Kyiv region became the pilot of the RE:Ukraine Villages project: having developed an algorithm, we'd decided to involve volunteers in the project.

We began working on the research of the Chernihiv region in mid-April 2023. Announcing an open call on social media, we gathered a team of 16 people. Among the tasks they performed were information search and collection, field expeditions and logistics, drawings, 3D modeling, analysis, and typology of decorations.

Once we had compiled a list of expedition locations, volunteers divided them among themselves, formed teams, and set off on their journeys. A gas station chain KLO supported our research expeditions in Chernihiv and the following three regions of Ukraine, providing fuel for the volunteers. In total, volunteers visited and documented 31 villages in the Chernihiv region.

Chernihiv region is incredibly rich in a variety of decor and ornamentation. One of its most prominent features is the widespread use of wood – according to our observations, the ratio with brick reaches 80/20. This prompted us to expand the available options in the constructor. Highly characteristic of the region is the carved wooden decor. Its figures and forms echo the patterns of local embroidery and the embellishments of ceramic pottery.

Local houses are also distinguished by bright colors. Yellow, cherry, orange, deep green – among the multitude of combinations, it was difficult to distinguish only four color palettes. The most common colors of local wooden houses are burgundy and green.

An updated dataset has been added to the existing online constructor – now it includes the Chernihiv region and its characteristic decor. Window patterns and their frames, verandas, attics, decorative elements – by following all the steps of the constructor, you can assemble a typical house of the villages in this area.

Sumy and Kharkiv regions became a new stage in the project's evolution. We decided to scale the research and start parallel work on five regions. Strengthening the team with volunteers allowed us to cover a wider geography of expeditions and take a more thorough approach to working with open sources. Now, the final selections are based on a larger number of analyzed materials, and we can study locations inaccessible to volunteers due to their proximity to the frontline. 

This stage's main innovation was optimizing the layouts' typology – now they are more relevant to the modern villagers' needs. We also proposed furniture placement on the layouts to make it easier for users to choose the suitable option. This typology will become the basis for future areas, with minimal adjustments to the local context. We have also optimized the work with the album of final drawings, which users download after completing all the steps of the online constructor.

The volunteer team approached the expeditions in the Kharkiv region thoroughly, as a part of the region was still in the active phase of the war, and the liberated lands had been under occupation for quite a long time. Planning routes had to be done after consultations with the military, as there were still many uncleared minefields in the de-occupied territories. Traveling there independently without the military and a special volunteer pass was extremely dangerous, so the part of the Kharkiv region turned out to be closed for our research. The list of villages was compiled after consultations with historian Maksym Rosenfeld, who is well-versed in the history of Slobozhanshchyna.

During some of the journeys, volunteers lived in a private house and slept in a bomb shelter in the basement to avoid waking up from air alarms and to stay as focused as possible. Unlike other researched regions, there was constant tension and predictable caution from the locals in Kharkiv Oblast. Also, volunteers hardly encountered elderly people here, who usually shared memories of their own homes. In total, volunteer groups managed to explore 15 villages in the region.

A characteristic feature of the Kharkiv region is its heterogeneity. The historical development of the western, eastern, northern, and southern parts influenced the formation of distinctive and characteristic architecture within the region.

Buildings in the Kharkiv region were mostly constructed with brick. This is due to the rich deposits of red clay and the development of the sugar industry. People here had the resources to build quality and sturdy houses. History also played its role – this multifaceted region was systematically destroyed throughout the 20th century. Wooden houses are found in the northern part of the region, where there are forests. Although there are significantly fewer of them, we preserved them in the constructor so as not to interrupt this tradition..

The characteristic color palette of the Kharkiv region is a combination of shades of green and blue. Red brick is often adorned with decorative inserts of colored painted bricks – most often white. In general, the decor of local buildings is characterized by simple geometric forms, including diamonds.

While exploring the Sumy region, volunteers discovered that most characteristic private houses for the region have been preserved in towns with estate development. From the planned list, volunteers explored 18 villages and towns in the Sumy region during expeditions. Typically, the team chose historical district centers and traveled the surrounding areas in search of authentic buildings.

