Academy was appointed 47-year-old Anatoliy Komar (1909–1959), a civil engineer who, since 1944, had been in charge of the reconstruction of a number of metallurgical plants in the Ukrainian SSR: "Zaporizhstal," foundries No. 6 of the Dnipropetrovsk Metallurgical Plant named after Petrovsky. From 1952 to 1955, he worked as the chief engineer and director of the trust "Dniprovskprombud." Combining high positions at that time was a common practice, and Komar, along with the presidency at the ABiA, also served as the deputy head of the State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR for Construction (Derzhbud of the Ukrainian SSR) under Petro Neporozhnyi.

The sudden death of Komar from administrative overload led to Pavel Bakum (1911–1987), a Magnitogorsk builder and the new head of Derzhbud of the Ukrainian SSR, taking over the presidency of the Academy.

Pavlo Fedorovych Bakuma delivered lengthy speeches, prepared by the secretariat of the Academy of Construction and Architecture, which were even printed as inserts in separate brackets in the "Visnyk ABA" journal. Among other important engineering matters, Bakuma addressed issues related to the theory of architecture. In his administrative speeches, it looked like this: "The investigation of the theoretical foundations of Soviet architecture in socio-economic, functional, engineering-technical, and aesthetic aspects is of particular relevance. The duty of our theorists is to provide a general forecast for the development of architecture in our country for the next 20 years, linking it with the development of the national economy and the tasks of shaping the communist consciousness of the Soviet people, changes in their working conditions and daily life. It is necessary to substantiate the new typology of public buildings for the coming years, based on the communist content of public processes." Pavlo Fedorovych Bakuma took over the duties of the president of the Academy of Construction and Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR after the sudden death of Anatoliy Komar in 1959. He served in this position until 1963, when the Academy was liquidated.

During the period of the Academy of Construction and Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR (ABiA URSR) from 1956 to 1963, the number of academic architects increased due to talented individuals such as Viktor Yelizarov, Yevhen Katonin, Boris Priymak, and new corresponding members included Oleksandr Kasyanov, Otar Mchedlov-Petrosyan, Volodymyr Orehov, Yakiv Shteynberg. The elderly Pavlo Alyoshin became an honorary member while retaining his academic stipend. Most academic positions were occupied by engineers, including prominent figures such as Ivan Lytvynov, Mykhailo Budnykov, Ivan Kyreyenko, Boris Lobayev, Saul Frayfeld, and Vyacheslav Yarin.

Nikita Khrushchev, who established the Academy in 1945, managed to dissolve it in 1963. By the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated August 6, 1963, No. 853, titled "On the Academy of Construction and Architecture of the USSR and the Academy of Construction and Architecture of the Ukrainian SSR," ABiA URSR and ABiA USSR were liquidated. Their institutes were reorganized and transferred to various union and republican authorities by the resolution of August 21, 1963, No. 903. For example, based on the Research Institute of Experimental Design and the Research Institute of Architectural Structures of ABiA URSR, KyivZNIIEP of the State Committee for Civil Construction of the State Construction Committee of the USSR was created.

The Academy was reestablished in 1992. After nearly thirty years, the dream of those who passed through the school of AA and ABiA URSR, defended dissertations, and continued to work in the system of state architectural institutions became a reality with the registration of the statute of the public association "Ukrainian Academy of Architecture" by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on April 23, 1992, No. 238. The purpose of the Academy's activity was the "preservation and flourishing of the intellectual and scientific potential of Ukraine in the field of architecture and building sciences." The then Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Oleksandr Moroz, congratulated the Academy on its revival.

In 1992, the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture (UAA) elected as its president Valentin Shtolko (1931–2020), an academician of the UAA, laureate of the State Prize of the USSR, National Prize of Ukraine named after Taras Shevchenko, State Prize of Ukraine in the field of science and technology, State Prize of Ukraine in the field of architecture, Republican Prize of the LKSMU named after M. Ostrovsky, People's Architect of Ukraine, Doctor of Architecture, Professor. He continued to fulfill these duties until the last moment of his life. The Chief Scientific Secretary was Academician of the UAA, Honored Architect of Ukraine, Doctor of Architecture, Professor Dmytro Yablonsky (1921–2001). In 1997, Academician of the UAA, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Yevhen Klyushnychenko (1939–2021) was elected Chief Scientific Secretary.

