A Soviet collectible postcard from 1966 depicting the high-rise building of the “Moskva” Hotel in Kyiv.
What is shown on the postcard
The foreground features blooming mallows and a fragment of a colonnade on the left. In the center, the multi-story light-colored building of the “Moskva” Hotel stands with its characteristic flat terrace roof. Figures of people walking are visible near the base of the structure.
Historical note
The hotel was constructed between 1954 and 1961 on the site of the former Ginzburg Skyscraper. The initial design proposed a Stalinist Empire style skyscraper with a tall spire, but due to the Soviet campaign against “architectural excesses,” the project was simplified, and the spire was omitted.
Present day
In 2001, to mark the 10th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, the “Moskva” Hotel was renamed the “Ukrayina” Hotel. The building continues to operate as a hotel and remains a key architectural landmark of Maidan Nezalezhnosti.
Location (map)
Address: 4 Instytutska St, Kyiv, Ukraine
Coordinates: 50.449416, 30.527318
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of Hotel Ukrayina (formerly Moskva), 4 Instytutska St.
Questions and answers
- What is the current name of the “Moskva” Hotel in Kyiv? Since 2001, the hotel has been officially named “Ukrayina”.
- Why does the hotel building lack a spire? The spire was removed from the design during the Soviet state campaign against “architectural excesses.”
- What was located on this site prior to the hotel’s construction? The hotel was built on the site of the former Ginzburg Skyscraper.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Kyiv from 1966.
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