X-ray Academy

Kharkiv Roentgenology and Radiology Institute (Research Institute for Medical Radiology), architect V.A. Estrovich, 1930.  The idea of creating an academic radiological research institution in Kharkiv belonged to Dr. S.P. Hryhoriev. In the spring of 1920, his report on the establishment of “a radiology academy” was approved by the People’s Healthcare Commissariat of Ukraine. In May 1921, the Radiology Academy was allocated a renovated building with eight apartments and the Academy started its growth: a library of 1,800 volumes, X-ray Patterns Museum, Anatomical Specimens Museum, in-patient department, and an ambulant clinic.  “The roentgenology institute is experiencing a serious housing crisis,” the Kharkiv Proletarian newspaper wrote in 1927. “There is no place for the new equipment purchased abroad and expensive devices. A few beds available at the institute are also not enough, and many patients are refused medical assistance.”  In 1929, funds were allocated, and construction of the institute building was started under the project of architect V.A. Estrovich. The building had four storeys and met all requirements for educational and medical institutions: the design provided for a large audience for students’ classes, spacious offices and leisure wards. The architectural feature of the building was a large number of windows varying in their design solutions. This is one of the best buildings in the city for a medical institution, distinguished by an interesting composition: laconic geometric extents from the side of Pushkinska Street form a cour d’honneur of a complex polygonal shape, flanked by two square towers. Its architectural design can be attributed to the style of constructivism. The novelties at that time structures was used in the building: long-span caisson floor slabs of reinforced concrete and prefabricated concrete structures of amphitheater in the conference room. In 2013, the main facade of the building was carried out. The side of the building facing Pushkinska Street was plastered and painted light gray. The building lost its authentic wooden window frames. All windows were replaced with multiple metal-plastic panes, trying to recreate segmentation of the window frames in conformity with the original windows as far as possible. The internal layout of the building and design concept remained unchanged. Hlib Semiakin