Winners Announced for Kharkiv Housing Challenge Competition
The UN4UkrainianCities project is pleased to announce the winners of the Kharkiv Housing Challenge competition, a pivotal initiative within the Housing Pilot Project of the Kharkiv Masterplan Concept. The competition sought innovative solutions for retrofitting existing concrete panel housing blocks and revitalizing public spaces in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.
The competition, organized by Buildner in collaboration with the Kharkiv City Council, UNECE, the Norman Foster Foundation, and Arup, drew significant international attention. Participating architects and designers were tasked with developing modular systems that address crucial aspects of post-conflict reconstruction: safety, energy efficiency, and community vibrancy, while incorporating essential elements such as bomb shelters and adaptable façade systems.
“This competition is a crucial step in our commitment to build Ukraine’s cities back better and in line with its national housing policy framework. The winning proposals are exceptional examples of energy efficient, community oriented and sustainable design.”
The entries were evaluated by a distinguished jury panel including Norman Foster, President of the Norman Foster Foundation; Farshid Moussavi, Director of Farshid Moussavi Architecture; Igor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv; and other renowned experts in architecture, urban planning, and post-conflict reconstruction. The proposals were judged based on their modularity and innovation, adaptability and scalability, sustainability considerations, community engagement potential, and economic viability.
The competition's first prize was awarded to "Healing Kharkiv: From Rubble to Renewal," a collaborative project by Cundall and Gensler from the United Kingdom. Led by Andrew James Jackson, the winning proposal stands out for its innovative approach to reinforcing buildings using locally manufactured recycled materials, while incorporating winter gardens and sustainable features that promote community healing. The second prize went to "Blooming Towards the Sun" by Zigeng Wang from China, while the third prize was awarded to "Modus Vita," a collaborative effort by a team from Turkey's Yıldız Technical University, comprising Melek Serra Saral, Oleksandr Kinash, Didem Arman, and Elif Ilgin. Each winning proposal demonstrated exceptional understanding of the competition's core objectives: combining safety, sustainability, and community engagement in modular solutions that can be implemented across Kharkiv's housing stock.
Given the modular nature of Kharkiv's housing stock, the winning designs have the potential to be adapted across the city, playing a vital role in its recovery and long-term resilience. The selected proposals will move into detailed development phases, with opportunities for winning teams to collaborate directly with local communities.
“The competition’s focus on modular solutions is particularly significant. By developing systems that can be replicated across different sites, we can ensure a more efficient and cohesive approach to reconstruction while maintaining high standards of sustainability and community engagement.”
The winning proposals stood out for their innovative approaches to:
Sustainable and energy-efficient retrofitting solutions
Integration of safety features including bomb shelters
Creation of vibrant public spaces
Preservation of local identity while embracing modern design principles
Scalable and economically viable implementation strategies
The UN4UkrainianCities project, which encompasses this competition, continues to demonstrate how international cooperation and innovative urban planning can pave the way for sustainable development even in the most challenging circumstances. The winning designs will serve as blueprints not only for Kharkiv's reconstruction but also as inspiration for similar initiatives across Ukraine and beyond.