You're reading: Facade of Kyiv’s TsUM to remain unchanged during reconstruction

 ESTA Holding LLC, the managing company of the ESTA Group, which was created by CJSC System Capital Management (SCM, Donetsk) to realize real estate projects, has decided to retain unchanged and restore the facades of Kyivsky TsUM, Kyiv's central department store, during the realization of a project on the reconstruction of the building.

“We listened to the opinions of experts and Kyiv residents and revised the initial project,” reads a company report, citing ESTA Holding Director General Maksym Hromadtsov.

According to the report, the project on the reconstruction of Kyivsky TsUM with the restoration of its facades was presented, discussed and obtained a positive assessment from a majority of the members of the advisory council at the chief department of cultural heritage protection at Kyiv City Administration.

“We want to renew the central department store and retain and strengthen its importance for Kyiv. That’s why we’re trying to make the project as open as possible,” he added.

ESTA Holding said that at present, preparation work and the organization of the future construction site are being conducted.

The company opened a call center and an information Web site on the pace of the realization of the project on the reconstruction of TsUM, with the restoration of its facades.

As reported, in August 2012, ESTA Holding said that the company would revise the project.

The project will be improved, taking into account the recommendations of the town-planning council at the chief department of town-planning and architecture of Kyiv, and the advisory council at the chief department of the cultural heritable protection of Kyiv city administration.

Specialists of Germany’s Strabag construction firm are performing the work.

The typical elements of the TsUm’s decoration, such as marble stairs, were dismantled and will be used later in the decoration of the reconstructed department store.

After the reconstruction, ESTA is planning to increase the gross area of the department store by 1.8 times, to 38,780 square meters, thanks to building an internal courtyard and using underground space (three levels). All existing constructions of TsUM, apart of the facade (central entrance, columns and the geison) built in 1939, which will be reinforced and remain unchanged, will be dismantled.

The seven-floor TsUM, with three underground levels, will retain a traditional department store format.

Men’s, women’s and children clothes stores will be located on the first-sixth floors, while a roof with a terrace will have restaurants. The parking area will be located on the two underground levels and a supermarket will be located on the first underground level.

The architectural concept for the renovated TsUM was designed by the famous UK design bureau Benoy, in partnership with Ukrainian architects from the L. Skorik bureau.

ESTA Holding LLC is planning to invest over $100 million in the reconstruction of Kyivsky TsUM. ESTA Holding will manage the building.

ESTA Holding LLC is planning to finish the reconstruction of Kyivsky TsUM by autumn 2014. On February 1, 2012, TsUM was closed for reconstruction.

ESTA Holding is a managing company of the ESTA Group, SCM Group’s real estate holding. ESTA Holding is an investor and developer, and carries out strategic management of commercial, hotel realestate and housing.

SCM is a professional investor that owns and controls assets in mining and metals, power generation and distribution, telecommunications, banking, insurance, media as well as in retail and real estate.

SCM is 100% owned by Ukrainian businessman and MP Rinat Akhmetov.