Norman Foster Foundation
Kharkiv Housing Challenge

The scheme is well resolved. Sustainability has been addressed with consideration of facade orientation and material reuse. Water and energy use have been considered.Public spaces well integrated with canopy structures.

The structure of existing residential buildings is to be reinforced with locally manufactured high-quality structural gratings made of concrete and reinforcement, for which the crushed remains of destroyed building structures are used. They will provide a certain level of security (the structural integrity of the building will not be compromised if some elements are destroyed), as well as alternative evacuation routes and additional elevators for accessibility. This design will not only provide reinforcement, but will also provide the necessary additional thermal insulation and additional living space in the form of expanded winter gardens and terraces.

This project moves beyond material reconstruction. It puts at its heart questions of belonging, identity, healing and social cohesion. These aspects have been reflected in the design of the welcoming public space, and the emphasis on repair of damaged buildings, rather than erasure and demolition. When working on such reconstruction, it is important to understand the local context and to identify local partners. The project at this stage has worked with a network of Ukrainian suppliers, charities and contractors which is important as many people in ruined cities feel neglected in the processes of reconstruction of their own cities.

Existing residential buildings will be reinforced with locally manufactured high-quality structural gratings made from concrete and reinforcement, utilizing crushed materials from destroyed structures. This approach enhances security against further attacks, maintains structural integrity, and provides alternative evacuation routes and additional elevators for accessibility. The design will also improve thermal insulation and create extra living space through expanded winter gardens and terraces.

The project provides an overall planning concept that could be easily replicated in other similar areas of the city. It introduces interesting modular "Kit of Parts" solutions for the renewal of the buildings that breaks the monotony of the facades of prefabricated housing blocks and provides an optimisation of thermal comfort of the apartments. It could offer more detail, however, on how the project would heal the destroyed building parts.

Blooming Towards The Sun is a sophisticated entry that comprehensively addresses architectural, economic, sociological, psychological and cultural issues arising from war. The proposal also clearly indicates different interventions based on the extent of damage to existing buildings. Creating space and the required irrigation systems for sunflower cultivation and processing is a compelling idea, not only because they are a symbol that is central to Ukrainian identity, but also for using the architecture to instill a sense of self-sufficiency amongst inhabitants. I was also intrigued by the incorporation of fragments of destroyed buildings into the public spaces across the site, perhaps reminding the people of Kharkiv of their resilience and all that they have survived.

This hybrid approach integrates architecture and agriculture, tackling the interconnected challenges of housing and agricultural production loss in a unified solution. The proposal enhances food security while providing quality housing, serving as a reminder of the numerous challenges people face during wartime and how a building can respond to many of these issues. Additionally, it addresses essential topics such as water management and GSHP systems. It offers a diverse catalog of balcony types.

This is an ambitious project that attempts to bring a new space of hope to the core of reconstruction. It suggests creating a community library, and proposes collective community planting areas. The project extends the building in scale by adding a new exterior façade. This would help not only in expanding the space for peoples' homes, but also in creating planting balconies for the families living there. The main question here is about providing shelter to the people who lost their homes. If some parts of the destroyed apartments have been turned into a library, where would the displaced families return to?

The project addresses modular systems, additional balconies, and the building as a system for living, planting, and public.

It is planned to implement a modular system of underground shelters, constructed using specially designed concrete panels with high strength and which also allow flexible use of the space both in peacetime and conflict. The damaged parts of residential buildings are proposed to be replaced with standardized factory-made blocks for further residence or for use as public space with partial preservation of the volume of destruction.

A multilayer insulation system will be implemented across all residential building facades to enhance energy efficiency. Damaged sections of residential buildings will be replaced with standardized factory-made blocks, enabling continued habitation or transformation into public spaces while retaining some of the original structure.