PAKO HOUSE
- Publication date
Pako House — a multi-layered cultural project that provides a safe space for creation, preserving heritage, and fostering lasting international connections.
The creative space includes:
- An international residency for writers, translators, musicians and cultural managers.
- An artist’s studio.
- A memory and exhibition zone.
- An open-air venue for cultural events.
Even though the residence is in the process of revitalisation, the creative space is already open for cultural life.
In collaboration with bureau++, we developed a design project (in Ukraine) that illustrates how the space will look in the future.
Renderings of the creative space “Pako House”
The project is inspired by Yurko Pokalchuk, Pako, as his friends called him.
ABOUT YURKO POKALCHUK
Yurko Pokalchuk, Pako (1941–2008) — a Ukrainian writer, translator, scientist and a mentor to a generation of writers. Knew 13 languages. He was the first translator to introduce the works of Borges to Ukrainian readers. Head of the International Department of the Writers' Union of Ukraine, co-founder of the Association of Ukrainian Writers and the literary group “Dogs of St. George”. He performed with own creative project “Vohni velykoho mista” together with musicians from Ukrainian music bands. His legacy continues to inspire new voices and cross-border collaborations.
PAKO HOUSE UNITES SEVERAL INTERCONNECTED INITIATIVES:
1. International Residency
Just as Pako introduced Borges and Cortázar to Ukrainian readers, we invite international partners to create and collaborate here.
2. Research & Heritage
Dedicated to reviving the heritage of Ukrainian households as living pillars of cultural identity. We view this as an opportunity to share our history with the world.
3. Community & Partnership
Inspired by Yurko’s role as a mentor, we aim to nurture a thriving international community and open doors for emerging voices.
THE POKALCHUK FAMILY
Volodymyr Pokalchuk (1896—1983)
Linguist, dialectologist, and literary scholar.A researcher of Lesya Ukrainka’s life and works, a leading figure of Ukrainian literature and culture. Graduate student of Mykola Zerov, who was a poet, translator, and literary historian. Served in the army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. Was imprisoned in the case of the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine and was forbidden to deal with the Ukrainian language and literature.
Oksana Tushkan (1907—1985)
Has degrees in biology and geology. In the 1950s, she was the director of the Volyn Regional Museum of Local History. Her father, Pavlo Tushkan, was a member of the Central Rada — the all-Ukrainian representative body that united political, civic, cultural, and professional organizations, where he represented the Katerynoslav region in 1917–1918. Great-great-granddaughter of the younger sister of Mykola Gogol, the famous Ukrainian-born novelist, playwright, and short-story writer. Her godfather was Dmytro Yavornytsky, a historian and researcher of the Cossack History.
Oleh Pokalchuk (1955)
Social and military psychologist, translator, and writer. Worked as a lecturer in foreign literature at the Lutsk Pedagogical Institute (now Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University). Until September 2006, he worked as a chief specialist in the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Translated poetry from Polish, Spanish, English, and Lithuanian.
The idea and realization of the project by "Algorytm" platform and "Frontera" literary platform.