KHARKIV HOUSING CHALLENGE
A SELF-HEALING CITY
NORMAN FOSTER FOUNDATION - INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION 2024
LOCATION: SALTIVKA, KHARKIV, UKRAINE

From the brief: 

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Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine, and it stands out as an important industrial, historical, and cultural beacon for the country. Due to its proximity to Russia, at just 30 km from the city’s centre, it has suffered immeasurable damages and losses as a consequence of the conflict. In this context, during the United Nation’s Second Forum of Mayors celebrated in 2022, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reached out to Norman Foster, Advocate for the Forum, seeking his help to create the new masterplan for Kharkiv. Since then, the Norman Foster Foundation (NFF), a UN Centre of Excellence, together with UNECE, the Kharkiv City Council, Arup, the Kharkiv Architects Group, and numerous international and local stakeholders have been working on the concept masterplan for the future Kharkiv.

 

This work is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.... this competition aims to develop design solutions to upgrade (damaged and destroyed) buildings and public spaces to improve urban living conditions, and to generate safe, lively, and energy efficient neighbourhoods with a modernized but historically rooted identity.

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Project proposal: Viva.City - A self-Healing City

 

1943, WW II post-Nazi occupation destroyed 500 industrial enterprises in Kharkiv. Within a mere 5 years these were restored to pre-war industrial output [kharkov.ua]. Out of a total of 14 of Kharkiv's industrial sectors, 6 are potentially transformative and 5 supportive. A great opportunity exists to re-establish Kharkiv industries on a sustainable and regenerative platform, instrumental to both rebuilding the city and establishing future renewable industries - the recreation of a self-healing city. 

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Viva.City also aims to provide a therapeutic living environment by combining contemporary and comfortable alternatives to Soviet-era residential buildings, based on regenerative practices. The work of trauma specialist and psychiatrist, Dr. Bruce D. Perry highlight the importance of rhythm and relationships in trauma intervention. Rhythm (dance, jogging, music, swimming, walking, swinging etc) is regulating.

 

Connection through relationships regulate and reward us. Viva.City promotes rhythm as part of daily therapeutic living and creates interior and exterior space that promotes connectedness.

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In summary, Viva.City’s concept proposal bring clean manufacturing and healthy commerce back into neighborhoods, increase presence and security, promote reforestation of vacant space and encourage rhythmic, connected therapeutic living, accessible to all.

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Norman Foster Foundation Buildner Design Competition

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#rebuildingukraine #rebuildingafterwar #helpukraine #supportukraine #madebycor #normanfosterfoundation #kharkivhousingchallenge #kharkiv #universalaccess #designfordisability

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ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO   |   KHARKIV HOUSING COMPETITION   |   NORMAN FOSTER FOUNDATION

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN   |   SUSTAINBALE ARCHITECTURE   |