UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES OF VINNYTSIA AS AN ELEMENT OF THE HISTORICAL URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The author examines the underground structures of Vinnytsia as an important element of the historical urban landscape which has been forming over several centuries. Based on archival materials, topographic maps, archaeological research results, and observations of changes in urban development, the attempt to systematize the available information about the underground objects of the city has been made. The author identifies three main groups of underground structures that reflect the different stages and socio-cultural processes in the life of the city: 1) monastic underground structures of the 17th—18th centuries, 2) underground structures of traditional Jewish architecture of the 18th—19th centuries, and 3) basement and other utility structures of residential buildings from the late 19th to the early 20th century. The first group is characterized by a variety of structural features and functional purposes. The main structural elements are cylindrical vaults, constructed from brick that conform to the building standards of the 18th century and stone. The functional purpose of these structures varies from utility rooms such as cellars, warehouses, and drainage systems to cult and communication structures. The second group is characterized by galleries carved in loam and designed with cylindrical vaults, subsequently reinforced with brick, which meets the size and production technology standards of the late 19th — early 20th century. The depth of such structures ranges from 2.0 to 4.0 m from the modern surface to the top of the vault and is generally associated with an above-ground adobe structure. Functionally, these structures could serve both utility and communication purposes. For the third group, the main structural elements are cylindrical and cross-vaults, most often constructed from bricks measuring 27 Ч 13.5 Ч 6.5 cm. They usually include semi-circular archways, blind arches, and arched niches, which were typical architectural elements of the time. These structures were used for various utility purposes: cellars and basements served for food and other goods storage, latrines provided sanitary conditions, and ice houses maintained a cool temperature of store. The underground structures of Vinnytsia, survived to the present day, are a unique source of information about architectural and engineering solutions applied in different historical periods. In particular, the underground passages and rooms of the Jesuit, Dominican, and Capuchin monasteries are of special value, as they testify to the high level of building culture in the 17th—18th centuries.