The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra has launched a new exhibition titled 'Ukraine in Miniature', which integrates architectural heritage with innovative technologies. The display features 3D models of iconic buildings from all regions of the country — from the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, through the St. George Cathedral in Lviv, to the modern drama theater in Ivano-Frankivsk and the 'Ukraine' hotel in Luhansk.
Among the exhibits are those that currently exist only in digital form, as they were destroyed during the war: the Donetsk Drama Theater in Mariupol and the Hryhorii Skovoroda Museum in Kharkiv region.
The exhibition allows visitors not only to view the models but also to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the places through VR tours, immersive videos, and musical compositions by contemporary Ukrainian artists. The use of VR glasses, audiovisual formats, and interactive tools enables visitors to 'experience' the architecture and its emotional context.
The team from the Skeiron studio has conducted extensive digital documentation of architectural monuments, creating accurate 3D models that serve as the foundation of the exhibition. The project has already visited Finland, Latvia, France, Hungary, and Germany, telling the story of Ukraine's rich cultural heritage, its connection to European history, and the losses it has suffered due to war.
The acting director of the National Preserve 'Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra', Svitlana Kotliarevska, emphasized that the return of the exhibition from Europe to the Lavra is symbolic, just as the faith in the return of temporarily occupied territories.
The curator Lina Romanukha led the first tour, highlighting the stylistic diversity of the buildings — from Baroque to Modernism. According to her, this project is not just a showcase of iconic architectural monuments, but an attempt to preserve the memory of what has been destroyed while simultaneously demonstrating that culture can regenerate.
'We have gathered models of buildings from different regions of Ukraine to create a unique map of architectural identity that speaks through the voices of cities, stories, losses, and hopes. The project combines the physical presence of the models with digital tools — VR, audio, and video, allowing viewers not only to see the monument itself but also to imagine it in reality.
'We hope that each visitor leaves this exhibition not only with an aesthetic impression but also with an inner conviction: Ukrainian culture is alive, strong, and worthy of preservation,' concluded the project curator.
This project is implemented under the 'Join Us!' program with support from USAID and the international organization Pact in Ukraine.
Exhibition 'Ukraine in Miniature'
When: September 29, daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
Where: Refectory of the Church of Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves, Lavrska Street, 9
Entry — with a general ticket to the National Preserve 'Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra'.
