Upgrading concrete panel housing and residential neighbourhoods in Ukraine’s second largest city.

KHARKIV CITY COUNCIL

3 IGNITING ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION Buildner Architecture Competition Organisers
22 PRIZES in partnership with
4 INTRODUCTION
23 PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN Kharkiv City Council, UNECE, Norman Foster Foundation, ARUP
6 PROJECT HISTORY AND CONTEXT
Media and Kharkivproject Institute
8 MASTERPLAN APPROACH have prepared this document for
24 PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN
9 HOUSING the purpose of arranging the
Interview & Movie Norman Foster Foundation KHARKIV HOUSING CHALLENGE
10 SALTIVKA NEIGHBOURHOOD
25 COMPETITION SCHEDULE (Upgrading concrete panel housing and residential neighbourhoods in
12 INTERVENTION AREA: NORTH SALTIVKA
Ukraine’s second largest city.)
26 REGISTRATION FEES
13 THE COMPETITION architecture competition.
27 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
NORMAN FOSTER FOUNDATION
28 PRELIMINARY PRESENTATION REVIEWS © Buildner Architecture Competition Organisers
KHARKIV HOUSING CHALLENGE
29 JURY contact@buildner.com
15 PROOF OF CONCEPT architecturecompetitions.com
30 ELIGIBILITY
Adapting Designs to Varied Urban Scenarios
30 COMPETITION DOCUMENTATION
18 STRUCTURES TYPOLOGY
31 APPENDIX
21 PROJECT BUDGET REQUIREMENTS
32 ENERGY EFFICIENCY
33 BOMB SHELTER REQUIREMENTS
35 SUSTAINABLE REVITALIZATION This work is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche
36 MEDIA PARTNERS
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
3
As part of the new concept masterplan being developed for
the city of Kharkiv, the Norman Foster Foundation along with
the City Council, the Kharkivproject Institute, UNECE and Arup
are launching an international competition to improve housing
and residential neighbourhoods in the city.
This initiative calls for the development of an innovative
modular system capable of retrofitting existing concrete panel
housing blocks, re-erecting demolished ones, and enhancing
public spaces, to create safe, energy-efficient, and vibrant
neighbourhoods.
The competition will be focusing on Saltivka, the most
populated district in Kharkiv and more precisely in North
Saltivka, the most heavily damaged area after February 24,
2022. Given the similarity of residential areas across Kharkiv,
the greater ambition of this project is to extrapolate the
winning designs to other residential areas throughout the
city.
Competition participants will be expected to develop
concept design level proposals. Winning projects will be
further developed into detail designs in collaboration with
locals in a second funded phase for future construction.
After the announcement of the winners, selected proposals
will be further developed into detail designs for
construction. Winning teams will collaborate with locals in
this stage under a funded scheme.
4
The Kharkiv City Council
The representative body responsible for governing
the city of Kharkiv, representing the interests and
needs of the city's residents.
UNECE
The United Nations Economic Comission for
Europe, established in order to promote economic
cooperation and integration within European
member states.
NFF
The Norman Foster Foundation is a not-for-profit
organization that connects architecture, design,
and technology to better serve society.
The Foundation is based in Madrid and operates
globally.

Arup Kharkivproject Institute

Arup is a global collective of designers,
engineering and sustainability consultants,
advisors and experts dedicated to sustainable
development, and to using imagination,
technology and rigour to shape a better world.
Kharkivproject Institute, established in 1943, play a
crucial role in the post World War II reconstruction
of Kharkiv, including the design and construction of
concrete housing blocks across the city.

5
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.

6
Serhiyivsyi Square on embankment of Lopan river in Kharkiv, Ukraine © Sergiy Bykhunenko
Residential areas destroyed by an Iskander missile on the city of Kharkiv. © Oleksandr Osipov Destroyed and burned apartments in a multi-storey residential building.Kharkiv, Ukraine - Summer 2022 © ZagAlex

