Читать книгу Diversity in the East-Central European Borderlands - Группа авторов - Страница 32

Stalinist neo-classicism, or “Socialist Realism,” left most visible traces in Chişinău, especially around the central boulevard. The plans, not implemented, for grandiose street axis and parade squares, at the expense of cultural heritage, in Nazi Breslau and Stalinist Soviet L’viv had clear similarities. In Wrocław, the damaged area around the former Tauentzienplatz was reconstructed in a classicist manner, well adapted to the adjacent buildings. In Chernivtsi, some neo-classical buildings were well adapted to the site.

Although beyond the official Soviet planning, experts in L’viv managed to begin an inventory of historical buildings to be preserved. In Wrocław, the ambitious program for restoring old buildings and historical street façades was mostly achieved in the 1960s. In Chernivtsi, urban planning left the historical center unchanged and preserved by default. Chişinău had no special plans for preservation, except for a few chosen buildings, representing the Russian heritage. Several churches and synagogues were demolished after the war and the whole Old Town was to be replaced by new structures.

The modernist breakthrough in the 1960s strongly affected urban planning in the four cities. Modernism lacking respect for historical heritage reflected international trends. In L’viv, only minor parts of the planned open structures in the central city materialized. In Wrocław, modernist architecture replaced damaged blocks outside the most important historical streets. In Chernivtsi, planned broadenings of some streets in the city center were not implemented. In Chişinău, large parts of the Old Town were transformed into suburb-like apartment districts.

In Chişinău, Chernivtsi, and L’viv, inventories of historical buildings have been made after 1989. They provide architectural descriptions, focusing on monumental buildings, their builders and their initial use. Residential houses are also included, but little is described about their users. Generally, the inventories do not include details on social aspects. Simpler buildings are often ignored, although they tell much about the city history and urban life. The “lower towns” of Chişinău and Chernivtsi and the north-west part of L’viv have only been studied only cursorily. In Chişinău, where demolition of the “lower town” was planned, slowly an interest in preserving what is left is rising. The previously endangered “lower town” of Chernivtsi seems now to be saved, like parts of north-west L’viv. This changed paradigm harmonizes with inclusion of Chernivtsi and L’viv to the UNESCO World Heritage list. In large historical districts is decided to avoid demolition and to adapt new buildings to the old fabric and scale. In L’viv, guidelines for preservation of the old architecture have been formulated and published.