The article is from A&B issue 9|23
I first witnessed the widespread destruction caused by Russian missile attacks on my way from Kiev to Zhytomyr in the summer of 2022. It was in Makarov, a small city next to Kyiv, I was rushing to a meeting with the Zhytomyr Spatial Development Agency. My colleagues and I were to discuss the architectural design for converting an abandoned floor in an apartment building into a space for displaced persons (hereafter IDP), so I didn't stop.
After the meeting in Zhytomyr, I learned about settlements near Kyiv. It turned out that Makary was heavily shelled, although the damage was not visible from the road. Among other things, civilian buildings along Projekt Street, which was built only thirty-six years ago in connection with the resettlement of people from the Chernobyl zone, had suffered as a result of the shelling. Unfortunately, the residents had to move again, which introduces a new phenomenon - multiple displacement. It involves many Ukrainians who were forced to move from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions several years ago and again more than a year ago [https://eng.rebuildua.net/makariv].
CO-HATY - a pilot project in Ivano-Frankivsk
Photo: Bohdan Volynskyi
It's important to build houses, there's a huge demand for them. Some 8 million people have changed their city or region of residence in Ukraine, and 6 million have moved abroad. However, erecting buildings during wartime, when destruction is widely ongoing, may seem counterproductive. Many of the housing buildings for displaced people built since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014 have already been destroyed by the war. One way to address this issue of war and destruction is to change our view of architecture, seeing it not just as a "brick and mortar" activity, but as a process-oriented design.
This approach, as opposed to a results-oriented one, requires a different role for the architect, a more democratic organizational model and evaluation of work. The following patterns are not complete sets of characteristics that describe them - they are individual thoughts based on observations and my professional involvement in collaborative architectural projects in Ukraine.
CO-HATY - a pilot project in Ivano-Frankivsk
Photo: Bohdan Volynskyi
safe housing situation saves lives
One of the most important topics in Ukrainian architecture today is rapid housing. In times of war, when people are considering: to stay or to flee, having available space can be crucial in making decisions. In these critical moments, architecture can save lives, giving way only to the possibility of a safe escape.
A joint design workshop for the CO-HATY initiative
Photo: Nastya Kubert (NGO Metalab)
Ukraine has little experience in providing affordable and safe housing. In the spring of 2022, some 12 million Ukrainians were forcibly displaced due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On January 1, 2021, Ukraine had only 1,098 social housing units and 1,997 temporary housing units. There is a lack of housing cooperatives and non-profit houses, regulation in the rental housing market, and the mechanism for maintaining and operating buildings is inefficient. In this context, finding a quick solution to normalize life is a challenge for Ukrainian architects. An example is the CO-HATY project, which started at the end of March 2022 and by the end of April had already helped one hundred and seventy people.
A joint design workshop for the CO-HATY initiative
Photo: Nastya Kubert (NGO Metalab)
help and support is an opportunity
At the same time, this difficult situation has generated a lot of energy, especially in the field of architecture - participatory design has intensified, ideas and resources have been more readily shared, and community involvement has increased. Where traditional project implementation was not possible due to resource constraints, more creative and flexible solutions emerged. By adopting a collaborative approach in which an ad hoc team shares risks and ideas, projects can be implemented quickly and efficiently.
A collaborative design workshop for the CO-HATY initiative
Photo: Nastya Kubert (NGO Metalab)
In addition to providing a practical solution, this approach also has many long-term benefits: it empowers citizens by providing them with new knowledge and skills, allowing them to take responsibility for the projects in which they are involved. This sense of agency and empowerment can lead to a stronger sense of community and belonging. When communities build for themselves, this sense is even stronger, making the community participate in the maintenance and upkeep of the facility and more likely to use it in the future.
Focusing on urgent needs does not mean avoiding long-term solutions
A project initiated and managed by citizens who provide quick solutions can have long-term consequences, so architects should suggest sustainable practices. For example, renovating abandoned buildings to use them as housing not only contributes to a smaller CO₂ footprint than new construction, it also positively impacts the community by revitalizing a dilapidated area. Moreover, working with abandoned buildings allows for improvements, and non-professional activists and volunteers can feel more comfortable working in such spaces. This can lead to more people getting involved in the project, which ultimately benefits the community.
There are other pluses as well, for example, potential returnees to an area are less likely to be stressed in a landscape that has not been greatly altered.
A joint design workshop for the CO-HATY initiative
Photo: Nastya Kubert (NGO Metalab)
beauty is a basic need for people who have gone through forced displacement and war
"I want to live a high life now! Because no one will repay the loan of my life when all this is over!" - says Svitlana, IDP, a resident of the CO-HATY shelter in Ivano-Frankivsk, speaking in June 2023. The story of Svitlana, who lived with her family in Berislav in the Kherson region, is typical. Many IDPs do not have the privilege of planning, so they consider their current place of residence both temporary and permanent. In this context, beauty becomes a tool for people's well-being, as well as the quality of the space they try to call home. When a space is beautiful, it can help IDPs feel that someone wanted to make them happy. This is crucial after experiencing immense suffering.
Workshop on the CO-HATY project with students from the Zurich Federal University of Technology (ETHZ).
Photo credit: Author
reassessing the narrative of postwar development
Unlike postwar urban planning, which focuses on long-term projects, many measures are already being taken during the war, in response to urgent needs. While long-term strategies are essential, postwar conditions and instruments can have a negative impact on emerging projects. Even if they take into account ongoing activities, they often group them as post-war, relegating them to a preparatory role. Moreover, the use of the term "post-war" is misleading, both in terms of the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities after the destruction and during the war, as well as the future development of occupied cities; it does not define future possibilities. To counter the conventional approach of post-war planning, it is important to establish a certain narrative, an emphasis on longevity.
Materials collected for the CO-HATY project
photo: author
home is a space for action
Many of the architectural challenges facing Ukrainian society and our cities have their roots in the history of imperial and Soviet colonialism. Most of the housing stock was built during Soviet industrialization and consists of buildings in need of repair. The lack of a strong sense of belonging as a result of the planned economy and later privatization during independence is also relevant here.
The latest projects emerging in Ukraine have great potential to work with this legacy. Restoring the collective practices that were common in Ukraine before the Soviet period is an important part of the decommunization efforts and Soviet decolonization strategies. CO-HATY initiated by Metalab (co-haty.org), Chernihiv Wooden Laces (demer.cn.ua/en), Brave to Rebuild (@bravetorebuild) are all projects currently underway in Ukraine, examples of the collective building process.
In Ukraine, the scale of destruction and need calls for a variety of architectural strategies. Collaborative projects that focus on creating sustainable communities and environments through architectural design can help achieve the goal.
