Download pdf:
- Report on Urban Hackathon Lviv – participatory event on “Holistic renovation of modernism housing”
- A plan for a new production line for large scale reconstruction of heritage (EN)
- Vilnius’ recommendations – draft recommendations + analysis of cultural value of modernism housing (EN)
- Damage and potential for holistic renovation of modernist mass housing in Ukraine (EN)
- Full report on the activity – coming soon
UREHERIT partner organizations, leading the working group:
Architects Association of Lithuania; National Union of Architects of Ukraine
This topic addresses the urgent need for comprehensive and context-sensitive strategies to renovate modernist mass housing in Ukraine. The focus is on integrating architectural, social, technical, economic, and environmental dimensions into the renovation process, treating modernist micro-districts not only as a physical legacy but also as cultural and social heritage crucial to post-war recovery and identity rebuilding.
The large-scale destruction of housing in Ukraine caused by the russia-inflicted war has created an urgent need to rebuild and renovate cities and residential environments. Among the most affected are post-war modernist micro-districts – dense residential areas built in the mid-to-late 20th century – which still house the majority of the urban population.
These micro-districts are often perceived as obsolete or purely functional. However, they represent a significant part of Ukraine’s architectural, cultural, and social fabric. Their renovation cannot rely solely on technical solutions; instead, it requires a holistic approach that addresses:
- Physical deterioration and outdated infrastructure;
- Energy inefficiency and environmental concerns;
- Social fragmentation and demographic shifts;
- Spatial quality and urban integration;
- Cultural memory and local identity.
A holistic renovation model is needed to guide Ukraine’s long-term recovery, ensuring that post-war rebuilding efforts contribute to more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban futures.
Aims and Goals
- To develop a holistic, multidimensional framework for the renovation of modernist mass housing in Ukraine.
- To shift the perception of modernist housing from obsolete infrastructure to valuable architectural and social heritage.
- To identify and define key impact areas: spatial, social, process, economic, technical, and environmental.
- To propose adaptable recommendations for local governments, communities, and professionals.
- To explore and test the recommendations through academic and participatory pilot initiatives.
- To contribute to Ukraine’s long-term housing recovery with human-centred and heritage-sensitive approaches.
The work in the working group was arranged as follows:
2024 spring – open call for experts from EU and Ukraine, Work group composed; meetings online, research analyzing the damage, needs and potential of modernist mass housing in Ukraine, good practices from EU;
2024 summer – first report – analysis of damage and needs and first draft version of the recommendations prepared (See the report: Damage and potential for holistic renovation of modernist mass housing in Ukraine (EN));
2024 August – Vilnius workshop, dedicated to draft the recommendations and discuss the value of modernism mass housing (See the report: Vilnius’ recommendations – draft recommendations + analysis of cultural value of modernism housing (EN))
2025 spring semester – pilot projects done by architecture students from Lithuania and Ukraine. Kaunas University of technology, Faculty of civil engineering and architecture 4th year students worked on urban planning of modernist housing area in Zaporzhizhe, and Kharkiv School of Architecture 2nd year students worked on projects for Lviv location. The aim of the students’ pilots – to test the draft recommendations.
2025 June – presentation, discussion and exhibition of KTU and KhSA students’ projects in Lviv, KhSA premises.
2025 June 13th-14th – Urban Hackathon, a participatory event for community, architects and Lviv city to discuss the challenges and create visions for holistic renovation of modernism housing area in Lviv. Organized by Architects Association of Lithuania, Estonian Union of Architects and NGO r3kvit urban coalition for Ukraine. (See the report: Report on Urban Hackathon Lviv – participatory event on “Holistic renovation of modernism housing”)
2025 autumn – review of the recommendations according to the findings of students’ pilots and Urban Hackathon; final version of the recommendations.
“UREHERIT: Architects for heritage in Ukraine. Recreating identity and memory” is a project co-funded by the European Union under a dedicated call for proposals to support Ukrainian displaced people and the Ukrainian Cultural and Creative Sectors. The project is a cooperation between the consortium of 11 organizations: Architects Association of Lithuania (LT), Architects Sweden (SE), Federal Chamber of Architects and Chartered Engineers BKZT (AT), Royal Danish Academy, The Institute of Technology and Architecture IBT (DK), Romanian Order of Architects OAR (RO), The National Council of Architects, Planners, Landscapers and Conservationists CNAPPC (IT), Federal Chamber of German Architects BAK (DE), Estonian Association of Architects (EE), The National Union of Architects of Ukraine (UA), Ro3kvit: Urban Coalition for Ukraine (UA), Kharkiv School of Architecture (UA) with the Architects’ Council of Europe (EU) as associated partner.
GRP-EACEA-CREA-2023-COOP-UA-EXT
