Ukrainian Garden as a Historical and Cultural Code of the Nation: past, present, future

Abstract

Aims. The purpose of the work is to study the history of development, determine the structural, functional, and symbolic features, and the transformation of the authentic Ukrainian garden as a basis for modern design. Methods. The study used historical-ethnographic, comparative-analytical, and system-structural methods. The analysis was conducted using historical materials, museum reconstructions, ethnographic descriptions, and personal observations of contemporary ethnostyle landscape architecture objects. In particular, the planning structure, zoning of the Ukrainian estate, small architectural forms, the range of plants used in landscaping, and their placement were analyzed. Results. The Ukrainian garden is a unique cultural phenomenon that evolved under the influence of centuries-old ethnocultural processes, economic traditions, and the natural and geographical conditions of different regions in Ukraine. Its architectonics combines utilitarian, aesthetic, and symbolic functions, reflecting the worldview, everyday life, and spiritual orientations of the Ukrainian people. A traditional garden's structure is based on a clear zoning of space, with each component—the front garden, berry garden, vegetable garden, fruit garden, economic zone, household courtyard, and facade—having a distinct composition and function. An important element of the estate space was the facade zone, which served as a kind of "calling card" of the owners: flower beds near the fence or a well or a crane affirmed the harmony of man with nature and the sacred meaning of work. A significant role was played by traditional plant species, both decorative and medicinal, which not only decorated the yard but also performed a cultural and symbolic function. All this shaped the aesthetics of the space, which combined practicality, national identity, and spiritual depth. The modern revival of Ukrainian landscape art is reflected in the latest landscape projects, in particular in the implementation of a traditional Ukrainian manor house in the Fantasy Park of the National Dendrological Park "Sofiyivkа" of the NAS of Ukraine. Here, not only is the reconstruction of individual elements carried out, but also the reproduction of the cultural code of the garden through authentic plants (Rosa canina L., Viburnum opulus L., Papaver rhoeas L., etc.), ethnic symbols, and modern design solutions. This approach combines the principles of scientific restoration with the ideas of cultural heredity, contributing to the formation of the ecological and aesthetic consciousness of society. The Ukrainian garden, as a space of harmony and memory, acquires special significance in the context of the present. In art and landscape projects, such as Serhiy Polezhak's "Naive Ukraine Gardens" or Viktoriya Manoilo's "That does not Burn", it appears as a symbol of invincibility, spiritual stability, and cultural resistance in the conditions of war. The images of viburnum, mallow, periwinkle, sunflower, well, and moorland remain living markers of national identity, through which the philosophy of human interaction with nature, native land, and one's own historical roots is revealed. Thus, the Ukrainian garden in the scientific, cultural, and artistic dimension is not only an object of landscape art but also a carrier of collective memory, spirituality, and aesthetic values that form national identity and continue the tradition of harmonious coexistence of man and nature. Conclusions. The new Ukrainian garden appears as a space of harmony between man and nature, purified from tastelessness and artificiality, inspired by the natural poetics of the national landscape. It symbolizes the inner strength, wisdom, and spiritual resilience of Ukrainians, combining tradition with modern ecological principles. Modern landscape design gravitates towards ecological architecture, which involves minimal intervention in natural processes, the preservation of biodiversity, and the integration of natural ecosystems into public spaces. The Ukrainian garden today is not only an aesthetic category but also a moral and ecological practice, a space for communication, education, and spiritual renewal. Its development, as shown by the example of the Fantasy Park of the National Dendrological Park "Sofiyivka" of the NAS of Ukraine, testifies to the ability of the national landscape school to combine history, symbolism, and modernity. The evolution of the Ukrainian garden is a metaphor for the revival of culture and nation: the garden becomes a living image of memory, resilience, and love for the native land.