7
In contrast to traditional top-down masterplan
approaches, composed of regulations that guide the
future implementation of built projects, the new
Kharkiv concept masterplan will follow an inverse,
pilot project approach. This means that specific site-
based projects will be developed. This will have a
series of benefits:
• It will deliver real projects to improve the quality of
life of Kharkiv citizens;
• It will inform new masterplan regulations in a
‘learning by doing’ approach;
• It will promote locally-led implementation and
replication of these internationally relevant pilot
projects across the city.
Five pilot projects will be developed as part of this
new concept masterplan: Heritage, Rivers, Industry,
Housing, and a Science Neighbourhood. Additionally,
five parallel city-wide strategies encompassing
Transport, Energy, Nature, Water, and Economy will be
developed. Together, the pilot projects and city wide
strategies will address both specific and general
urban development needs of the city.
The aim of this competition will be to develop the first
stage of an essential project for Kharkiv citizens:
housing.
8
Improving housing is one of the key objectives of the
new concept masterplan and the purpose of this
competition. The vast majority of residential areas in
Kharkiv, a city historically shaped by its industrial
relevance, have grown around industry. These areas
are composed of concrete panel modular housing
blocks that have been identically replicated across
the city. They were built by local industries in
response to the necessity of providing
accommodation for factory workers on a mass scale.
Considering the speed of construction required to
provide urgent accommodation throughout the city,
concrete panel houses commonly lack proper
insulation and quality living spaces.
Around 75% of Kharkiv citizens live in this type of
housing, and together with the public spaces and
communal facilities that make up these districts, they
constitute an important component of the city’s visual
identity. This competition aims to develop design
solutions to upgrade these 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.
9
© Dmytro Falkowskyi
 Saltivka, geographically situated as the closest
neighbourhood to Russia, is both the most damaged
and symbolic residential area in Kharkiv. With over
400,000 residents, Saltivka stands as one of the
city’s most important and densely populated
neighbourhoods. Arising from the need to meet high
housing demand, it is characterised by its exclusively
residential nature and its good connection to the rest
of Kharkiv through a network of public transportation,
roads and streets, facilitating mobility for its residents.

10
Winter aerial view to residential area Saltivka in Kharkiv, Ukraine© Sergiy Bykhunenko
Although there are schools and some isolated
commercial areas, the neighbourhood can be
regarded as a ‘dormitory town’, which is an increasing
problem for liveability, safety, and sustainability.
Additionally, the technical issues associated with the
concrete panel houses previously mentioned are
especially relevant given the neighbourhood’s scale.
For these reasons, the site serves as a comprehensive
case study that addresses both specific and general
aspects of housing deficiencies and strengths in
Kharkiv.

11
Destroyed and burned multi-apartment residential buildings after rocket attack. Residential area Saltivka in Kharkiv city, Ukraine © Oleg Totskyi
 COMPETITION
COMPETITION
SITE
SITE
Within the Saltivka neighbourhood, North Saltivka,
the most damaged and closest to Russia, has been
selected to carry out this pilot intervention. The site
covers 64,065 square metres, with 86% designated
for public space, 9% for residential use, and 5% for
infrastructure. The site encompasses different
housing typologies and building uses with varying
Kharkiv
degrees of damage. This provides an opportunity to KHARKIV
River
RIVER
SALTIVKA
SALTIVKA

apply the solutions that are designed for this specific

site to the rest of the district and neighbourhood.
This is one of the key benefits of this housing pilot CITY
CITY CENTRE
CENTRE

project. More specifically, five residential blocks can

be found in this site. Each has been built following a
different residential typology design, and these five
distinct typologies are the ones that make up all of
the residential buildings in Northern Saltivka and
across most of Saltivka.