The closer to the border with Russia, and therefore the frontline, the more tension was felt in the mood of the region's residents. However, locals usually allowed photographing their homes but requested not to photograph themselves. The region suffers from regular targeted shelling along the border, so the path often encountered abandoned houses and even entire villages.

The architecture of rural houses in the Sumy region is extremely colorful, with a predominance of shades of blue, green, and dark cherry. Local wooden houses, in particular, stand out with vibrant colors – some walls faded over time, while others are carefully repainted. People also love to decorate their homes: volunteers collected many photos of unique decorative elements, such as voluminous flowers, birds, and intricate carvings. A large number of red brick houses, also adorned with various decorations, usually geometric, are present.

In contrast to other northern border regions explored in the RE:Ukraine Villages project, there are fewer noticeable traces of soviet influence in the Sumy region.

In early 2024, our research extended to the Ukrainian South – a historically multicultural region. We predominantly studied the features of local architecture online and from open sources. Due to the proximity to the front line, expeditions were perilous, and the few trips we managed to organize yielded disappointing results: the destruction of buildings was significant, with some villages completely devastated. However, aside from our traditional searches on real estate websites and Google Street View, we were able to gather many oral histories and memories from the family archives of acquaintances. The volunteer initiative Old Khata Project has made a major contribution to our Batkivska Khata photo database.

The history of Mykolaiv is marked by traces of Greek settlements dating back to the 6th century BC. Their cultural influence, reinforced by the characteristics of the local climate, is evident in the architecture of rural houses to this day. Wooden houses are practically absent in the region, primarily due to the lack of material and the warm climate. However, wood was used for decorative embellishments on gables. Local houses are rich in decoration and smooth lines. Greek motifs can be recognized in fluted columns and widespread corner elements, echoing the Doric order. 

In this area, we encountered and added a new characteristic material for decoration and ornamentation to our online constructor – plasterwork. Plaster elements here are twice or thrice as abundant as bricks, which is reflected in the options available for selection in the online constructor. Bricks are usually left unpainted, but houses adorned with plasterwork are often in shades of blue or gray, with white decoration.

As with the Mykolaiv region, due to the proximity to hostilities and partial occupation of the Zaporizhzhia region, the possibilities of our field research were extremely limited. However, colleagues and friends came to our aid here as well: they sent us photos of their relatives' houses from the temporarily occupied villages.

Various forms of permanent housing coexisted throughout the region`s construction history. In our research, we categorized them into two main types: the traditional Ukrainian wattle-and-daub hut and a mennonite house. The latter stands out as a singular illustration of wholly adopted manorial architecture, which has hardly changed over time. The house typology was brought by Protestant Mennonite settlers from the territory of the modern Netherlands.

As of 2024, brick houses prevail in the villages of Zaporizhzhia – wood is only used in framing and window frames. Brick decoration dominates in cornices, corners, and window frames. Unpainted brick is more characteristic for the region; for painting, shades of blue, turquoise, greenish, and white colors are usually chosen.

One of the peculiarities of the region is the variety of gables, which form the recognizable image of a Zaporizhzhia rural house. In our research, we identified five types of wooden gable decorations (with various types of attic windows) and brick ones – in the decoration of cornices and various attic windows.

"Everything was destroyed in the villages we've picked. Not a single house was left standing. We did not take pictures because there was nothing to photograph. The villages located deep in the region are under constant shelling – it's dangerous to travel there now." – this message from our volunteers accurately describes attempts to organize expeditions in the Kherson region. However, studying the historical context brought us many insights and findings. We believe that after the complete de-occupation, we will be able to explore this region to the fullest extent.

The Mennonite influence common to the southern regions is brick gables. There are also wooden ones. Cornice and corner decorations are widely used. Molded decor is also widespread among the houses of the region.

Khersonshchyna is notable for its elements that are generally common in the Ukrainian South. However, unlike Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia, they are used more eclectically here, often combining decor from different materials – for example, a brick or wooden gable finishing can be found alongside molded decor.

As a coastal region with access to the sea, Odesa naturally became a melting pot of various cultures that converged on its lands. From Greek settlers who arrived on these shores before our era to the Cossacks who found refuge here after the destruction of the Zaporozhian Sich, and to Moldovans, Bulgarians, Crimean Tatars, Germans, Albanians and Jews who settled here during the times of the russian empire, all of this influenced the formation of the extraordinary diversity of rural architecture in the region.