At the end of 1994, members of the UAA developed the Concept of the National Program for the Development of Architecture in Ukraine. This included V. Hershkovich, M. Danko, M. Dyomin, Y. Klyushnychenko, M. Kolomiets, G. Lavrik, S. Laponogov, L. Mulyar, V. Nudelman, T. Panchenko, L. Pribiega, V. Savchenko, I. Fomin, V. Shevelov, V. Shtolko, and D. Yablonsky. The UAA established the Institute of Collective Members, which included organizations, firms, and creative teams actively cooperating with the UAA.

As of 1995, the UAA had four departments: urban planning of cities and villages (Academician-Secretary Mykola Dyomin), buildings and structures (Academician-Secretary Viktor Savchenko), architectural studies (Academician-Secretary Serhiy Kilesso), construction, materials, and engineering support for construction (Academician-Secretary Ihor Lebedych). There were 29 full members (academicians), 61 corresponding members, and 27 honorary members, including architects from Canada, Russia, Italy, and France. The UAA included practically all doctors of science in the field of urban planning and architecture working in Ukraine, as well as the majority of the most experienced practicing architects from all regions of the country.

The fiftieth anniversary of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture (UAA) was celebrated widely. The commemorative events for the anniversary and the celebration of Architecture Day on July 1, 1995, included a ceremonial meeting and exhibition of creative works by Ukrainian architects at the Ukrainian House, an exhibition of academic publications at the State Scientific Architectural and Construction Library (later named after Zabolotny) on Khreshchatyk, an exhibition of competition projects "Renaissance of Ukraine" at the exhibition hall of the Head Architect (32 Khreshchatyk), the laying of the foundation stone for the reconstruction of the monument to Princess Olga on Mykhailivska Square, an exhibition of excavations of St. Michael's and the Assumption Cathedrals, an exhibition "Kyiv Underground" at the Museum of Kyiv History, and two sales exhibitions: ceramic products of "Griffon" at Kostiolna Street, 6, and works of folk craftsmen on Andriivsky Uzviz, 5. The anniversary session of the General Assembly was held on June 30, 1995, attended by representatives of the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada, the government, Kyiv City State Administration (Oleksandr Omelchenko), the Ministry of Culture, creative unions, foreign academies, enterprises, organizations, and firms collaborating with the UAA. President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma sent congratulations, concluding with the assurance: "I believe in the great creative potential of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture and wish its talented team success in creative and scientific activities for the benefit and glory of the people of Ukraine" [6, p. 5].

In an interesting review article for the fifth anniversary of the restored Academy in 1997, President Shtolko recounted the history of the UAA restoration (initially, the Academy was named the "Ukrainian Academy of Architectural Sciences," but this caused dissatisfaction among "some members of the Union of Architects of Ukraine and government structures, creating certain difficulties with the registration of the Charter"), described the staff composition of the Academy, and stated the number of its members (37 academicians, 88 corresponding members, 35 honorary members, including 13 renowned foreign architects such as Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse, Pierre Vago, Durt Werner, Vakhtang Davitaya, Jørn Utzon, Radoslav Zhuk, Georges Candilis, Giancarlo De Carlo, Martin Kubelik, Russian Evgeny Rozanov, and Bulgarian Georgi Stoilov). The President outlined the main directions of the Academy's activities, including notable fundamental aspects such as the development of the encyclopedia "Architectural Heritage of Ukraine" and a short course (for the first time in history) "History of Architecture of Ukraine" (both led by Academician Volodymyr Tymofienko), the development of the draft Law "On Architectural Activity" (adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, signed by Leonid Kuchma on May 20, 1999), various State Building Codes (DBN), the "Architect's Handbook," the program "Architecture of the Capital" (approved by the Kyiv City Council), etc. Among the publishing tasks, the President reported on the completion of monographs such as "Architectural and Structural Systems of Civil Structures" by Academician Valentin Yezhov (published in collaboration with future academician Oleg Slepsov and architecture candidate Olena Huseva in 1998, awarded the State Prize in Architecture in 2000), "Sophia Cathedral (Architecture, Mosaics, Frescoes, Decorative and Applied Art)" by Honorary Academician Hryhoriy Logvin (posthumously published in 2001), "Works of Taras Shevchenko and Ukrainian Estate of the 19th Century" by Academician Ivan Rodichkin, "Medieval Architecture of the Arab Countries of the Middle East (Development of Architectural Forms)" by Corresponding Member Oleksandr Ralliev (1945–2005), "Folk Architecture of Ukraine in Illustrations" by Honorary Academician Viktor Samoilovich (posthumously published in 1999), "Ukrainian Architectural Modernism" by Academician Viktor Chepelyk (posthumously published in 2000, awarded the State Prize in Architecture in 2002), "Architecture of Suspended Systems" by Academician Valentin Shtolko, and "Architectural Language of Ukrainian Baroque" by Academician Dmytro Yablonsky.

