Oleh Drozdov

Oleh Anatoliiovych Drozdov (; born September 12, 1966) is a Ukrainian architect, artist, and educator. Founder of the architectural bureau Drozdov&Partners and co-founder of the Kharkiv School of Architecture.

Biography Oleh Drozdov was born on September 12, 1966, in Volgodonsk (USSR). In 1990, he graduated from the Kharkiv Civil Engineering Institute, School of Architecture.

In 1990, after graduating from the university, he was assigned to the city of Sumy (Ukraine), where he led an architectural design team in the office of the chief architect until 1993.

From 1991 to 1997, he pursued his career of an artist.

Architecture In 1996, Oleg Drozdov started his career in architecture and, together with partners, founded an architectural office, ‘Atrium’. In 1997, ‘Atrium’ was reorganised, renamed and continued its work with new partners. Oleg became a founder and the Chief Architect of Drozdov&Partners, working in Ukraine and abroad. In Kharkiv, the landmark works of Drozdov&Partners include famous business centers Ave Plaza and Platinum Plaza, Yaske restaurant in Danylevskoho st., Status boutique in Sumska st., Prizma shopping centre in Nauky Ave., Heirloom office and residential building in Chernyshevska st., and Carat residential building in Potebni st.

Since 2008, the bureau is a branch of the Department of Fundamentals of Architecture of the Kharkiv National University of Construction and Architecture. It provides educational programs for students and interns, conducts lectures and seminars.

Theater on Podil, Ukraine In 2015, Oleg Drozdov was selected as an architect for the Theater on Podil in Kyiv. The Theatre was built under the patronage of the Roshen Corporation, which invested UAH 174 million.

The theater has provoked much discussion and criticism because of its modernist architecture. Many citizens did not like the reconstruction of the building in the historical part of Kyiv, which caused outrage and protests.

At the same time, there were many defenders of the new theater building, who believed that the Podil area needed modern architecture and wondered why Kyivans did not accept modern art.

In 2018, the reconstruction project of the Podil Theater won the Grand Prix of the Ukrainian Urban Awards architectural competition and took the first prize in the Architecture of Cultural and Social Objects category.

In 2019, the restored building of the Theater in Podil was nominated for the European Architectural Award Mies van der Rohe Award 2019.

Educational Projects In 2011, Oleg Drozdov co-authored and reviewed the Spring Semester Studio Workshop on Urban Design for students of the School of Architecture, Columbia University GSAPP.

In 2020, the Kharkiv School of Architecture announced a competition "Be an Architect" for high school students from all over Ukraine. The prizes were certificates for studying architecture at civil engineering and construction universities and participating in the School’s programs.

Exhibitions, research, and curated projects 2003 – “Modern Ukrainian Architecture” exhibition, University of Florence, Italy 2003 − "Architectural Ambulance" international seminar initiator, Kharkiv 2005 − "Monisto: the concept of developing the Odesa coast" Ukrainian national project curator, the International Architecture Biennale, Rotterdam, the Netherlands 2010 − "Growing or Shrinking" conference organizer, Kharkiv 2010 − "Odesa Mama" three project presentations and exhibitions by "Drozdov & Partners" young professionals, curator, Kharkiv 2011 − "Identity of Space" international symposium organizer, Kharkiv 2012 − "Circumstances" exhibition project curator, the Moscow Biennale of Architecture

Selected Projects by Drozdov&Partners

House of Restaurants сatering complex (Kharkiv, 2001−2006) Yaske restaurant, Danylevskoho st. (Kharkiv, 2004) Platinum Plaza business center, Sumska st. (Kharkiv, 2006−2010) Heirloom office and residential building, Chernyshevskoho st. (Kharkiv, 2007−2010)⦁ Carat residential building, Potebny st. (Kharkiv, 2003−2011) House with a Peristyle private residence (Kharkiv, 2009−2015 Ark private residence (Kharkiv, 2010−2015) Café Très restaurant, Montreux (Switzerland, 2015−2016) Baked by the Heat private residence (Kharkiv, 2010−2016) Theater on Podil (Kyiv, 2015−2017) Sense dental clinic (Kharkiv, 2017−2018) Aloft Hotel (Kyiv, 2010−2018) VG Horse Club (Kharkiv, 2016−2019

Awards

2001 − Grand Prix of the "IHTEP'YEAR" Ukrainian competition for the Florence restaurant project 2002 − First Prize in the "Commercial Interior" nomination in "IHTEP'YEAR" Ukrainian competition for the project Symbol Baby 2003 − Grand Prix of the "IHTEP'YEAR" Ukrainian competition for the Tampopo restaurant project 2011 – Third Prize from “A New School Vision” Cleveland Design Competition, USA, 2012, for the School Garden project 2012 − Second Prize of the Voronov Museum of Contemporary Art competition, Kyiv, Ukraine 2018 − Grand Prix of the National Ukrainian Urban Awards and the Best Project in the "Architecture of Cultural and Social Facilities" nomination for the Theatre on Podil 2018 − Architect of the Year, EDIDA (Elle Decoration International Design Awards) 2018 – Hotel Project of the Year, EE Real Estate Project Awards, for Aloft Hotel, Kyiv 2018 – Architectural Office of the Year, EE Real Estate Project Awards 2021 – Nominations for the European Union Mies van der Rohe Architectural Award, 2022, for Sense Dental Clinic and for VG Horse Club projects