In this part of the series, we are not talking about the condition of the building, but about its future spatial logic and about the solutions that allow us to transform a fragment of Podil's industrial past into a complex medical and educational infrastructure.
Hybrid spaces: how education, medicine and research combine
Modern requirements for educational architecture in Europe have long gone beyond classrooms and lecture halls. They are about barrier-free environments, flexible layouts, integration of different functions and the ability of the building to adapt to changes in the education system itself. This is especially noticeable in the field of medical education, where teaching, research and practice are increasingly combined within the same space. A few decades ago, medical universities sought isolated campuses - with clearly separated buildings, laboratories and clinics. Today, this model is gradually changing. In European cities, medical education is increasingly integrated into the urban fabric, occupying historic buildings and adapting them for new functions.
Reference: Reconstruction of an old building for the educational center of Semmelweis University, Budapest. Photo: Épkar Zrt, Facebook
A prime example is the reconstruction of a historic residential building from 1891 in Budapest for Semmelweis University. The project involves transforming a former residential building into an educational center in the field of Digital Health and mental health. The building has five above-ground levels and an internal courtyard; during the reconstruction, the existing roof is dismantled, the floors are reinforced and a new structural frame is formed that can withstand modern loads. The total area after the reconstruction will be about 4–5 thousand m² (according to the project), a significant part of which is allocated for educational spaces, research units and auditoriums. The facade and key interior elements — in particular the grand staircase — are preserved, but the internal structure of the building is actually being recreated anew. This is a significant transformation of the internal space for a new functional program: with new vertical connections, engineering systems and usage scenarios.
Reference: During the reconstruction process for the new function of Semmelweis University, it was necessary to dismantle walls and strengthen the ceilings with metal ties. Photo: Épkar Zrt, Facebook
Similar approaches are being used in other European projects. In Zabrze, Poland, a historic building is being converted into a medical simulation training center for the Academy of Silesia, complete with training operating rooms, laboratories, and technology-rich classrooms. In Barcelona, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau complex, with an area of over 145,000 m², was transformed from its clinical function into a campus housing educational programs, research institutions, and international organizations.
Reference: building axonometry and reconstruction plan of a historic building in Zabrze, Poland. Image: Dieu Merci Bustseme, Krzysztof Skrzypiec
At the same time, the structure of universities is changing. Instead of compact campuses, a distributed model is being formed: individual faculties and centers occupy different buildings within the city - often historical ones. This allows working with the already formed environment, but at the same time it sets strict requirements for reconstruction: it is necessary to integrate complex engineering systems, ensure barrier-free access, access control, and clear logistics of flows.
In all these cases, architects are working with spaces that were not designed for medical or educational functions. This means intervening at the structural level, completely rethinking the layout, and selectively preserving those elements that shape the building's identity.
Reference: The old Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau building in Barcelona has been adapted to house educational studios and a cultural center. Photo: Luidger, Wikipedia
In the case of psychotherapy education, these requirements are even more complicated. The model used, for example, by the Sigmund Freud University in Vienna, involves the direct integration of the educational process with clinical practice - through university outpatient clinics and psychological centers. This means that the architecture must function simultaneously as a learning environment and as a space for working with patients.
Such buildings require not only functional zoning, but also a delicate work with scale and privacy: from open educational spaces to private rooms for individual therapy, with clearly thought-out movement routes and minimizing the crossing of different user groups. The space in this case becomes part of the therapeutic process, it should create a sense of safety, control and trust.
The transformation of the building at 4 Frolivska Street should be considered not as an exceptional situation, but as part of a broader practice, when the existing shell becomes the basis for a new medical and educational infrastructure.
Behind the facade of the building at 4 Frolivska Street, which is covered by a banner, a complex process of major repairs is underway. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Without changing the profile: how to adapt a building to new requirements
In the previous article "House at 4 Frolivska: between technical condition and urban context" Roman Malenkov, head of the State Historical and Architectural Reserve "Ancient Kyiv" and founder of the NGO "Ukraine Incognita", outlined the evolution of the building as a sequence of reconstructions and changes in function: in the 1830s, the estate passed to the Malinovsky family and at that time was a stone one-story building with a wooden top. In the 1870s, a second brick floor appeared, and at the end of the 19th century, after its acquisition by Sava Morozov, the building was significantly modernized: the structures were partially rebuilt, the window openings were enlarged, and the engineering was updated. The architecture moved away from eclecticism to features of modernism, which reflected the economic rise of the city. In 1915, against the backdrop of the First World War, the building received a new function: a prosthetic factory was placed here, which met the needs of the time.