An aerial view of the Saltvka area from Google Earth

12
Objective:
Design a modular system, with components that can be
selectively applied to:
1. Retrofit and enhance concrete panel housing blocks.
2. Re-erect concrete panel housing blocks that have
been demolished due to irreparable damage.
3. Enhance public spaces.
It is essential that the system provides civil protection
structures (bomb shelters). The greater objective is to
generate safe, lively and energy efficient
neighbourhoods.
Assignment overview:
You are tasked with creating a comprehensive design
for a modular system. This system should be conceived
as a versatile toolkit: its components (such as
balconies, staircases, facade panels, insulation,
structural elements, bomb shelters, and enhancements
for public spaces adjacent to the buildings) can be
individually deployed to not only restore buildings that
have sustained various forms of damage but also to
enhance buildings that are undamaged, promoting a
cohesive and revitalized community environment.
13
Key modular system components
Structural components:
Design modular structural elements that can reinforce or
replace damaged parts of a building, ensuring its
stability and safety.
Insulation:
Develop insulation solutions that can be applied to
existing buildings to improve energy efficiency and
comfort.
Exterior additions:
Create designs for modular balconies and external
staircases that can be added to enhance the living
quality and accessibility of damaged buildings.
Re-Erection modules: Design modular components that
facilitate the rapid construction or reconstruction of
building sections. These modules should be versatile
enough to be used in a variety of building types,
enabling quick recovery and rebuilding of affected areas.
Focus on ease of assembly and disassembly, allowing for
the reconfiguration of spaces as needs evolve over time.
Bomb shelters: Given Ukraine’s current circumstances,
embedding bomb shelters in each housing block is a
legal requirement aimed at enhancing safety. These
shelters, designed to protect against emergencies and
military actions, are crucial for community resilience and
can also be used for various alternative purposes during
peacetime.
14
We challenge participants to develop strategies that
are versatile and adaptable across various contexts.
To facilitate this, we've selected a collection of five
residential buildings and five public spaces as your
canvas for innovation. You are encouraged to apply
your designs to at least one building, and one public
space. It's crucial that your proposed solutions are not
just theoretical but can be feasibly applied to all
selected buildings and public spaces to ensure a broad
impact. The applicability of the system throughout the
site should be demonstrated through visuals.
For an in-depth examination and to aid in your design
process, CAD documents of these spaces are readily
available for download on the competition website.
This resource is intended to give you a comprehensive
understanding of the spaces you're working with,
allowing for a more informed and tailored design
approach. Remember, the goal is to demonstrate the
adaptability of your strategy, showcasing how it can
bring about positive change across diverse urban
environments.
15
 SITE COORDINATES:
@50.040875, 36.364987

This page displays the competition site. It features 5

1. residential buildings (1-5) and 5 public spaces (6-10).
Although the main purpose of the competition is to
2.
design a system to retrofit existing buildings, the
system should also propose strategies to re-erect
buildings that will be demolished due to irreparable
10. damage. This is the case for one of the two blocks that
make up building 1. It might also be the case for parts
of building 5.
3.

4.

9.
7.
8.

6.

5.

16
1. Block 82 UZHVII NATALII ST
Typology series: III- 162-2n
Damage level: 83%
Work status: Construction teardowns
Square meters on floor: 752 m2
Number of floors: 16
6. Commercial area
Square meters on floor: 1090 m2
Number of floors: 1
2. Block 86 UZHVII NATALII ST 3. Block 90 UZHVII NATALII ST 4. Block 92 UZHVII NATALII ST 5. Block 96 UZHVII NATALII ST
Typology series: II-57 Typology series: 163 Typology series: III-162-3n Typology series: III-162-In
Damage level: 50% Damage level: 20%-40% Damage level: 41%-42% Damage level: 51%-60%
Work status: Not started Work status: Not started Work status: In progress Work status: Inspection of constructions
Square meters on floor: 1766 m2 Square meters on floor: 1264 m2 Square meters on floor: 1153 m2 Square meters on floor: 791 m2
Number of floors: 9 Number of floors: 9 Number of floors: 16 Number of floors: 16
7. Cafe 8. Administrative Building 9. Bus station 10. Public Space
Square meters on floor: 114 m2 Square meters on floor: 228 m2 Square meters on floor: 1438 m2 Square meters on floor: 55303 m2
Number of floors: 1 Number of floors: 2 Number of floors: 1
HIGH-QUALITY IMAGES, A DETAILED SITE WALKTHROUGH AND BUILDING CAD PLANS
AND SECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON THE COMPETITION WEBSITE. 17
 Five concrete panel block building typologies

Series 163
Series 163
Series II-57
SeriesII-57
Series III-162-2nSeriesIII-162-2n
Series III-162-InSeriesIII-162-ln
Series III-162-3nSeriesIII- 162-3n

Considering that the five selected building

typologies are replicated across Saltivka, the
competition proposals will be applicable to
many more housing blocks across the
neighbourhood and Kharkiv.
COMPETITION
COMPETITION SITE SITE

