The Ukrainian-German cooperation project focuses on documenting nine unique wooden architecture sites in the western region of Ukraine.
In November, the international cooperation project was launched, combining the efforts of researchers from the Klymentiy Sheptytsky Museum of Folk Architecture and Life in Lviv and international partners, including Oxford Brookes University in the UK and World Heritage Watch, as part of the Cooperation Programme for the Rescue of Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage.
Wooden architecture is one of the most vulnerable types of cultural heritage in Ukraine, as fires often destroy such objects to the ground. There is also a direct threat from the destruction caused by military operations or the lack of security and fire protection systems. The lack of state funding for research and restoration of such sites puts this part of Ukraine’s cultural heritage in the status of endangered.
Download photo
The architectural objects to be documented within the project include ancient residential buildings, churches, outbuildings, and public buildings from the western part of Ukraine. These are buildings that represent traditional architectural styles and techniques, and of which there are probably only a few examples left today.
The project will last for 15 months and is funded by the Oxford Brookes University Threatened Wooden Architecture Programme. The assistance programme includes the provision of 3D scanning equipment that will remain in the country and be used later for further research. 3D scanning allows for the documentation and subsequent reconstruction of even lost buildings.
Upload photo
“This project will allow scientists and restorers to start surveying unique wooden architectural objects. We will be able to obtain information about architectural techniques and methods that are already disappearing and develop architectural documentation for buildings that are exceptional not only for Ukrainian but also for European and world cultural heritage,” says Serhii Tsypyshev, head of the museum’s research department, PhD in History.
“We are pleased to be able to support our Ukrainian colleagues. Everyone should contribute with their own help, because even the smallest assistance is valuable. Russia is waging a war to destroy Ukrainians and their independence as a nation. That is why it is very important that we preserve the country’s cultural heritage, as it is a testament to this independence and self-identity,” comments Stefan Dempke, Chairman of World Heritage Watch.