Roman Malenkov, head of the State Historical and Architectural Reserve (DIAZ) "Ancient Kyiv" and founder of the NGO "Ukraine Incognita"
In modern realities, the team of designers of the new scenario for Frolivska, 4 was faced with a task that is difficult to reduce to a standard overhaul: it was not only about preserving the facade and recognizable image of the building, but also about forming a fundamentally new infrastructure inside, one that meets the current requirements of medicine, production, and the educational process.
The walls facing the courtyard were severely damaged by moisture during the years of inactivity of the previous owners. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
It is important that after the completion of the work, the building will not change its profile: a prosthetic and orthopedic institution will continue to function here. For the project team, this is not only a question of the physical preservation of the facility, but also of preserving its role in the urban context. At the same time, the functional program is expanding: the development of scientific and educational components is envisaged, in particular, the creation of an environment for learning, professional training and advanced training of specialists in the field of prosthetics and orthopedics.
Construction workers ensured pedestrians had safe passage through the street during the renovation work. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Color as memory: why the blue facade is preserved
The experts' preliminary conclusions regarding the color scheme of the building at 4 Frolivska are based on a comprehensive survey, including laboratory analysis of decoration samples from different periods. The study showed that the facades have repeatedly changed their appearance: from exposed brickwork with decorative stitching to plastered surfaces, which were painted in white, ochre-yellow and terracotta colors at different times. This means that the "original" color as a single standard does not actually exist, it is about layering. The later layer formed the image of the building familiar to Kyiv residents - a light blue facade with white window frames. It was decided to preserve it in the project: not as an attempt to recreate the "original" state, but as a fixation of the appearance with which the building entered the city's memory.
After the completion of the works, the building will not change its profile: a prosthetic and orthopedic institution will continue to operate here. This is a matter of preserving the role of the facility in the urban context.
The emergence of light blue facades at the beginning of the 20th century is associated not only with aesthetics, but also with technological and social changes. The development of industrial paints allowed the use of stable light shades, which were previously difficult to reproduce on facades. At the same time, the demand for "clean" architecture - light surfaces, which were associated with hygiene, clean air and a new level of comfort - was established in urban culture.
In late modernism, color begins to work as a separate tool: light blue planes are combined with white details, emphasizing the rhythm of windows and the geometry of the facade. In cities like Kyiv, such a palette quickly becomes established in residential and public buildings of the early 20th century - as a sign of renewal and a departure from the heavy eclecticism of the previous era.
Hryhoriy Lysenko, architect, vice-president of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine. Photo: Maksym Drobinenko
The project architect, Hryhoriy Lysenko, founder of the Ars Longa architectural studio, explains which elements of the existing shell were preserved and how the team works with them: “If we talk about authenticity, the key architectural value is formed by the external walls that define the building. This applies primarily to the facades facing Frolivska Street and towards the square: they are the ones that shape the image of the building in the urban environment, and we work with them as delicately as possible. It is they that we leave and restore — along with the plaster and paint coating.
Our task is to recreate their usual appearance as accurately as possible. Therefore, all windows and doors are formed according to the existing parameters: we do not change the proportions, we do not interfere with the imposts of window and door openings. It is important to preserve not individual elements, but the holistic perception of the facade - its rhythm, scale and character.
The floors are reinforced with powerful metal beams. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Between learning and production: how to avoid a conflict of functions
Combining educational, scientific, and production functions in one project is usually perceived as a complication. However, in the case of Frolivskaya, 4 it is not about the mechanical superposition of different scenarios, but about their dilution and fine-tuning within the complex.
Architect Hryhoriy Lysenko explains that the first building, which the team is currently working on, is actually focused primarily on the educational function: "This building, which we are implementing first, is inherently educational. Yes, historically it was part of a production complex, but today we are adapting it for an educational function, maintaining a connection with its traditional use - according to a logic close to a vocational training institution. The production component is present here, but rather as part of the educational process, rather than as an independent function."
Educational and production processes do not overlap within the same volume, everything is divided between buildings: one building is educational, the other is production and at the same time contains physiotherapy rooms.
It is an environment where practice is integrated into learning, rather than existing in parallel with it. Accordingly, the interior space is completely rethought: "All volumes inside the building are actually adapted to educational needs, taking into account modern requirements. These are classrooms, training laboratories, spaces for practical work. The educational and scientific function is used directly here - without the conventional division into "theory" and "production", because in our case these are interrelated processes."
The premises of the future auditorium. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
At the same time, the very appearance of the production component in the city center is an issue that requires a separate explanation. And here the architect clearly outlines his position: "In world practice, industrial facilities are gradually being moved outside the city limits. This is due to both noise and logistics and the general burden on the urban environment. It is difficult to integrate such functions into residential development without conflicts.
But in the case of this building, we are dealing with history: it ended up in the city center not because it was designed here today, but because the city grew around it. And this changes the approach to working with functions.”
