REITER HALL: business with respect for history. Interview with Emil Solovyov

You know, I love life very much. And the idea of NEST is the creation of timeless real estate. The horror of rocket fire and the war itself will end sooner or later. I believe it will happen soon. I want our capital, my beloved city Kyiv, to become even more beautiful by then than it was before. It's my personal way of affirming life, if you will. Therefore, for me, war is not a reason to stop our work.

Do you mean that the project to restore the building at Reitarska 37 and turn it into the REITER HALL business center is also an element of the vision you just announced?

Yes, I’d even say that this project is designed to show the interaction and synergy of the past and the future. We breathe new life into a historic building, while restoring it to its original appearance and strengthening it with modern structural solutions.

I fully understand that REITER HALL is a responsible and delicate project. After all, we are touching a building that has the status of a monument of history and architecture. I really like the part of its history when it had scientific institutions. The building itself was built in 1914 for the needs of the Kyiv Zemstvo administration. But as early as 1925, it was adapted for the Kyiv Engineering and Reclamation Institute. From that time, up until post-Soviet times, educational and research institutes were located there.

That is, progressive and useful solutions for the city were developed in this building. We want to continue this tradition - in our concept we preserve that historical spirit and infuse it with the energy of the modern world.

The  concept is Inspirational. But NEST is a commercial organization, and REITER HALL is a future business center. How do you combine the historical heritage and business interests of a large holding without harming the first part?

I understand that such projects cause skepticism. That is probably why none of the Kyiv developers have similar ideas regarding the restoration of historical buildings. It is clear to everyone that this project involves great difficulties. Here, the proportion of headaches and positive math is much lower than in neighborhood development. The numbers are more interesting there.

But I have seen many successful examples. Even from a commercial point of view. Unfortunately, none of them  in Ukraine. For example, Port House is the main office of the port of Antwerp in Belgium. Its basis was the reconstruction of the building of the old fire station, and the addition was a futuristic glass tour. Or the Holiday Inn hotel in the very center of Krakow. There, the historic 19th-century manor building is framed by modern panels of glass and concrete. There are many worthy architectural solutions in the world, created in harmony of centuries and styles.

We want to present to the Kyiv community a segment of real estate that is currently missing - a boutique business center with a high level of culture and respect for history.

The implementation of such a concept requires exceptional professional experience. Who is the author of the REITER HALL architectural project?

Yes, the project is not easy. We have come a long way of studying the practice of European architectural bureaus. We consulted with companies that have repeatedly been engaged in the restoration of historical buildings taking into account the limited area. Each of these buildings has its own specificity due to the peculiarities of the architecture and organization of the surrounding space of different countries. In this case, the closest to our vision was one of the leading Swedish architectural offices. When they presented their idea, we understood: this is what is needed.

At the same time, we offered the well-known Ukrainian architect Andriy Pashenko to participate in the creation of the project. The previous positive experience of working with him has already shown his careful approach to the cultural and historical context of the city. Thus, we have a project that combines the best architectural ideas born in Ukraine and Sweden. We believe that the future lies in such an international format of cooperation.

An important issue has already been mentioned several times: the building in which REITER HALL will be located has historical value. How is it protected from a legal point of view?

The REITER HALL project has fully passed all the necessary instances related to the protection of cultural heritage. And both within the country and at the international level. In Ukraine, this type of reconstruction requires, in addition to a permit for construction work, a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, a contract with the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and a permit from the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the KCSA. We have all these documents.

In addition, we have passed an international independent examination and received a LEED certificate, which will be given to the business center upon completion of construction. This is a sign of compliance with the American standard of ecological construction. One of the tallest and greenest skyscrapers in the world - Taiwan's "Taipei 101" has such certificate.

We received a high score for not only preserving the historic building, but also improving its operational characteristics. For example, we extend the life cycle of a brick that has been standing for more than a hundred years for another hundred years, which is highly appreciated in the world. We also restore and strengthen the facade of the building, the roof, as well as the grand staircase.

I am convinced that only buildings made of completely natural materials can harmonize with a historical building. All of them have been studied and analyzed as part of LEED certification. That is, new, modern buildings, which will form a harmonious ensemble with the historical one, will be close to the main one even in terms of molecular composition. At the same time, we will preserve the "genetics" of the Kyiv Zemstvo Administration. No tall superstructures will appear there. One hundred years ago, the building was four floors high, and it will remain so in the next phase of its life.

World practice shows that business often participates in the development of urban infrastructure. What projects in the field of corporate social responsibility can NEST boast about?

As the developer of the REITER HALL project, NEST will deal with the development of the adjacent territory. For the last fifty years, this sparsely populated area has been a dead end, and we want to make it the center of gravity. Next to the business center, a landscaped square will be built and a modern playground will be installed. We are currently consulting with knowledgeable restaurateurs on how to make the place as attractive as possible. Thank God, we do not have a ban on beautifying the public area, especially if it is not done with budget funds, but at the expense of business.

Then the last question will be about “gravity”. In your opinion, does REITER HALL have a chance to become another "magnet" of the city? And when can we check it?

I would very much like the residents of Kyiv and the guests of our city to think about our project exactly as you said. That’s a good wording. Now we simply have to do everything possible and impossible to make it so.

We plan to finish the reconstruction in the second half of 2025. I really hope that the renewed historical business center will become the pride of Kyiv residents and a comfortable place for representatives of international organizations.

Now, in the most difficult time, we feel the support of the world community more than ever, and it is absolutely priceless. They help us not only to defeat our aggressive neighboring country, but also to strengthen our choice for the European future.

It is impossible not to notice that today, our interaction with the world is reaching a new level. And this means that Kyiv needs to be ready to provide partners with appropriate conditions. We see REITER HALL as one of the capital's aspirations to host international organizations at a high level. It will be a club office, interesting for both business and politics. For example, embassies or, as I said, representative offices of international organizations. They love atmospheric spaces that combine the spirit of history and the comfort of modernity. I hope that in the future, which will certainly be peaceful, they will be able to properly assess the conditions that Kyiv will provide them.

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