Compositional and Artistic Territory Assessment of the Kyiv Cultural Landscape Monument

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to carry out a compositional and artistic territory’s evaluation of the Landscape Monument “Historic Landscape of the Kyiv Mountains and the Dnieper River Valley”, with recommendations on how to preserve the traditional character of the environment as well as the environment itself. The research methodology is based on the use of general scientific and special methods, in particular applied methods of theoretical research, namely the historical method in a systematic approach, when the object of research is considered in its origin and development. The systematic approach is to comprehensively study the object as a certain unity with the coherent functioning of the parts and the whole. Methods of bibliographic, archival, cartographic, iconographic research, as well as methods of empirical research: observations, full-scale studies, comparisons and mapping, have been applied. The scientific novelty of the research is that for the first time a compositional and artistic territory evaluation of the landmark “Historic Landscape of the Kyiv Mountains and the Dnieper River Valley” was carried out. This expertise should form the basis for defining / adjusting the boundaries and modes of use of the site itself and its conservation areas. The findings and conclusions of the study are based on the expert evaluation of the territory of the landmark “Historic landscape of the Kyiv Mountains and the Dnieper River valley” in the compositional and artistic aspect. It is concluded that the entire territory is of high value, because it is a landmark that is currently still a part of to the local accounting category, but by its importance for Ukrainian history and culture it should be entered in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine as a monument of national importance. However, despite such a high overall assessment of the entire territory of the monument, two categories of territories can be distinguished within it. The most valuable of them are on the high marks of the Dnieper plateau, with ensembles and complexes of town-planning, architectural, historical, archeological monuments of national importance and UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Kyiv- Pechersk Lavra ensemble. The relatively less valuable undeveloped territories in the Dnieper valley serve as a visual pool with many viewing points and fronts and a kind of pedestal for large-scale forms of positive curvature topped by architectural and urban dominants.