Published in 2003 under the editorship of Academician V. Tymofienko, the voluminous "History of Ukrainian Architecture" (16 authors; 50 printed sheets) remains one of the most important results of the Academy's work in the first decade after its restoration, despite all the criticisms that can be directed at this edition (methodology, terminology, chronology, typology, etc.). The fact that this publication earned the main authors the State Prize in Architecture in 2007 (V. Tymofienko, V. Vechersky, O. Hodovaniuk, S. Kiless, S. Kryzhitsky, Z. Moiseenko, T. Trehubova, V. Shtolko) attests to its significant social importance and provides a comprehensive understanding of our architectural heritage from ancient times to the 1950s, albeit in a condensed form.

In the 2002 article about the decade of the restored UAA, President Shtolko listed the composition of the Academy, including 58 academicians, 82 corresponding members, two Heroes of Ukraine, 25 doctors of sciences, 53 candidates, 15 People's Architects and Artists, 42 Honored Architects, Builders, and Arts Figures, 55 laureates of state awards. Most importantly, he pointed out that the Academy had completed over eighty various complex scientific research projects, laws of Ukraine, nationwide programs, and pilot projects [8, pp. 4–8]. "UAA," emphasized Valentin Hryhorovych, "actively intervenes in architectural and urban planning activities. For example, at its initiative (a letter to the Prime Minister of Ukraine) in 1993, the Ministry of Investments was reformed into the Committee on Architecture and Construction; in 1994, an appeal to the President of Ukraine was prepared to introduce Architecture Day in Ukraine on July 1, which was accepted. There were justifications for the need to develop the General Plan of Territorial Planning of Ukraine, as well as regional plans, and, above all, the Kyiv agglomeration. There was also the need for amendments to the Land Code, the restoration of administrative vertical management in the architectural and urban planning process in the state, and other proposals for improving the organization of scientific, creative, and organizational activities in the field of architecture and urban planning" [8, pp. 4–8].

Several times, based on the decisions of the General Assemblies, the President of the UAA appealed to the President of Ukraine and the government to consider the issue of the state status of the Academy, the reform of the architectural and construction complex, and the concentration of efforts of specialists on 'solving urgent problems in the development of domestic architecture and granting the Academy the state status of the highest scientific, creative, coordinating, and methodological organization in Ukraine for architecture and urban planning' [8, p. 10], but these appeals went unanswered.

The UAA's achievements over fifteen years after its restoration. Reviewing the path taken by the Academy over fifteen years since the resumption of its activities, President Shtolko wrote in 2007 that the main goal of the UAA is the voluntary consolidation on public principles of 'experts of the highest caliber' to solve the problems of architecture development under new conditions, revive the prestige of the profession, and direct efforts towards creating a harmonious living environment worthy of the people of an independent state. 'The UAA has consolidated scientific and creative potential and over 15 years has gone through several stages of ups and downs, carrying out important work to create a legislative and regulatory framework for the further development of architecture.' Valentin Hryhorovych highlighted the following periods in the formation of the renewed Academy: 1992–1995 — active initiation of activities, conducting independent competitions; 1995–2000 — implementation of many scientific and design works; 2001–2006 — development of projects for investment-attractive objects. The fourth stage began in 2007, coinciding with the political crisis, which caused legislative and regulatory problems leading to unregulated development, a series of mistakes that are impossible or very difficult to correct. 'Until now, no strategy for shaping the living environment in Ukraine by 2050 has been developed or is being developed, which the UAA proposed several years ago.' Despite everything, 'on its fifteenth anniversary, the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture is full of strength, creative inspiration, and ready for further work for the development of national architecture' [21, p. 5, 7].