20
The residential buildings in North Saltivka are built using
prefabricated panel structures, a construction method in
which buildings are assembled from industrially
prefabricated concrete elements for walls and slabs.
The building types in Kharkiv were designed at different
times and vary slightly in the range of modular units.
However, the principles of the overall building structure
remain for all typologies. The internal and external walls
of this building typology are loadbearing with a height of
generally 3.0 m, the length varies between 3.0 to 6.0 m
(depending on the type of building). Single prefabricated
panels form the floor slab, bearing on the walls and
horizontally stitched to form diaphragm slabs. Additional
elements form the units of balconies and staircases.
Stability: Fire protection of panels:
The stability of the residential building is provided The minimum fire resistance class value for external wall
through joint connections of the individual panels. panels:
Anchor connections and welding of embedded steel • For 9-story buildings REI - 120 MO
elements, followed by concrete sealing of the joints, • For 16-story buildings REI - 150 MO
form the diaphragm of walls and slabs, generating a
spatial system.
Basements and foundations:
The basements serve as technical plant rooms with
heights between 1.8 to 2.2 m. Generally, the buildings
are founded on 10m pile foundations that transfer the
loads from the walls into the ground. In general, the
building structure is designed and built economically,
and so additional loads must be checked or
reinforcement measures taken accordingly.
18
©
Floor slabs: Elevator shafts:
140mm thick reinforced concrete panels. Reinforced concrete panels.

External walls: Roof:

320mm and 250mm thick reinforced concrete and clay 80mm thick solid flat reinforced concrete panels.
concrete panels.
Foundations:
Internal walls: Monolithic reinforced concrete grillage; 45-60 cm high
180mm and 140mm thick reinforced concrete panels. on reinforced concrete driven piles with a depth
depending on engineering and geological surveys, but
Partitions walls:
not less than 10 m.
80mm thick reinforced concrete panels.
External curtain wall panels (with load-bearing
Staircases:
functions from the floor on the 1st floor) are enclosing
Reinforced concrete stairs and enclosures.
structures and are not designed for additional loads.
Balconies:
Reinforced concrete slabs with reinforced concrete
textured screen balustrades.

19
©
For the purposes of this competition, while the budget
is not strictly defined, participants are asked to
approach their designs with a keen understanding of
cost implications. The context of this project—
revitalizing areas heavily impacted by the war, with a
focus on sustainability and community resilience—
requires thoughtful consideration of pricing. It’s
essential to recognize that resources are limited and
that economical solutions are paramount.
Participants are encouraged to research and
incorporate cost-effective building techniques, local
materials, and innovative design solutions that can
maximize impact while minimizing expenses. The
ability to deliver a project that is both affordable and
transformative will be a key consideration in the
evaluation process.
21
©
 Construction

Total prize fund After the announcement of the winners, selected proposals will be
further developed into detail designs for construction. Winning

10,000 € teams will collaborate with locals in this stage under a funded
scheme.

3 winning proposals and 6 honorable mentions will be selected. Buildner will award
a total of 10,000 € in prize money to competition winners as follows:

1st Prize
6,000 €
2nd Prize
3,000 €
3rd Prize
1,000 €
+ 6 honorable mentions
22
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.
As part of the collaboration between Buildner and Buildner leverages an extensive network of media
ArchDaily, the competition winners will be showcased industry leaders to publish the competition results.
on ArchDaily, a leading architecture news platform. This broadens the audience further, ensuring that
participants’ work is showcased across multiple
This feature will greatly boost the winners’ visibility to
platforms known for their influence and reach in the
millions of architecture professionals and enthusiasts
architecture and design sectors.
worldwide, increasing their chances for new
opportunities, attracting new clients, and establishing
their reputation in the industry.

23
 Interview & Movie

After participants submit their project, they
have the opportunity to upload a questionnaire
(in writing) and a video about themselves on
the Buildner project upload panel, up to five
days before the results announcement. The
specific submission deadline is indicated in the
project upload panel.
Questionnaires and videos will be published for
winners and honorable mentions with the competition
results on Buildner’s website.
Videos will be published for all participants, including
winners, on Buildner’s YouTube channel.

These submissions are OPTIONAL but highly

recommended in case the project is selected
amongst the winners to maximize the publicity
and media attention their work will receive.

Read more about:

The interview – architecturecompetitions.com/interview

The video submission – architecturecompetitions.com/submit-movie

Explore the movies received from Buildner Architecture Competition winners
and honorable mentions here - youtube.com/@buildner

24
Ukraine Flag © ulkerdesign
Preliminar y registration deadlines

Early Bird Registration

MAY 6 - JUNE 5 Closing date for registration
SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
Advance Registration
JUNE 6 - JULY 18
Closing date for submission
Last Minute Registration SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 (11:59 p.m. London time)
JULY 19 - SEPTEMBER 12
Announcement of the winners
It is still possible to participate in this competition OCTOBER 17, 2024
after the preliminary deadlines, however, a higher
late registration fee will be charged.

