The article presents a variable range of meanings of the concept “ruin”. The castle in the state of ruins as a historical monument is considered, and the importance of preserving this type of objects actually in the state of ruins is emphasized, explaining this by the concept of “places of memory” by P. Nora, considering ruined castles as monuments-relics and comprehending their significance in literature and folklore.
The article deals with the problem of actualization of the cultural memory potential as a social tool in the process of identity construction in the conditions of the Ukrainian society democratic transformation. The main thesis of the article is that the cultural memory has mighty resources in the conditions of a democratic and lawful state, securing forming, preserving, transferring and developing of cultural norms, values, knowledge and meanings, contributing to integration, social consolidation.
The paper focuses on the ways of memory preservation in the architectural environment of the cities. The peculiarities of memory applications as a source of inspiration for modern Ukrainian architects in the environment of the Ukrainian cities are considered.