In fact, the optimistic conclusion of the Academy's president was perhaps the last hope for improvement in the architectural and construction sphere. The next year, even hope took a back seat, giving way to professional apathy, the consequences of which still resonate.

The last General Assembly of the UAA in the 2000s took place on December 25, 2007: nine new academicians (V. Horbonos, V. Knish, Ye. Lishansky, V. Dmytrenko, O. Kaschenko, B. Yerofalov, A. Puchkov, Yu. Kazmiruk, O. Chyzhevsky) and fourteen corresponding members (O. Chub, L. Bachynska, S. Kazaryants, M. Sarapin, I. Donchak, V. Shpara, V. Muschanov, P. Richkov, A. Pashenko, Ed. Leshchenko, O. Leleko, R. Fainberg, V. Solodov, Yu. Serhihin) were elected. The presidium of the UAA was elected as follows: President V. Shtolko, Vice-Presidents M. Dyomin, V. Yezhov, I. Lebedych, Chief Scientific Secretary Ye. Klyushnychenko, Academician-Secretaries of Departments M. Ksenevich, O. Slepsov, A. Puchkov, I. Lebedych, heads of branches and centers V. Urenov (Odesa), V. Semenov (Kharkiv), V. Proskuryakov (Lviv), O. Hutsalenko (Autonomous Republic of Crimea), M. Khodan (Ivano-Frankivsk), M. Levchuk.

The financial crisis of 2008 highlighted inherent flaws in the global financial-economic system and had a severe impact on the architectural and construction practices in Ukraine. Its consequences, including the cessation of state funding for construction projects, reduction and suspension of already minimal volumes of research in the design and construction of living environment objects, a rise in mass unemployment among participants in the architectural and construction process, and bankruptcy and breakdown of professionally qualified design, research, and production teams.

In the late 2000s, the last positions were particularly dangerous for the industry, threatening the permanent loss of professional experience and skillful transmission of professional knowledge. At that time, it was crucial to quickly determine state priorities, strategic directions, and stages of improving the living environment. It was necessary to carry out the reform of the very structure of architectural and construction activities with a clear separation of functions, rights, duties, and responsibilities of all actors: the state, investors, scientists, designers, builders, educational institutions, and public organizations.

Therefore, in November 2010, for the last time, the UAA addressed the government with a proposal to create a central all-national scientific, research, methodological, coordinating, and educational center in the form of the Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences of Ukraine (AAiCS Ukraine). The idea was to bring together highly qualified professionals, directing their activities to carry out fundamental, applied, and experimental research in the field of architecture and construction. The center would also be responsible for the training of highly qualified personnel as a fundamental basis for ensuring innovative development in architectural and construction activities. The responsibility for the professional level of its activities would be placed on this institution.

In the letter, the draft of which (dated November 29, 2010) is preserved in the author's archive, it was emphasized that "the creation of AAiCS Ukraine will allow preserving and consolidating the scientific and creative potential of the state, ensuring the development and monitoring of the implementation of strategic directions for the development of architecture, urban planning, and construction. It would bring project and construction activities out of the shadow, create conditions for a unified state-supported design process (including the creation of a coordinated system of normative-permissive documentation), construction, development, and implementation of efficient technologies, structures, materials, etc."

The appeal was accompanied by a separately issued brochure titled "Proposals for Overcoming the Crisis and Ensuring Innovative Development of Architectural and Construction Activities in Ukraine" [17], in the preparation of which 36 academicians and corresponding members of the UAA participated. However, this initiative by the Academy also went unnoticed by the authorities.

Since then, the activities of the Academy gradually diminished due to a combination of socio-political apathy and the inability to conduct research with state financial support, engage in worthy publishing activities, and cope with natural personnel losses among academicians and corresponding members, especially honorary members of the UAA, who were bearers of professional traditions, did not contribute to the active work of the Academy.

As one insightful character noted, fundamental science is a very inertial system: even if funding is completely stopped, it will self-liquidate very slowly. The accuracy of this witty observation is confirmed by the fact that throughout the 2010s, the activities of the Academy almost completely dwindled, and only some of its proactive members engaged in scientific research found the opportunity to publish the results of these studies in the form of monographs and collections of works. This enabled them to preserve the potential without which further progress would be impossible.

