Around the Golden Gate there are not only historical landmarks and a green park, but also an entire ensemble of tenement buildings that shaped the architectural character of this district in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They emerged during the so-called “building boom,” when Kyiv was rapidly expanding, and the demand for housing and commercial premises spurred a new wave of urban development.
These buildings were constructed as investments: apartments in them were rented to wealthy Kyiv residents, officials, engineers, intellectuals, and merchants — hence the name “tenement” (profit-generating) houses. They reflect the architectural tastes of the era, ranging from Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Gothic to Art Nouveau, Eclecticism, and early Constructivism. Many feature luxurious facades, elegant stucco decorations, arches, turrets, and balconies with wrought-iron railings.
Each of these buildings is a kind of “frozen chronicle” of its time: within their walls everyday human life unfolded; they witnessed changes of power, wars, and the rebirth of the capital. Today, they form the unique atmosphere of the Golden Gate district, where medieval heritage blends organically with 19th–20th century urban architecture, giving this corner of Kyiv its distinctive European charm.