The majority of local houses are plastered; bricks are almost nonexistent. At the same time, the gables are more diverse – here, you can see plastered, wooden, or even a combination of both materials, for example, plastering the lower part of the gable with geometric clay elements.

The facades of the buildings are often painted in shades of blue and gray, combined with decorative elements in white. Green and blue gables with colorful decorative elements are also common.

Among all the regions we have explored so far, Odesa is the record holder for the number of decorative elements. Here, you can choose from six different types of window frames, corner elements, and cornices. However, the real hallmark of this region is the decoration of gables. Most often, they are adorned with clay elements – geometric shapes and animalistic ornaments. Lions, birds, deer, and various floral ornaments are often seen on the gable. The windows on the gable are extremely variable – elongated arches, arrow-shaped, quadrangular – a total of 8 types have been added to the constructor. The gable is crowned with a cone-shaped or crown-shaped finial – in Odesa, they have an elongated form and a complex silhouette.

The pride and character of the Dnipro region are embodied in the renowned Petrykivka painting, which originated from the village of the same name. Historians believe that this traditional ornamental technique with floral motifs was born from the decoration of rural houses. The inspiration for these floral ornaments came from the local nature – garden and meadow flowers, berries, grape leaves, and ferns. Similar motifs can be found in icon painting and applied arts, such as the decoration of dishes, towels, and clothing. In 2013, UNESCO included Petrykivka painting in its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

The scarcity of wood, typical of southern regions, also affected rural houses in the Dnipro region. Due to rich clay deposits, hollow brick – also known as "lympach," an unfired brick made from a mixture of clay, straw, and sand – has been widely used for construction since ancient times. However, brick houses became the most widespread in the region. This was mainly due to the building practices of the Mennonites. In more modern homes, wooden gables can be seen, and the eaves and cornices of roofs are often decorated with wooden planks.

Facades are often painted in light pastel shades, combined with blue and green gables. Decorative elements, often painted in blue, green, and brown, further enhance these color combinations. Houses are decorated with brick and molded decor. A distinctive feature of the region is the variety of plant and geometric molded elements, which stylistically resonate with Petrykivka. The corners and facades of houses are adorned with painted tiles and ornaments – especially popular in the region are grape and rhombus patterns. Gables are crowned with wooden peaks.

A unique continuation of the tradition of building with clay is the use of ceramic tiles. For this practical and durable material, villagers turned to local pottery masters or made them themselves. Both basic shapes and stencils (checkerboards, rhombuses) and more individual patterns were used to decorate the facades.

During the full-scale war, more and more people are discovering Poltava as a tourist destination – and the bureau's team was no exception. In November 2023 and June 2024, we made two two-day expeditions to the region – these trips became both work and a vacation for us. The list of villages was provided to us by the researchers, and we developed the route accordingly.

The typology of the Poltava house is a progression and modernization of the historic Ukrainian hut. A vivid example is the shape of the roof, which has evolved from a thatched roof only in terms of roofing material while retaining its distinctive shape. One of the main characteristic features of the Poltava region is the widespread use of tiles. They are used to decorate the corners of houses, adorn the cornices, and finish the facades. Different materials are widely used and combined for decoration: you can choose plaster, tiles, and bricks in the online constructor. In the Poltava region, these decorative materials are often combined with wooden window frames and painted green, blue, and shades of red and brown.

We also noticed the variety of chimneys, often embellished with zinc plating, and decorative roof ridges. During our travels, we met a woman who told us about a local man who made such chimneys and decorations and showed us his house. 

Researching the rural architecture of the Poltava region was also an opportunity for us to pay tribute to Vasyl Krychevsky, an outstanding Ukrainian artist, architect, graphic artist, and pioneer of the national professional university architecture and art education. The creator of Ukrainian Art Nouveau architecture lived and worked in this area. His style is characterized by geometric pentagonal shapes – which, in our opinion, echo the characteristic trapezoidal shape of the windows of local houses.

In the north, the Volyn region borders Poland and Belarus, which means there is a special access regime in the border area. This area turned out to be a hidden gem for researchers – many authentic houses with distinctive decor have been preserved in the local villages, far from regional centers. Over the course of three days, we visited around 30 villages, capturing more than 1,000 photos.

