Derzhprom

Derzhprom is the first skyscraper in Europe, the hallmark of Kharkiv, and an architectural landmark mentioned in the works of Oles Honchar, Henri Barbusse, and Volodymyr Mayakovsky. This remarkable building was once a unique construction achievement that became a model for many countries around the world. Derzhprom continues to surprise tourists. Its elevators, equipped with a wired telephone with a handset, are still serviced by elevator operators.

Local residents are no longer surprised by film crews, which often use the building in their scenes. Derzhprom can be seen in footage from the films

Interesting facts:

• The building was constructed in record time. It took only three years to build such a skyscraper.
• The construction of the building used 1000 wagons of cement, 4000 wagons of granite, 40000 sq. m. of glass.
• The area of the plastered facades is 74 000 sq. m.
• Between 5 and 15 thousand people took part in the construction of the building at different times.
• When Derzhprom was being planned, it was envisaged that the roofs of some of its buildings would be suitable for relaxing and playing tennis and volleyball.
• Mica was added to the building's plaster, which gave the wall surfaces a sheen.
• To glaze the building, a factory for making glass was specially built, and it still operates in Kharkiv today.
• During the Second World War, there was a stable on the first floor of the building, and on the other floors there were monkeys that had escaped from the local zoo.
• Heating Derzhprom costs 3 million UAH annually.