Freedom Square, the second-largest city square in Europe, has long served as a central venue for public gatherings and cultural events in Kharkiv. This extensive space is notable for its vastness and ability to accommodate large public assembles, following the principles of Soviet urban planning. However, despite its historical importance, the square’s current design and scale have resulted in a lack of human-centric interaction, rendering it underutilised in the daily life of the city. The challenge now lies in transforming this grand yet impersonal space into a vibrant hub of activity that truly resonates with the people of Kharkiv.
Adjacent to Freedom Square is the Regional Administration Building. The current appearance of it was constructed during Soviet time as a landmark following this era’s architecture. It stands as a testament to Kharkiv’s storied past. Once a symbol of Soviet authority, this building now represents an opportunity for transformation and renewal, serving as a physical embodiment of the city’s potential future. Its structure, with its historical facade, invites a reimagining that preserves its past while embracing the new opportunities of modern Ukrainian society.
The Norman Foster Foundation Kharkiv Freedom Square Revival competition, organized by Buildner, NFF, Kharkiv City Council, UNECE and Arup presents a unique opportunity for architects, urban planners, and designers worldwide to contribute to Kharkiv’s rebirth. With a generous €10,000 prize sponsored by Buildner, this competition calls for visionary proposals that honor Kharkiv's rich heritage while aligning with its aspirations for a prosperous and progressive future.
The rewards extend beyond the monetary prize. The winning teams will have the potential to develop their design proposals in cooperation with the City Council and local professionals and stakeholders for the further implementation of the proposed concept design.
This opportunity would allow the selected teams to work closely with the community, ensuring that the final designs are deeply rooted in local needs and aspirations and bringing their visionary concepts to life as part of Kharkiv’s future urban landscape.
The full competition brief can be downloaded as often as required; no additional information will be provided after registration.
(!) Full Competition Brief
Jury members shall under no circumstances be contacted by competition participants or their representatives. Participants who attempt to contact jury members will be disqualified.
All jury members are involved in the evaluation based on their availability at that time. The list of jury members is not final and may expand as the competition progresses. All communication regarding the competition should only be carried out with Buildner staff. For any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
Norman Foster Foundation
Spain
TenBerke Architects
USA
Practice for architecture and urbanism: PAU
USA
Director of Graduate Studies, PhD Program, School of Architecture, Princeton University
United States
Architect and Professor at TU Berlin
Germany
Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, Kharkiv National University V. N.
Ukraine
Arup Berlin
Germany
Somaya and Kalappa Consultants (SNK)
India
Safdie Architects
USA
Mayor of Kharkiv
Ukraine
+ potential to be realised
5,000 €
2,500 €
1,000 €
Buildner will acknowledge the outstanding performance of all winners and honourable mentions with Certificates of Achievement.
Buildner's publicity campaign offers extensive exposure to the architectural community, ensuring that the results of the competition are seen by a vast audience:
The results are published on buildner.com, a leading website in the architecture industry, attracting over one million unique visitors annually. Additionally, the campaign extends to Buildner's social networks, which boast over 800,000 followers combined, and through newsletter campaigns reaching over 200,000 subscribers.
Winners will have the opportunity to submit a movie and an interview, boosting their recognizability and helping to build their name in the industry.
Buildner leverages an extensive network of media industry leaders to publish the competition results. This broadens the audience further, ensuring that participants' work is showcased across multiple platforms known for their influence and reach in the architecture and design sectors.
Publicity
As part of the collaboration between Buildner and ArchDaily, the competition winners will be showcased on ArchDaily, a leading architecture news platform.
This feature will greatly boost the winners' visibility to millions of architecture professionals and enthusiasts worldwide, increasing their chances for new opportunities, attracting new clients, and establishing their reputation in the industry.
Read more about Buildner and ArchDaily partnership
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