The architecture of Volyn’s villages features characteristics typical of northern Ukraine, notably the widespread use of wood, which is well-suited to the forested landscape. Most houses are either constructed from timber using the log construction technique or adorned with wooden planks; brick houses are relatively rare. We first incorporated wooden planks into our online constructor after researching the Chernihiv region, which suggests a shared ethnographic context across the area. For the online constructor, we selected three typical patterns for wooden cladding: horizontal, vertical, and herringbone. Gables are often embellished with decorative wooden planks as well.

Window frames, often minimalist, along with cornices and corners, are decorated with carvings featuring geometric patterns such as diamonds, circles, lines, hearts, and floral motifs. In the north of the region, shutters are common, providing extra protection against drafts and heat loss. Most roofs are reinforced with eaves and adorned with fascia boards. The gables of the buildings are often adorned with spikes, and symbolic suns are frequently placed in the attics.

The color palette of the region’s houses ranges from traditional white, natural wood tones, and blue to vibrant shades of yellow, red, and green.

Like other areas of the Polissia region, the Rivne oblast has long been known for its log construction techniques for house building. Dense forests provided the raw materials for the craftsmen, so the locals were highly skilled in selecting and processing wood. This is still evident in the prevalence of wooden houses and the variety of carved decorations. Houses were also built with wooden frames covered with clay or planks, which were used to decorate the gables and facades. Sometimes, wood of different quality was used in both construction and decoration. The best wood was used for the foundation of the house, while the lower-quality wood was used for the upper parts. This division of the facade into two or three sections, each with its own slope and sometimes even varying board widths, became characteristic of the region. Decorative wooden corners with carved tops were also a distinctive feature.

More modern houses, built in the second half of the 20th century, often feature tiled exteriors. Floral motifs are the most common decor of such houses, with ornaments in the form of flowers and plants. Another popular alternative to wood is wall plastering.

The most commonly used colors in the Rivne oblast are white, blue, yellow, green, and terracotta. Windows here are predominantly painted blue. Brightly colored houses are often adorned with decorative elements in various combinations: rhombuses, plant motifs, and hearts are most often found on the walls and in corners. Elements made of mirrors are also common: they reflect sunlight, giving a silver-like appearance on sunny days.

In our research, we identified verandas as a characteristic feature of the Rivne oblast. Here, they are usually gabled and placed in the center of the facade, making the veranda a richly embellished focal point of the house, sometimes surpassing the rest of the house in decoration. The window patterns of the veranda are often complex and intricately adorned.

Additionally, we cannot overlook the popularity of various decorations made of metal plates and sheets, which were produced by the regional tinsmithing tradition. Specifically, in local houses, you can find decorated metal chimneys, refined gutters, and carved metal perimeter trim on the gables. The latter echoes the region's traditions of carved wooden decorations.

Based on the results of our study of the Rivne oblast, we have added new veranda decoration options to our online constructor and updated existing layouts – now, the veranda can be placed at the center of the house.

The architectural heritage of the Lviv oblast reflects the rich history and region's unique geographical location. Traditional Boyko-style housing with high roofs and open galleries, German colonies with a functional approach to planning, elements of Austrian urban architecture, and buildings associated with tourism development are all integrated within it. Despite the uniformity of the Soviet era, local twentieth-century houses retained their regional characteristics.

Both the Lviv oblast and the Carpathian region are characterized by the use of wood. The traditions of log construction and wood carving were preserved in these regions until the early twentieth century. These houses feature steep roofs, designed to suit the climate, and open galleries along the facades, allowing people to potter around even in bad weather.

Most often, the houses are decorated with wooden boards covering the entire height of the facade. Three-dimensional decor is uncommon in the Lviv oblast; local houses are usually adorned with drawings or flat geometric elements. A popular motif is horizontal stripes that run along the window frames, a feature typical of both wooden and plastered buildings. Typical decorative elements of the Lviv oblast include geometric patterns, animal motifs, and horizontal stripes.

In the Lviv oblast, special attention is given to the decoration of verandas, with many different styles present. One of the most common veranda designs features a roof that blends seamlessly into the main structure of the house. Glazed verandas along the facades are also a common feature.