The contextuality of the life and creative path of the architect's personality is emphasized in relation to the social-cultural and political-ideological conditions of the era, which are the framework of development. The political-economic, moral-worldview, and cultural changes in the society are considered and the corresponding stylistic changes in the architecture of Kyiv in the 50s-90s of the 20th century are characterized. It is shown how drastically and in connection with what the priorities in the architecture of Ukraine changed every ten years and how, in the fight against these challenges, the professional path of the generation that was born during the times of Stalinist repressions and war, grew up in the conditions of stable state-political regulation and culture of enlightenment, realized its life potential in the conditions of economic crisis and state collapse, grew old in the conditions of the new statehood, new social relations and technological transformations. The life and creative path of the Kyiv architect Oleksandr Horbyk is a revealing illustration of both realized opportunities and limitations created. The taste formed by the post-war historical center of Kyiv, the academic university education acquired at the Kyiv institute of Architecture had a limited opportunity to be realized in the practice of typical architecture - functional and combinatory in planning and constructive components. Such recreation centers in the Crimea and on the rivers and lakes of Ukraine, large-panel schools and kindergartens in Kyiv have proven the success of the architectural solution by the practice of functioning to this day. However, typical projects created certain ideological narratives of limitation and lack of freedom in the society of users, and the non-realization of creative futuristic and competitive projects belittled the creative potential of the architect. Attempts to diversify the professional path with teaching and scientific activities, artistic creativity, sports and travels, raising a dynasty of scientists were a certain compensator. The article contains data on the design practice of the Kyiv, list of scientific publications on the actual scientific topics of the second half of the 20th century.