In early 2024, our research extended to the Ukrainian South – a historically multicultural region. We predominantly studied the features of local architecture online and from open sources. Due to the proximity to the front line, expeditions were perilous, and the few trips we managed to organize yielded disappointing results: the destruction of buildings was significant, with some villages completely devastated. However, aside from our traditional searches on real estate websites and Google Street View, we were able to gather many oral histories and memories from the family archives of acquaintances. The volunteer initiative Old Khata Project has made a major contribution to our Batkivska Khata photo database.

The history of Mykolaiv is marked by traces of Greek settlements dating back to the 6th century BC. Their cultural influence, reinforced by the characteristics of the local climate, is evident in the architecture of rural houses to this day. Wooden houses are practically absent in the region, primarily due to the lack of material and the warm climate. However, wood was used for decorative embellishments on gables. Local houses are rich in decoration and smooth lines. Greek motifs can be recognized in fluted columns and widespread corner elements, echoing the Doric order. 

In this area, we encountered and added a new characteristic material for decoration and ornamentation to our online constructor – plasterwork. Plaster elements here are twice or thrice as abundant as bricks, which is reflected in the options available for selection in the online constructor. Bricks are usually left unpainted, but houses adorned with plasterwork are often in shades of blue or gray, with white decoration.