A second chance for "abandoned places": how to transform old palaces of culture into youth hubs

In most Ukrainian cities, former palaces of culture still stand – monumental buildings that were once the centers of community life. They were built according to standard designs in the 1950s–1980s: large halls, spacious foyers, stages, rooms for clubs and gyms.

After the collapse of the USSR, the factories that funded these spaces disappeared, and along with them, the buildings themselves began to fall into disrepair. Today, according to the Ministry of Culture, more than half of the club facilities in Ukraine are not used or are in a state of disrepair.

But for architects, urban planners, and representatives of street culture.These buildings are not a burden, but a potential. Their spatial flexibility, simple forms, and collective function offer a chance to transform "abandoned buildings" into modern cultural centers.

European experience

In European cities, the practice of renovating modernist buildings is not a trend, but a commonplace. Old schools, cinemas, and factories are being transformed into hubs, co-working spaces, art spaces, or youth centers, without losing their architectural identity.

One of the most striking examples is the network. GAME StreetMekka in Denmark.

• In the city Viborg The former factory has been transformed into a center for the development of street culture: an indoor skate park, graffiti zones, workshops, and performance stages.
• In Aalborg The old factory laboratory has been repurposed as a "street laboratory" – open for sports, workshops, and artistic experiments.
• In Esbjerg A multifunctional space with skate and BMX zones, parkour areas, a street stage, and spaces for creative initiatives has been created in the former locomotive depot.

The Danish experience shows that old buildings can remain historical while meeting the needs of modern communities.

"There's no need to build something new when you can breathe life into what already exists," says the co-founder of the street culture community. Street Culture Georgy Matyukhin said: "Abandoned Soviet buildings, which exist in almost every city, have enormous potential. They are the perfect place for the development of street and creative cultures. Such spaces can become vibrant centers for young people and help form cool, active youth communities."

Ukrainian practices

Examples of rethinking modernist heritage are also appearing in Ukraine. One of them is Urban Camp in Lviv, created by... Street Culture together with the office of urban development Urban Reform with the support of the city council and in cooperation with the Danish NGO GAME (creators of the StreetMekka network).

The former palace of culture initially served as a shelter for internally displaced persons, and later transformed into an open space for young people: with halls for breakdancing, graffiti, film screenings, and workshops. A tactical urban park with free sports grounds and exhibition areas was set up in the courtyard.

The camp also operates a Leadership Academy, which trains active young people for educational work in the regions. In addition, a tactical urban park has been created in the courtyard with free areas for street football, basketball, breakdancing, and an exhibition area, and the center itself has joined the "Create!" network of the Lviv City Council.

Similar concepts Street Culture and Urban Reform have already developedfor Mykolaiv (former "Iskra" cinema) and Kharkiv (the "Suchasnyk" cinema, damaged during shelling)

Where possible, urban planners strive not only to restore buildings, but also to integrate them into urban life – as spaces for meeting, creativity, the development of street and creative cultures, and support.

Main challenges

Despite the potential, rethinking modernist buildings also has its risks.

• FinancialMost of these properties belong to communities or the state, and without investors or grants, renovation may stop at the idea stage.
• BureaucraticMany buildings do not have protected status, so they are either destroyed or at risk of being rebuilt.
• Cultural: The desire to "modernize" can lead to a loss of authenticity, so it is very important that those who participate in the renovation have practical experience in implementing similar projects.

"Former Soviet palaces of culture have unique architectural and urban features," explains Oleksandra Naryzhnaya, founder of Urban Reform, architect and urban planner. "They are built with open spaces, clear geometry, large halls, and well-thought-out communications – all of which are ideally suited for modern reimagining. Moreover, elements of monumental art – mosaics, stained glass, bas-reliefs – are often preserved inside, which is important to protect by integrating them into new projects."

Architecture that unites

Modernist palaces of culture were created for collective life – concerts, film screenings, lectures, sports activities. And it is this social flexibility that makes them relevant today.

Bringing life back to such spaces is not just about architecture, but about memory and community. In a country experiencing a full-scale war, the revival of abandoned buildings can become part of a broader process of recovery – physical, cultural, and mental.

"Even buildings damaged by war can become points of regeneration," summarizes Anastasia Palii, co-founder of the Urban Reform School and urban planner. "As the example of Denmark shows, urban planning can be a powerful tool of hope. Reimagined palaces of culture and cinemas are not about the past, but about the future: they can become the foundation for a new urban life and the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine."