In the 1950s, the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev found itself in a difficult situation – the free territory around the educational institution had ended and there was nowhere to build new buildings (the university is located between Taras Shevchenko Park and Fomina Botanical Garden). The choice fell on undeveloped territories in the region VDNH, and the decision was justified by the proximity of a number of research institutes of the Academy of Sciences cybernetics, physics, theoretical physics, nuclear research in which students could do internships. In the early 1970s, construction began according to the design of architects V. Ladny (co-author of the development of Rusanovka), M. Budilovskaya, V. Kolomiets and engineer V. Drizo of a large-scale complex, which includes educational buildings, buildings of the administration and a sports complex, a library, a shopping and amenities complex, as well as a number of buildings of research institutes.
The educational complex of Taras Shevchenko University was built in a modernist style. The first building to appear was the Faculty of Physics building, which was built in 1973. A kind of springboard rises above the main entrance, which creates a mood of craving for knowledge and progress. The southwestern corner of the building is highlighted by the overhanging volume of the lecture hall, which is made in soft, streamlined shapes, in harmony with the already mentioned springboard above the entrance. Contrasting with these plastic details are the sharp sun fins above the classroom windows, which act as additional cooling in hot weather.
A covered passage connects the building of the Faculty of Physics with three rhythmically repeated buildings overlooking the internal area of the complex. The faculties of radiophysics, cybernetics and the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics are located here. The three buildings are absolutely identical: the volumes of classrooms hang over the entrance groups, and in the depths there are seven-story laboratory buildings. The differences between the buildings are in the bas-reliefs on the blank facades above the entrances. The campus was completed after the collapse of the USSR – in the mid-2000s. At the same time, the building of the Faculty of Biology was completed, but stood abandoned for a long time. In the example of this building, the gradual fading of the style is already noticeable – there are no sharply defined, overhanging volumes, nor a large glazing area.
Even if the university needs to expand in the future, there is no longer room for this – the area planned for the location of the library and community center was given over for construction. Now there is a residential complex “Solnechnye Vorota”, and the site of the physics and mathematics lyceum is occupied by the residential complex “Eureka”.
Where is the educational complex of Taras Shevchenko University?
Academician Glushkov Avenue, 2