Ukrainian Balconies: The DIY Architecture of Self-Expression

In Ukraine, balconies shaped like ship hulls and castles extend over the streets below, each uniquely renovated to reflect the identity and needs of its owner. These DIY modifications tell a compelling story of defiance against uniformity—an architecture of personal expression that emerged from the rigid, standardized housing of the Soviet era.

In the classic Soviet film Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!, a drunken man mistakenly flies from Moscow to Saint Petersburg, takes a taxi to his home, and finds his street, building, and apartment identical to the one he left behind. This wasn’t far from reality. Across the Soviet republics, post-WWII housing was built to be nearly identical.

After the war, the Soviet Union faced an urgent housing crisis. As a socialist state, it guaranteed housing for all citizens, but to keep costs low and construction fast, centrally planned, prefabricated concrete apartment blocks—Khrushchyovka, named after Premier Nikita Khrushchev—were erected en masse.

These buildings prioritized function over comfort. Many lacked kitchens, while bathrooms were often shared by multiple families. To the outside world, they became symbols of Soviet drabness and uniformity.

The USSR Is Dead, Long Live the Balcony

With the fall of the Soviet Union, millions of citizens became homeowners for the first time. This shift from collectivism to private ownership brought with it a desire to personalize spaces. Yet, official approval for renovations remained difficult to obtain. Rather than wait for permission, people took matters into their own hands, transforming their balconies to suit their needs.

Many enclosed them, turning balconies into additional living spaces to compensate for cramped Soviet apartments. Others used them as storage, greenhouses, or even makeshift workshops. These modifications were often done hastily and without regard for structural integrity, raising ongoing concerns about safety. But beyond their practical function, these balconies became symbols of individuality in a society emerging from decades of enforced sameness.

The chaotic, patchwork nature of these balconies tells a broader story—the transition from socialism to capitalism, from uniformity to personal expression. They stand as architectural markers of a society in flux, visually documenting the shift from state-controlled living to independent ownership and self-expression.

Built spaces reflect the civilizations that shape them. They are more than just structures; they are windows into history, politics, and identity. Architecture isn’t just art—it’s anthropology. To explore more about how architecture tells the story of the past, check out Balcony Chic or the beautiful documentary Enter Through The Balcony.