Meet Ukrainian fashion director Gennadii Pyvovar, and it’s hard to believe that he has experienced—and continues to experience—the hardships of war. He leads an active social life, never misses a day of work, and fearlessly lives in Kyiv’s historic city center, close to cultural and architectural landmarks like the Kyiv Opera House, the National Museum of Natural History, and the Saint Sophia Cathedral, among many others. “It’s what keeps me going, the routine,” says Gennadii, who created his new normal a few years ago after buying an apartment in a circa-1900 building in the heart of Kyiv.
Still, there was nothing normal about this apartment. “The place needed work,” Gennadii shares about the space, which had remained untouched for years. Enter architect Maksym Dietkovskyi of Kyiv–based design practice Modektura Studio, whom Gennadii found on Instagram and trusted to restore the home. “I loved his work and knew he could work his magic,” adds Gennadii.