Ukrainian architecture studio Forma has successfully renovated Pavilion 13, a Soviet-era exhibition hall in Kyiv, carefully updating the modernist structure for contemporary use while preserving its original architectural character. The renovation project was commissioned by non-profit organization Ribbon International to restore the building as a public events space within the National Complex Expocentre of Ukraine.
Pavilion 13 was originally constructed in 1967 as an exposition hall designed to showcase developments in Ukraine's coal mining industry. However, by the early 2000s, the building had lost its original function and remained unused for decades. Following the establishment of the Pavilion of Culture, a public arts program launched on the site in 2020, Forma began working to revive Pavilion 13 as a functional space for exhibitions and cultural events.
The renovation serves as an important precedent for the careful preservation of Soviet-era infrastructure, according to the studio. "We see our experience as a case study in how to engage with modernist architectural heritage without erasing its character or forcing it into a new mold," studio partners Iryna Miroshnykova and Oleksii Petrov explained. They emphasized that such preservation work "doesn't necessarily require massive investment" but "does require a thoughtful, ethical approach to heritage, long-term care, and collaborative involvement."
The architects noted that many similar structures today remain empty or deteriorate because their cultural value goes unrecognized. Forma's approach focused on preserving the building's original structure, which features a stripped-back, rectilinear form defined by large columns and a glazed facade. Externally, the team repaired the facades and redesigned the doors to resemble the originals, while maintaining the plinth base that forms stepped access to the hall's front entrance.
Inside the steel-framed glazed structure, visitors enter a spacious main hall that currently showcases a "site-responsive" exhibition by Berlin-based artist Sam Lewitt. The exhibition explores "the contemporary relevance of Pavilion 13 as a former showcase for coal mining in Ukraine." During the renovation process, the team uncovered the hall's rear wall, which had been covered by previous interventions, revealing textured cladding made from shards of broken glass.
The interior updates include the installation of new concrete flooring and a steel-gridded ceiling fitted with strip lighting. Forma's comprehensive intervention also involved updating Pavilion 13's water and sewage systems, electrical wiring, and lighting systems. "We approached the renovation with a light, careful touch. The original architectural structure of the pavilion has been preserved – there were no additions, extensions, or removal of key elements," Miroshnykova and Petrov stated. "All interventions focused on restoration, not reconstruction."
Behind the main hall, the building centers around a large cylindrical core, featuring a distinctive corkscrew ramp that leads down to the basement level. This lower area retains a scale model of a coal mine that serves as an immersive installation for visitors, preserved from the original design. Other basement rooms have been updated for use as additional exhibition spaces.
According to the studio, the renovation represents an ongoing project designed to adapt to changing circumstances, particularly in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "This work is taking place in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has affected all aspects of public and cultural life," the architects acknowledged. They added that "continuing to develop and care for the space under these conditions is not always easy, but we see value in maintaining this kind of long-term cultural infrastructure – even, and especially, in times of uncertainty."
The design team remains committed to keeping the pavilion responsive and adaptable rather than aiming for a fixed final version. This flexible approach reflects the challenging circumstances facing Ukrainian cultural institutions while demonstrating the importance of preserving modernist architectural heritage. The project showcases how thoughtful renovation can breathe new life into abandoned Soviet-era buildings while respecting their historical significance and architectural integrity.