25
Please find registration fees listed at the competition website
architecturecompetitions.com/KharkivHousingChallenge

Teams from Ukraine can register for free. All team members
must be verified on architecture.info

26
• Participants are required to upload four (4) A2
landscape-orientated presentation boards (must
not exceed 10 MB per board) with sketches,
renderings, plans, sections, elevations, diagrams,
and/or other presentation tools to explain their
proposal. These designs should be developed at a
concept level.
up to 4 panels
• Panel 1 should be an introduction to the modular
system to retrofit and re-erect buildings, and upgrade
public spaces.
• Panel 2 should be devoted to the solutions for the
public space.
• Panel 3 should be devoted to the selected building.
• Panel 4 should be devoted to the applicability of the
concept to the rest of the buildings and spaces in the
site.
The incorporation of bomb shelters should be in either
panel 2 or 3.
• No video files are accepted.
• All information provided in writing must be in English.
• All submissions must be uploaded via the
architecturecompetitions.com upload panel.
Access information and instructions on how to upload
the presentation boards will be issued to participants
via email immediately after successful registration.
• The competition will be anonymous,
therefore presentation boards must not indicate any
information related to an individual’s/team’s identity.
27
For more than ten years, Buildner has analyzed and
rated thousands of architecture competition project
submissions. Trust us when we say — the quality of your
presentation is vital to convince a jury team of your
design intent, and there are several graphic and
representational factors that can make it or break it.
We can help you make it right!
Buildner can review your presentation
and give you valuable feedback!
Participants are welcome to submit their competition
presentation draft panel/s before submitting it/them
as a final competition entry for a preliminary review.
Within 1–3 days, our team will analyze your
presentation panel/s and rate them on predefined
criteria points, as well as add valuable written feedback
on how you can improve your final competition
submission.
Find out more here –
architecturecompetitions.com/reviews
28
The jury panel members list and biographies are
published at
architecturecompetitions.com/KharkivHousingChallenge
Participants are advised to research both the working
site and previous similar case studies as part of the
design process. For each competition, 6–9 jury panel
members are selected. Buildner reserves the right to
add/remove the jury panel members at any moment.
Jury members shall under no circumstances be
contacted by competition participants or their
representatives. Participants who attempt to contact
jury members shall be disqualified.
All competition-related communications should be
carried out solely with Buildner staff.
For any questions, please contact us at
contact@buildner.com
The Norman Foster Foundation Kharkiv Housing
Challenge is an ideas competition, which encourages
participants to test or redefine the boundaries of
architecture. The jury may choose to reward projects
that show a high degree of creativity, even if they
breach competition guidelines, as long as this is
justified.
Buildner is committed to selecting the most qualified
industry professionals to comprise its jury panels.
Jury panels consist of architects, in addition to
professionals from other professional backgrounds that
are relevant to the competition topic, to guarantee the
most objective competition results.
Evaluation criteria:
Versatility and adaptability: The ability of the modular
system to address a wide range of damage scenarios
and building types.
Sustainability: The environmental impact of the
proposed solutions, focusing on energy efficiency and
material recycling.
Cultural sensitivity: The design’s respect for the
existing urban fabric and architectural heritage.
Feasibility: The practicality of implementing the
modular components in real-world settings.
29
The competition is open to all. No professional
qualifications are required. Design proposals can
be developed individually or by teams (4 team
members maximum).
People who have direct personal or professional
relationships with jury panel members or
organisers may not participate in this competition.
All communcaition, including presentation
must, be conducted in English.
The following information is available for download on
architecturecompetitions.com/KharkivHousingChallenge
• Full competition brief
• Site and context photographs and videos
• CAD building plans and sections
All information can be downloaded as often as required;
no additional information or materials will be provided
after registration.
The brief and all associated documentation for this
competition are created for the sole purpose of an
academic exercise and are not legal documents.
The provided materials, or alternatives, can be used,
created, or sourced at the participant's discretion.
30
In the following pages, you will find more technical
information about the existing buildings along with
potential recommendations for your design
concepts.

While adhering to these suggestions is highly

recommended, please note that this is primarily a
concept competition. Therefore, the jury may
overlook certain technical shortcomings if the
submission demonstrates strong conceptual depth
and shows potential for technical refinement in the
subsequent development phase.