The General Assembly of the UAA on September 14, 2021, and the election of a new president. Finally, on September 14, 2021, in the meeting hall of the Academic Council of Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, the long-awaited General Assembly of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture took place.

The last General Assembly of the UAA occurred in December 2007, and since then, for almost fifteen years, the Academy did not fulfill its statutory obligations due to the objective circumstances mentioned earlier.

The agenda of the General Assembly on September 14, 2021, included two items: the report of the Academy's presidency and the election of a new president of the UAA.

The meeting was opened by the oldest member of the Academy, Vice President of the UAA, laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in the field of architecture, People's Architect of Ukraine, Dr. of Architecture, Professor Mykola Dyomin (b. 1931). He provided a brief overview of the state of affairs in the Academy, emphasizing that, like foreign public organizations, the UAA has every reason to become the voice of the country's architectural community again, to loudly declare support for practicing architects, and to defend the architectural profession as a whole. Dyomin's report was "unanimously approved" by those present at the Assembly.

Welcoming words to the members of the Academy were given by the President of the Academy of Construction of Ukraine, Academician Ivan Nazarenko, the President of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine, Academician Oleksandr Chyzhevsky, Professor of the Department of Urban Construction at KNUCA, Academician Volodymyr Nudelman, the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at KNUCA, Academician Oleksandr Kaschenko, Professor of Lviv Polytechnic National University, Academician Viktor Proskuryakov, and other active members and corresponding members of the UAA.

Following the suggestion of the presiding academician Dyomin, it was proposed to nominate a candidate for the position of the new president of the Academy. Academician Valeriy Urenov (Odesa) recommended including the candidacy of Academician Oleg Sleptsov in the secret ballot, which was supported by those present. Academician Janos Vigh and Corresponding Member Andriy Myrhorodsky, whose candidacies were also proposed for the position of the UAA president, withdrew their nominations.

As a result of a secret, almost unanimous vote, the attendees at the General Assembly of the UAA elected Academician Oleg Sleptsov, laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in the field of architecture, People's Architect of Ukraine, Doctor of Architecture, Professor, and the Head of the Department of Basics of Architecture and Architectural Design at KNUCA, as the President of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture. If the first president of the Academy of Architecture in Ukraine was Volodymyr Zabolotny, Oleg Sleptsov became the fifth president of the UAA.

Currently, the Academy is facing both internal organizational tasks (renewal of the Statute, election of the presidency, vice-presidents, chief scientific secretary of the Academy, heads of departments, new members of the UAA, etc.) and external socio-cultural challenges aimed at restoring and invigorating the activities of the UAA as a truly leading scientific, creative, methodological, and coordination center in the field of architecture and urban planning in Ukraine.

As the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture approaches its thirtieth anniversary of restoration, which is to be celebrated on April 24, 2022, questions related primarily to the incorporation of activities into the global information space are arising before the Academy. These include creating a website, Facebook pages, resuming the publication of the "Bulletin of the Ukrainian Academy of Architecture" (possibly in electronic form), establishing new connections with government structures, engaging leading masters of the architectural craft in cooperation, revitalizing positive involvement in the daily activities of architects by assisting and protecting their professional interests, rights, and freedoms, satisfying legitimate social, economic, creative, national-cultural, and other common interests, promoting support for the proper level of architectural life in the country, participating in international communication, and ensuring the representation of Ukrainian architecture worldwide.

As Vladimir Zabolotny, who was not yet elected as the president of the AA of the Ukrainian SSR, said in mid-July 1945, "The founding of the Academy of Architecture largely stimulates the study of general scientific and artistic problems of architecture, as well as little-explored issues of national architecture" [18, p. 29]. This fundamental observation should now serve as the guiding purpose of our Academy's activities because both the problems of ensuring human life and their artistic aspirations have changed very slowly over time within certain territories. At each new stage in the history of architecture, architects only turn over the page of existence they wrote, sincerely hoping that on the next page, they will leave further observations with a different handwriting, choosing new, convincing words, and eagerly undertaking unprecedented professional achievements.