WAR WOUNDS: HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND THE PHENOMENOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF REBUILDING UKRAINE

Abstract

Historic preservation is vital in empowering communities to feel a sense of belonging and significance through cultural narratives. While the meaning of these objects and structures is dynamic, the work of preservationists is often to identify an object's or building's significance and to root them in a particular place and time, ignoring the fluidity of the essence of historic architecture. An example of how the essence of a building may change over time is the damage and destruction that comes from war and violent conflict, adding complexity to how individuals and communities experience them. This essay argues that preservation work is in-complete if it views historic structures as frozen in time, removed from the dynamic experiential relationship between building and the individual, and thus, individuals and communities that give these structures their meaning. UNESCO reports that an attack from Russia on September 3, 2024 had severely damaged buildings in the historic center of Lviv. As UNESCO is facilitating the response to assess the full scale of the damage and support restoration, there are significant challenges.

War and its consequences on people and the built environment illuminates the ever-evolving essence of historic architecture and demands a sensitivity for architects and preservationists to deepen the impact of their work. This discussion of Lviv’s historic preservation post conflict is presented along with the philosophical tradition of phenomenology and the work of Maurice Merleau-Ponty. A recognition of this evolving essence challenges architects and preservationists to rethink the idea of “authenticity” in the approach to restoration.