31
Energy efficiency is a crucial aspect that competition
entries should consider as part of their improvement
strategies. The thermal envelope of the residential
buildings, primarily made from prefabricated
reinforced concrete panels, currently falls short of
modern energy standards, leading to significant
heating energy losses and reduced thermal comfort.
Existing structures and proposed • Roof and floor slab:
improvements: The thermal performance of current flat roofs and floor
slabs is expected to range from 0.6 – 1.0 W/m²K,
• Walls:
responsible for about 15% of the heating energy
Currently, the thermal envelope of existing walls is
demand. Proposals for these elements should aim for
estimated to perform at u-values ranging from
performance improvements of up to four to five times
0.7 – 1.1 W/m²K, accounting for about 50% of the
better.
heating energy demand. Proposed wall elements
should aim to enhance thermal resistance, ideally
While it is important to consider local and national
performing up to five times better than the existing
guidelines on energy efficiency, as well as European
structures.
best practices and standards, teams should also be
• Windows: informed by Ukraine’s broader goal to become climate
Existing windows typically feature plastic or timber neutral by 2060. This overarching ambition should
frames with double glazing, with u-values around guide the development of both active and passive
2.7 - 3 W/m²K, which constitutes approximately 35% energy strategies for the competition.
of the current heating demand. Improved window
designs should target performance up to three
times better than current installations.
32
©
In light of the ongoing situation in Ukraine,
incorporating bomb shelters in housing blocks is
strongly recommended to enhance the safety of
residents. These shelters are designed to be hermetic
constructions that protect people from the impacts of
emergencies, military actions, and terrorist acts.
Design considerations for bomb shelters:
• Civil protection structures:
These include both dedicated shelters and dual-
purpose buildings that can serve everyday functions
but are also designed to provide protection during
emergencies. Detailed requirements can be found in
the Civil Protection Code of Ukraine, Article 32:
https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5403-17#Text.
• Quickly manufactured protective buildings:
These are structures that can be rapidly assembled
with specific construction requirements to ensure
timely availability during emergencies. This is guided
by both local and national construction regulations
and standards.
• Simplicity and accessibility:
The simplest forms of shelters might include fortified
basements, cellars, or other underground spaces that
can offer temporary refuge during crises.
• Utilization in peacetime:
Civil protection structures can also be used for
economic, cultural, and domestic activities during
peacetime, as outlined by the Cabinet of Ministers of
Ukraine. This dual functionality ensures that these
investments are continually beneficial, not just in times
of conflict.
33
©
• Regulatory compliance:

While incorporating these shelters, it is important to This approach to integrating bomb shelters should
align with the Civil Protection Code of Ukraine and enhance the resilience of new and retrofitted
ensure that designs comply with current building buildings, providing peace of mind and safeguarding
norms and safety standards, as detailed in the Law of against potential emergencies.
Ukraine on Urban Planning Activities, Article 31:
https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/3038-17#Text and
the State Building Norms of Ukraine B.2.2-15:2019:
https://dreamdim.ua/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/
Zmina1-DBN-V_2_2-15-2019.pdf. These structures
should be accessible to all individuals, including those
with disabilities, to ensure broad protection for the
entire community.

34
Interventions should be designed from an ecological
and sustainable perspective with the goal to upgrade
and retrofit existing housing. This includes recycling
rubble and reusing materials to foster safe, vibrant,
and energy-efficient neighbourhoods. Taking
inspiration from successful renovations by Lacaton
and Vassal, the approach focuses on enhancing the
functionality and aesthetics of apartments in Ukraine
that have suffered damage, without the need for
complete demolition. This method aligns with
practices that modernize while preserving the
underlying structure. The steps and benefits of
refurbishment are:
Recycling Rubble is the initial step in retrofitting
structurally sound apartments, involving the collection
and recycling of debris from damaged buildings and
urban infrastructure to create usable materials.
Preceding the rubble recycling, local industries will be
repurposed to meet the necessary requirements for
processing new manufactured goods used in the
retrofit design. This not only promotes the protection
of local jobs but also reactivates the local economy.
The newly repurposed industry will then transform
recycled rubble into the essential materials for the
retrofit, ensuring that all components are internally
generated, avoiding international imports.
The local recycled goods can be applied to existing
apartments, allowing residents to remain in their
homes and neighbourhood during the upgrade,
eliminating the need for displacement. The upgraded
houses contribute to a lively and energy-efficient
neighbourhoods, fostering sustainability, improving
citizens’ living standards, and creating a new identity
while respecting the past.
35
©
KHARKIV CITY COUNCIL

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