About the project

Since 2020, the Creative Union Enterprise "Center for Architecture, Design and Urbanism "Porochova Vezha" was created on the basis of the Lviv Union of Architects, the main activity of which is the organization and creation of cultural and artistic projects directly in the Powder Tower.

2025

The creation of the BLACKBOX bookstore in 2023, during which many archival magazines from various parts of the world on the topic of urbanism, architecture, art, conceptual projects, etc. were found, and the exhibition project "/XX architecture.magazines.modernism" inspired the team, but the realization that funding and more support were needed to restore the archive and operate a full-fledged new space stopped the team and work in this direction.

Fortunately, the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation supported the project and allocated funds to co-finance the first visarius in Lviv.

From idea to implementation

Restoring history in 4.5 months

June 2025

The first stage of the project was focused on understanding what methodology for digitization and cataloging to apply specifically to the archival collection, because this is not a typical collection. Of course, to begin with, the project team sought advice from specialists to understand how to begin the inventory stage. In the process, it became clear that this collection requires an individual approach and system...

July 2025

The inventory stage is the largest and most complex process of the project. According to preliminary calculations, the entire collection consisted of about 4,000 copies, including magazines, newspapers, etc. But during the dismantling of the shelves and cataloging, we reached the mark of about 7,000 copies. The oldest copy found during the inventory dates back to 1881, “Architektonik orientalischen Altertums”, so it can be officially recorded that the collection dates back to the 19th century. to the present day. In general, the oldest copies are over 100 years old.

Individual valuable finds were hand-drawn posters about various exhibitions and events that took place in the Powder Tower at the end of the 20th century. But the most valuable was the original invitation to the opening of the Architect's House (May 9, 1959).

August 2025

To popularize the project, the visionary team decided to conduct behind-the-scenes tours of the archfond, since the physical renovated space needed time to recover. In total, 8 tours were planned, but 9 were conducted, because with each event the request for visits grew rapidly.

The most valuable were the excursions for the members of the board of the Lviv Union of Architects, because they told a lot of historical and interesting facts. Entire generations of architects have shaped the Union library in one way or another, and now in 2025 this tradition is being restored.

September 2025

Adaptation of the space is one of the most anticipated stages. The project involves modernizing the space with minimal intervention, while emphasizing authentic details hidden under numerous layers of paint: all joinery (doors and windows) was cleaned, lighting elements were restored, retro accessories found directly in the former library were preserved and integrated into the interior.

The most interesting thing about the project is the multifunctionality of the room, which provides for holding various events, despite the small area.

The transitional stage to the digitalization of the fund is the beginning of scanning copies. At this stage, we managed to create more than 50 electronic versions of the most valuable and fragile publications. In this process, we were assisted by the NGO "CHEMO: UKRAINIAN HERITAGE MONITORING LABORATORY".

Also, as part of the project, an architectural workshop was held to develop futuristic concepts for the restoration of Ukrainian cities, becoming a space where the past showed its potential for the future. For a month, the participants studied the materials of the architectural fund, immersing themselves in visual, theoretical and historical sources. It was these developments that became the basis for the formation of individual visions of the transformation of urban space.

Project team:

Angelina Yefimenko – project manager, director of the "Porohova Vezha" Central Library and Information Center Vasyl Maidansky – curator of the library direction, co-founder of the BLACKBOX bookstore Olga Smulska – external communications manager Olexandra Startseva – project communicator Elizaveta Zhiltsova – curator of the project's parallel program Illia Kutnyk – curator of the project's digital platform development Bohdan Goy – chief architect of the project

Special thanks to:

Akim Galimov, Pavlo Gudimov, Yulia Bogdanova, Bohdan Cherkes, Mykola Sheremeta, Nadiya Sohor, Yuriy Stolyarov, Oleksiy Nizhnikovskyi, Solomiya Shcheholska, Andriy Lesyuk, Khrystyna Kundyra, Andriy Yamelynitsa, Vasyl Rozhko, Yulia Zakharchuk, Dmytro Demchenko, Serhiy Stolyaruk, Svitlana Yefimenko, Sofia Tymosevych, Denys Kolyada, Iryna Polishchuk, Yulia Kyrychenko, Alena Mishina, Marina Gerasimenko, Anastasia Andriychuk, Daniela Ishchenko, Andriy Yuras, Ilya Ivanytskyi, Myroslav Klymchuk