Beyond the current war aggression, the city of Kharkiv aims at critically assessing its post-soviet heritage, specifically its housing developments.

Analysing the changing climatic conditions and thus the aggravating challenges of domestic comfort; thermically, energetically, and ergonomically, a modular approach identified a missing puzzle piece enabling an overall update and upgrade.

Highlighting the grey energy and hence carbon value of the existing structure, demolitions were reduced to a struct minimum. Merely the concrete under the windows was to be cut-out.

A prefab plug-on balcony made of full metal sheeting was then to be screwed on the existing concrete structure.

The balconies were to be equipped with hemp insulation, a renewable local product.

The shape of the balcony, a half-circle, answers the ambition of universal applicability on the post-soviet housing stock: it allows an integration in all orientations and either additional sun exposure to the north, or sun protection to the south.

Closed off with 3 polyester sliding elements, the balconies become a bioclimatic extension of the interior, and enable a climatic buffer space throughout the seasons.

SHELTER

Critically assessing the damage of shelling, 2 buildings were to be sacrificed and demounted. Yet instead of milling the concrete into rubble, the prefab plates are to be disassembled, cut, and cleaned, to be re-compiled into a large dome-like structure like vernacular huts throughout Europe. 

The amount of material available allows for a shelter beyond pure emergency: a covered sport field, a shielded public space of sacral dimensions.

MASTERPLAN

Understanding the pressures of climate change, a holistic approach was taken over the whole site;

To increase natural tree cover and canopy, in order to unseal soil and allow food production, water absorption and carbon sequestration, a new mobility concept was developed to free much of the housing estate from the car.

Anticipating an increase of personal car use after the war, 2 hybrid mobility hubs are integrated at key locations.

Beyond parking, these infrastructures allow housing, markets and additional shelter.