SERIA___ is an urban graphic project devoted to the typical housing blocks in which we grew up. Panelkas are part of our identity. Since the beginning, they have been touched by cultural and historical shifts, which we are exploring so we can love the panelka again.
We tried to create an ideal image of that reality, as in the projects of architects of the 80-90s, when the facades of these buildings looked perfect; and at the same time, we wish to restore the beauty of the original design. We believe that awareness, reflection and accepting the heritage and present of our city will help us move forward into a happy urban future. The main idea is to change the attitude to the panelkas, and as a consequence the panelkas will also change.
The project was founded by designer Dasha Podoltseva and architect Elena Orap. SERIA____ includes items of collectible design, printed graphics and clothing. Its visual element customises familiar images of the city. These include the so-called Soviet ‘panelkas’, one of the most common building types in residential areas of Kyiv.
The KT series is a typical dwelling project in Kyiv, designed in the 1970s. 12- and 16-storey buildings have become almost the most common types of residential buildings. They are distinguished by their gravel cladding and the distinctive geometric perforation of their stairwell blocks. The districts of Kyiv where this series is present include: Obolon, Vynohradar, Teremky-1, Kharkivskyi masyv, Troieschyna, Pivdenna Borshchahivka and Bilychi.
The BPS series of buildings is an improved adaptation of the Moscow version, which was developed in the early 1960s. The houses of this series became the first 16-storey blocks in the city. Their features include thick reinforced concrete walls, triangular balconies, and sometimes a kind of ‘tripod’ that serve as a support for the sides. In Kyiv, these buildings can be found in Obolon, Sviatoshyn, Holosiyevo and Lisnyi masyv.
The ‘Czech’ houses are 9 or 12-storey panel constructions. The project was intended as an improved version of the Khrushchyovka buildings. Their main feature is that almost the entire plane of the facade is occupied by balconies, arranged in a symmetrical or checkerboard pattern. The houses of this series have been built since the 1970s. No one knows for sure why the series was called the ‘Czech’ project. Houses of this series can be found in Obolon, Borshchahivka, Lisnyi masyv, Holosiyevo, Bereznyaki, Raiduzhnyi and Rusanivka.
APPS series. The first house in this series was built in 1984 in Obolon. The new spatial planning solutions provided a kind of flexibility: the structures of buildings could have different sections, storeys and internal planning, resembling Lego bricks. The APPS series of houses are present in Troieschyna, Pozniaky, Bilychi and Kharkivskyi masyv.
___Poster, А3 / The KT, BPS, ‘Czech’ series/ Silk print
Silver / black
Paper 300gr/m2
50 copies each 2018, 2019
___Plate, ø 275 mm
Fine bone china
decal — gold
25 copies each
2018, 2019
___Flower pot, 145х145 mm
Concrete
Special project for Ukrainian Institute (winner of the “Ukrainian souvenir“ competition)
___Poster, А3 “Ø 50 mm“
Handmade silk print
20 copies
2019
Contacts
instagram: seria_number, e-mail: urban.seria@gmail.com