Brussels, Jun 11 (EFE).- Ukraine faces the challenge of rebuilding from scratch thousands of homes, offices, schools, public spaces and recreational facilities amid a war that has ravaged the country for more than four years, a challenge that was discussed on Thursday at the New European Bauhaus architectural festival in Brussels.
Projects presented at the event seek to turn necessity into opportunity, focusing on energy independence through sustainability and on designs that convey hope.
In the western Ukrainian region of Ivano-Frankivsk, the Promprylad Foundation has transformed a former Soviet-era factory into a shared space for businesses, displaced people, and civil society.
“For us, these are not just walls (…); it has become a space for safety, resilience and recovery in the midst of war,” said Oksana Arkhypchuk, who works with the foundation, during a panel discussion on Ukraine’s reconstruction.
For projects such as this, sustainability “is a symbol of survival and development,” she added, highlighting the importance of the facility’s energy-saving systems.
Similarly, Darius Skusevičius, Lithuania’s special envoy for Ukraine’s reconstruction, explained during the forum that the installation of solar panels at a Ukrainian school meant that this winter there was no need “to choose between heating and lighting.”
Providing peace of mind through design
Experts also stressed the importance of aesthetics in these new spaces as a way of inspiring hope.
“When you speak with communities, when you ask people to think about the future and dream about an aesthetically pleasing environment, you also strengthen their resilience and give them hope,” said Rūta Leitanaitė of the Lithuanian Architects’ Association during the roundtable discussion.
According to the architect, “aesthetics is also a tool for working with community psychology because it represents a sense of normality that provides peace of mind.”
Arkhypchuk, from the Promprylad Foundation, highlighted the importance of spacious and well-lit environments, “especially after spending the night in a bunker and then having to go to work.” EFE