Obj. ID: 16114
  Architecture  Great Synagogue in Bila Tserkva - Description

To the main object: Great Synagogue in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine

Name of the place: Belaia Tserkov’

Name of the synagogue: Great Synagogue in Belaia Tserkov’

Location: Ukraine; Kyivs’ska; Belaia Tserkov’; 25/2 Yaroslava Mudroho Street

In September 1998 the architects I. Fugol, I. Czurilik, and P. Khmilevskii completed the field documentation and the measurements. O. Boiko wrote the description.

1. History of the place:

1.4.2. Foundation (existence) of synagogues, beit-midrashes, yeshibots, orphanages, old people's homes, cheders, craft schools, cemeteries, hospitals, mikvaot, burial societies, social organizations, sport clubs, publishing houses etc.: A few buildings associated with the synagogue have been preserved including a former Jewish school and other institutions.

1.4.5. Jewish life today (1998): There is an active Jewish community.

2. Topography: The building is independent of other buildings and situated on Yaroslava Mudroho Street between Teatral’na Street and Uryts’koho Street.

3. General state of preservation: Satisfactory.

4. History of the building: The building is currently being used by the Light Industry College.

4.2. When was it built: At the end of the 19th century.

5. General description of the exterior of the building: The building is monumental, 3-tiered, and built in the style of Art Nouveau. Both tiers are finished with a rich molded cornice on consoles. The corners the building are emphasized by pilasters.  

5.1. Division into volumes: There is one main volume.

5.2. The main and side entrances: The main entrance is located on the center of the southern façade. There is a side entrance on the western façade.

5.4. The later extensions or reconstructions: Inner partition walls were constructed.

5.5. The walls: The walls are plastered and painted brick.

5.6. The attic wall: There is no attic, but the western façade is decorated with a central parapet.

5.7. The roof: The roof is mostly flat with a center protrusion and covered in slate.

5.8. The general impression of the synagogue and its attachments: A monumental public building.

5.8.2. Personal impression of an expert, as a human being: A stylish building with Moresque reminiscences.

5.9. Architectural style of the building: Art Nouveau.

6. General description of the ground plan:

6.1. Rectangular or oblique outline of the plan: Very nearly square.

6.2. General exterior measurements: The building is 25.39 m x 25.05 m.

6.3. Orientation of the ground plan: Traditional (facing east).

7. Descriptions of the facades:

7.1. General measurements of the façades: From the conditional zero to the top of the finishing cornice is 14.91 m and to the top of the roof is 17.5 m.

7.2. Number of tiers of the façades: The building has 3 tiers.

7.3. The Western Façade:

7.3.2. Description of separate tiers: The lower two tiers are separated from the upper tier by a molded cornice.

7.3.2.1.1. Door/window openings: The first tier has 2 doors and 4 double-windows. The middle and upper tier have 5 double-windows.

7.3.2.1.2. Outlines of the openings: All openings on the first and middle tier are rectangular. 4 of the double windows on the upper tier are rectangular and the double-windows in the center have semicircular arches.

7.3.2.1.3. Frames of the openings: The frames are all wood and two-sashed.

7.3.2.2. Decorative elements of the tier: The middle and upper tiers are separated by a molded cornice. The superficies under the windows of the second tier have small niches. The pilasters are connected with bondage.

7.3.2.3. Finishing: The walls are plastered and painted green with white trim and details.

7.3.2.4. Vertical division of the tier: There are 6 pilasters dividing the façade.

7.3.2.j.5. Horizontal divisions between the tiers: The middle and upper tier are divided by a molded cornice.

7.3.3. Crowning element of the façade: The façade is finished by a molded brick cornice.

7.4. The Northern Façade:

7.4.2. Description of separate tiers: The lower two tiers are separated from the upper tier by a molded cornice.

7.4.2.1.1. Door/window openings: The lower and middle tiers have 4 windows. The upper tier has 4 windows.

7.4.2.1.2. Outlines of the openings: All openings on the lower and middle tiers are rectangular. 3 of the 4 windows on the upper tier are rectangular with a semicircular arch and the 4th is rectangular.

7.4.2.1.3. Frames of the openings: The frames are wooden and two or three-sashed.

7.4.2.2. Decorative elements of the tiers: The decorative elements are the same as that of the western façade.

7.4.2.3. Finishing: The walls are plastered and painted green with white trim and details.

7.4.2.4. Vertical division of the tier: The first two tiers have 6 pilasters.

7.4.2.5. Horizontal divisions between the tiers: The middle and upper tier are divided by a molded cornice.

7.4.3. Crowning element of the façade: The façade is finished by a molded brick cornice.

7.5. The Eastern Façade:

7.5.2. Description of separate tiers: The lower two tiers are separated from the upper tier by a molded cornice on the outer edges of the facade.

7.5.2.1.1. Door/window openings: The lower tier has 2 large windows and a double window in the center. The middle tier has the same openings. The upper tier has 2 large windows and 3 double windows in the center of the façade.

7.5.2.1.2. Outlines of the openings: They are all rectangular.

7.5.2.1.3. Frames of the openings: The frames are all wooden and two or three-sashed.

7.5.2.2. Decorative elements of the tier: The decorative elements are the same as that of the western façade.

7.5.2.3. Finishing: The walls are plastered and painted green with white trim and details.

7.5.2.4. Vertical division of the tier: The façade is divided by 6 pilasters (one between each window and on the corners of the façade).

7.5.2.5. Horizontal divisions between the tiers: The middle and upper tier are divided by a molded cornice on the outer edge sections of the façade.

7.5.3. Crowning element of the façade: The façade is finished by a molded brick cornice.

7.6. The Southern Façade:

7.6.2. Description of separate tiers: The lower two tiers are separated from the upper tier by a molded cornice.

7.6.2.1.1. Door/window openings: The southern façade has the same amount of openings as the northern façade.

7.6.2.1.2. Outlines of the openings: All but the 3 openings on the upper tier are rectangular.

7.6.2.1.3. Frames of the openings: The frames are all wood and two or three-sashed.

7.6.2.2. Decorative elements of the tier: The decorative elements are the same as that of the western façade.

7.6.2.3. Finishing: The walls are plastered and painted green with white trim and details.

7.6.2.4. Vertical division of the tier: The two lower tiers are divided by 6 pilasters.

7.6.2.5. Horizontal divisions between the tiers: The middle and upper tier are divided by a molded cornice.

7.6.3. Crowning element of the façade: The façade is finished by a molded brick cornice.

8. Description of the interior space, room by room: Generally, the original plan of the synagogue has been preserved. In what was initially the prayer hall, there are four round supporting pillars that continue through each tier. The supporting pillars on the lower tier have iconic capitals. The former prayer hall is surrounded by synagogue rooms and staircases have been added.

8.1.3. Pavement: The floors are wooden.

8.1.4. Walls: The walls are painted white. Some are covered with wallpaper. The former prayer hall is covered with artificial marble slabs.

8.1.4.1. Location and number of the door/window openings: The openings are congruent with the outer façade descriptions.

8.1.4.2. Outlines of the openings: The openings to the exterior are both rectangular and semicircular. The inner openings are all rectangular.

8.1.4.3. Frames of the openings: The frames of the windows are wooden and two-sashed. The frames of the doors are modern, one and two-sashed, and wooden.

8.1.5. Floor, spanning the room: The floors of the former prayer hall are wooden.

9. Torah Ark: There is no Torah ark.

10. Bimah: There is no bimah.