“Dear children, ladies and gentlemen. Nobody knows what awaits them in the future, “said the writer Nabokov. The story of the Zhytomyr family of the Mezentsevs, about which the story was already, was continued by Vladimir’s son, Igor, who did not become a lawyer, but declared himself a talented architect and artist

The professional activity of Igor Mezentsev is noticeable and significant, and the name is so little known that it is worth telling a little more about it.
The future architect was born in Zhytomyr on September 9, 1915, in the building on the Great Berdychiv.
Studied at school number 26, where the drawing was taught by an old friend of the family Oleksander Kantserov. This was of fatal significance in the subsequent life of a boy who had an obvious talent artist. His classmate was Nataliia Skorulska, the daughter of the composer; in the future, an outstanding choreographer, teacher, screenwriter, Honored Artist of Ukraine. They had a common enthusiasm – ballet.
Over time, Nataliia Skorulska will be the first wife of Mezentsev. After school, Igor Mezentsev graduated from the Vocational School in Leningrad (today St. Petersburg), and in 1936 he successfully enrolled at the Kyiv Architectural Faculty of the Art Institute.
In 1941, German invaders invaded the peaceful life. By the last day of the Second World War Igor Mezentsev was at the front. For courage he was awarded with three military orders and nine medals. After returning to the postwar Kiev, the architect Mezentsev took an active part in the rebuilding of the city. A group of colleagues designed the future of the restoration of the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Described and investigated the damage to Sophia of Kiev, the famous mosaic image of “Oranta”.
With his participation, a master plan for the restoration of the destroyed Khreshchatyk was created.
In 1951, after graduating from the Academy of Architecture, Igor Volodymyrovych was appointed head of a large-scale project to build the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy of Ukraine (VDNH). The master plan was developed collectively, and Mezentsev’s house personally belongs to the design of the main entrance, the Golden Spit fountain, many pavilions and the entire fence.
Soon, the talented Zhytomyr citizen is appointed as the Chief Architect of the State Institute of Urban Design. He has been in this position for more than 25 years. In those days, the Institute developed the design of the entire building in Ukraine, had branches in most regional centers. The chief architect approved and supervised the development of master plans. The rebuilding of a large number of Ukrainian cities after the Second World War is the result of the activities of the institute managed by our fellow countryman.
Subsequent years of activity bring life to life: Igor Mezentsev becomes the Chairman of the Union of Architects of Kyiv, Honored Architect of Ukraine, takes part in international congresses. In 1977, a personal exhibition was held, in which more than 130 works of various times of the artist Mezentsev were exhibited – studies at Kantserov in Zhytomyr gave a sign.
A significant event in Soviet times was the construction of the monument “Motherland” in Kyiv on the project of the sculptor Vuchetich.
After the unexpected death of Vuchetich, his project was almost completely redesigned at the Institute of Urban Development, headed by Mezentsev. In fact, there was only an author’s idea. Design and construction lasted for 7 years, Mezentsev personally exercised control at all stages, designed the museum of the memorial. As a result of heart disease, Igor V. Mezentsev left his life in 1984 and was buried in Kyiv. He remained alive in his buildings, standing in different cities of our country and harmoniously inscribed today.
P.S. The interested reader will not find the name of Igor Mezentsev in popular directories. In the recent Soviet times, his name was removed from the memory of people. The party powers have caused irritation and suspicion of non-proletarian origin, a solid uncompromising character and an unchanging position in the interests of the cause. The talented architect was baselessly accused of official abuse, political short-sightedness, and, despite past achievements, was suspended from professional activity. In recent years, the architect Mezentsev helped in the work of his wife – a professor, a doctor of archeology.
History is instructive. “The past never passes! It is not even a past “- said Nobel laureate, writer William Faulkner.
Serhii Sobchuk
Member of the National Union of Local History of Ukraine
Anna Sobchuk, co-author
Used materials provided by the Zhytomyr Regional History Museum
Translated by Aliona Shykhevych