Teacher's House

Site History and Significance

A Symbol of Ukrainian Independence

When the Ukrainian People’s Republic declared its independence in 1918, the new nation’s parliament took to meeting in what had once been the Kyiv Pedagogical Museum. Over a century later, that same building has kept the affectionate moniker of “Teacher’s House” and become an important landmark in the Ukrainian capital. Today, in addition to housing the Pedagogical Museum, the building also contains exhibits dedicated to the the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1921. With its elegant frieze and large glass dome, the historic building has become an iconic element of the Kyiv skyline and a major national symbol.

Our Involvement

Restoration in the Wake of a Rocket Blast

After missiles targeted an intersection just a few hundred meters from the building in October of 2022, the resulting shockwave knocked out the Teacher’s House’s doors and windows and damaged the building’s glass dome. As a result of the damage, the building has been almost entirely out of service since the attack. The structure is one of hundreds of Ukrainian cultural sites that have been damaged or destroyed since the war with Russia began in 2022.

World Monuments Fund (WMF) and its partners have already installed a protective covering to prevent water damage to the exposed interior of the unique acoustic hall beneath the dome, in line with other projects WMF has undertaken to weatherize and winterproof war-damaged Ukrainian heritage sites. Now, with both the building and workers shielded from the elements, the team is proceeding with stabilization efforts. With support from the U.S. State Department Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), WMF will collaborate with the Department of Education and Science of Kyiv City State Administration to replace the more than 500 m2 of lost glass and repair damaged steel structural elements. The team will also scan the building in order to create a three-dimensional rendering of the dome. The ultimate goal of the project is the rehabilitation of the site, with the hope that it will be fully functional after the war.

World Monuments Fund’s work at the Kyiv City Teacher’s House has been made possible, in part, by support from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and the U.S. Embassy Kyiv.