Some Aspects of the Research and Protection of Ukrainian Folk Architecture Monuments in the “Folk Art and Ethnology” Journal

The preparation of this article is prompted by the need to place a deeper emphasis on the significance of the academic journal “Folk Art and Ethnology” in the development of ethnographic research and its contribution to preserving the national identity of Ukrainians in the past and present within the framework of celebrating its 100th anniversary. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the journal’s published scholarly materials dedicated to the expeditionary recording, research, and development of strategies for the preservation and protection of monuments of Ukrainian folk architecture. The review, annotation, and systematization of scientific published works with ethnographic and architectural content have enabled the identification of ten main research areas that summarize the scholarly inquiries of many generations of specialists from 1957 to 2025. Consequently, the article is structured according to these thematic vectors: 1) regional ethnology: field research; 2) typological, planning, structural-technical, and aesthetic aspects of folk architecture research; 3) traditions and innovations in rural building; 4) decorative ornamentation of rural dwellings; 5) interior furnishings of the traditional house; 6) traditional housing of Ukrainian migrants in foreign ethnic territories; 7) the search for a national style in Ukrainian architecture; 8) folk architecture in the works of Taras Shevchenko; 9) open-air museums of Ukraine; 10) prominent researchers of Ukrainian folk architecture: commemorative mentions. The scientific novelty of the article consists in the holistic generalization of long-term experience in folk architecture research and related heritage preservation activities documented in the journal. The authoress proves that the systematic work of the journal’s contributors has ensured the progress of national ethnological science and the preservation of information regarding objects, many of which are physically lost today. The emphasis on the practical value of the published materials for museology (specifically the functioning of skansens) and restoration activities in Ukraine are considered as an important aspect of the study. The materials of this historiographical review will be useful for ethnologists, architects, art scholars, historians, local lore experts, and everyone who looks after preserving Ukrainian cultural identity in the conditions of modern challenges.