Volodymyr Pokrovskyi

Volodymyr Mykolayovych Pokrovskyi was born in 1864 in the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi.^[1][2] He graduated from the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg in 1888, receiving a gold medal.^[2] For his work "Embassy House," he was awarded the title of Class I Artist in 1890.^[1] After completing his studies, he worked for some time in Warsaw. Initially, he held the position of architect for the Warsaw-Chełm Eparchy, but left it following the revolutionary events of 1905 due to threats to his family's safety.^[3] He then worked for a time at the Moscow Land Survey Office.^[3] In 1906, he appealed to Archbishop Arsenii of Kharkiv [uk] with a request to be appointed diocesan architect. After the prolonged illness and subsequent death of his predecessor, architect Volodymyr Khrystianovych Niemkin [uk], he was appointed to the position in 1907.^[3]

From the beginning of his activity in Kharkiv, Pokrovskyi became an active participant in the city's urban development. His first project was the Church of the Three Holy Hierarchs [uk] (Holberg Church).^[3] Later, he designed the bell tower of the Myronosytska Church [uk], as well as the buildings of the Diocesan Museum, a library, a hotel, a private girls' gymnasium [uk], and a number of mansions and apartment buildings.^[3] Pokrovskyi gained a reputation as an active and demanding architect: he purchased an automobile for travel throughout the governorate and became a member of the South Russian Automobile Club [uk].^[3] He was one of the first Kharkiv residents to be fined for violating traffic regulations.^[3]

In 1909, Pokrovskyi decided to construct an income-generating apartment building [uk] in which he and his family would reside. Construction was completed in 1911, but due to financial difficulties, he sold the building to Heorhii Pitre in 1913, retaining one of the apartments as a tenant.^[3][4]

From 1917, Pokrovskyi left his position as diocesan architect and began working alongside Academician Oleksiy Mykolayovych Beketov in the Consumer Society of Southern Russia.^[3] During the rule of the Volunteer Army, he served as a member of the Kharkiv City Duma, representing the Progressive Party.^[1] In the autumn of 1919, he delivered lectures (“Fundamentals of Masonry Construction”) at the Free Faculty of Arts, chaired by Professor F. Schmitt. In 1921, Pokrovskyi was accused of collaboration with the Volunteer Army, but all charges were later dropped.^[1] With his involvement, the architectural faculty of the Kharkiv Art Institute [uk] was established, and he was appointed professor there in 1922. From 1917 until his death, he also taught at the Kharkiv Technological Institute.

Volodymyr Pokrovskyi died on 4 April 1924. He was originally buried at the Ivano-Usiknenskyi Cemetery [uk], but after its demolition, his grave was relocated to the 13th City Cemetery [uk]. His grave is designated a local heritage site [uk] (protection number 3267-KhA).