Pavilion 13, VDNG

The pavilion is part of a larger complex built 1952–1958 during Kyiv’s postwar reconstruction, designed to showcase industrial achievements with orchards and landscaped areas. Completed in 1967 as Pavilion 13 (Coal) by S.S. Pavlovsky and Kyiv ZNDIEP, it features interlocking strata: a glass ground-floor pavilion and a lower chamber, originally a coal-mine model, now used as a bomb shelter. It's international-style geometry, rectilinear forms, and anthracite facade. Renovation, developed by ФОРМА in 2021 and realized in 2024 with Ribbon International, now transforms it into an interdisciplinary centre for contemporary art, experimental music, and architecture.

The project faced several challenges, both technical and contextual. The building’s structure was stable, but its heating, water, and sewage systems had been out of service for more than fifteen years, and the interiors suffered from leaks, dampness, and material degradation. Energy efficiency was difficult to achieve due to the original construction, and accessibility had to be improved without disrupting the modernist spatial logic. The renovation took place during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which complicated logistics and coordination. The strategy focused on restoration rather than reconstruction — carefully upgrading technical systems, improving insulation, and ensuring barrier-free access while preserving the building’s authentic form and materials. The renewed space was designed to support flexible, interdisciplinary cultural use, balancing heritage value with contemporary functionality.

Sustainability was addressed through a strategy of reuse rather than replacement: the existing structural frame was retained, reducing embodied carbon. The original steel and concrete structures were preserved and locally reinforced where corrosion or fatigue had been identified. Due to its extensive glazed surfaces, the building benefits from a greenhouse effect that minimizes the need for artificial lighting. Engineering systems, electrical and sewage, were renewed. New lighting fixtures were installed to optimize both energy efficiency and visual comfort, and the sanitary units were reconfigured to include accessible facilities. Flooring was replaced to ensure durability and ease of maintenance. The façade was also renewed while preserving the original plastering technique characteristic of the period, maintaining the building’s authentic.