Because of this, the project involves a clear separation of roles between the buildings, explains Hryhoriy Lysenko: "We are separating these functions. The building we are working on now is mainly educational. In parallel, another building is being implemented - more production, where manufacturing processes, measurements, physiotherapy, and specialized offices are concentrated. The space is also being renovated and modernized there.
The space has been cleared of later layers and is prepared for redevelopment. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
This approach allows us to maintain the connection between learning and practice, but at the same time avoid overloading one building with too many different scenarios."
Therefore, educational and production processes do not overlap within the same volume, everything is divided between buildings: one building is educational, the other is production and at the same time contains physiotherapy rooms.
This solution automatically affects the organization of flows. Instead of complex zoning within a single building — with separate entrances, corridors, and buffer zones — the logic becomes simpler and clearer: students, patients, and staff are distributed between buildings according to the usage scenario. This avoids unnecessary intersections and reduces the load on each individual building, which is especially important in the context of existing developments with limited redevelopment opportunities.
From production to fitting: how the prosthetic workshop is changing
The production component in this project differs significantly from the classical idea of prosthetic production as a full-fledged industrial cycle. Modern practice increasingly assumes a different model: the manufacture of basic components and complex assemblies takes place centrally, at large specialized enterprises, while local workshops are connected at the final stage.
The major renovation involves the preservation of historical elements and a complete rethinking of the building's internal structure. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
"As far as we understand, the main production today is concentrated in large factories. And here the prostheses are already being adjusted to a specific patient and training in their use is taking place," explains Hryhoriy Lysenko.
This directly affects the architecture of the space. Prosthetic and orthopedic workshops in this format are not heavy production, but rather a combination of different premises:
- technically equipped work areas for individual adaptation of products;
- measurement and consultation rooms;
- facilities for physical rehabilitation and patient education;
- digital laboratories using 3D scanning and modeling.
Compared to office or educational spaces, such environments have a different structure: they require greater variability — from cubicles to open areas for practical work, as well as increased requirements for engineering, ventilation, cleanliness, and ergonomics.
Even if the specific list of equipment is still being finalized, the typology itself is already clear: it is a space that combines medicine, engineering, and education. And it is this hybridity that determines the planning decisions - from the scale of the premises to the organization of movement within the building.
The interior space is being rebuilt for educational and medical functions. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Inclusion inside and outside the building: a challenge for Podil
Inclusivity in this project is not an additional layer, but a basic condition without which such a function cannot work at all. For medical and rehabilitation spaces related to prosthetics, this is especially critical: architecture here directly affects the recovery process.
As Grigoriy Lysenko says, key decisions have already been made at the level of organization of the floor where work with patients will take place: "The floor on which the reception will take place is fully adapted: ramps are provided, barrier-free access to all rooms. A person can freely enter the examination room, consultation, fitting of prostheses or physiotherapy, without additional restrictions or complicated routes. Products are also adjusted to a specific patient here: prostheses are not just issued, but adjusted directly in the building, after which the person undergoes training in how to use them."
Dismantling works expose the original structure of the building, which will be used as a basis for new functions. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
In fact, it is a full-cycle environment: from initial consultation to adaptation and training. And this corresponds to the modern practice of designing rehabilitation and prosthetic and orthopedic centers in Europe, where the space is organized around the patient's scenario, and not vice versa. In such clinics (from university medical centers to specialized rehabilitation hubs), the following are fundamentally important:
- continuous traffic routes without level changes and barriers;
- clear navigation and visual accessibility of spaces;
- different scales of premises - from private offices to training halls;
- integration of physiotherapy, consultations and technical areas into a single system.
In the Ukrainian context, these requirements are enshrined at the level of regulations — in particular, DBN V.2.2-40:2018 "Inclusivity of Buildings and Structures", which provide for barrier-free access, adapted sanitary facilities, accessible entrances, and internal communications. However, in practice, compliance with regulations and actual usability often do not coincide, especially in historical environments.
It is a space where medicine, engineering and education are combined. And it is this hybridity that determines the planning decisions - from the scale of the premises to the organization of movement inside the building.
Podil is a prime example here. Despite its centrality and richness of functions, it remains one of the least inclusive districts of Kyiv: uneven paving, elevation differences, narrow sidewalks, and the lack of well-thought-out navigation make movement difficult even for people without physical limitations.
In this sense, the project at 4 Frolivska Street goes beyond the building itself. The team has previously announced its intention to work with the surrounding area, and therefore, it is a matter of potential change of a fragment of the urban environment. If these intentions are implemented, even local reconstruction — with thoughtful approaches, convenient entrances, safe routes — can serve as an example of working with existing urban development under difficult constraints. Not as a complete solution to the problem of non-inclusive Podil, but as an example of how the historical fabric of the city can gradually adapt to modern accessibility requirements.
