Rebuilding Ukraine: How a devastated village in the Kherson oblast will look like after 'reincarnation'?

The government has identified six settlements where the restoration of the damaged areas due to russian aggression will take place as part of an experimental project. One of them is the village of Posad-Pokrovske, 35 kilometres away from Kherson. In February-March 2022, after the occupation of Kherson by the russians, the village found itself on the front line. Until November 2022, Posad-Pokrovske was constantly under shelling, resulting in 100% damage to buildings and structures, both public and private..

Before the full-scale invasion by russia, the village was home to 2,240 people, but during the war, only about 20 residents remained. After the de-occupation, people started returning to the village and were shocked by the extent of the damage. The state promises to rebuild it 'better than it was'.

Mind spoke with the architects of the project about how the restored village would look like.

Who is responsible for the project? The newly established State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine is appointed as the project’s coordinator, and the works are commissioned by the recovery service of the oblast. Archimatika company has volunteered to contribute to the development of the restoration concept.

How much does it cost? The funding will be provided by the UNITED 24 Fund, created at the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The exact figures have not been disclosed by the Agency by now.

How long will it take to rebuild the village? During the presentation of the concept to the community of Posad-Pokrovske, the head of the agency, Mustafa Nayyem, stated that according to the most optimistic scenario, the village will be restored by the end of 2024. "This is the first step towards the implementation of our ambitious project to restore six settlements in five oblasts that have been affected by the armed aggression of the russian federation. We will present the Posad-Pokrovske project to the community, which will be a comprehensive rebuild, not limited to individual buildings and structures, but a complete systemic approach with new planning and a complete transformation of the village," he said.

What were the main principles laid down by the architects? According to Oleksandr Stolovy (architect, junior partner at Archimatika, and Ukrainian village researcher), the historically characteristic features of the buildings in Posad-Pokrovske were white walls and tiled roofs. Therefore, the architects proposed to restore this authenticity and created the main image of a white village with tiled roofs.

What will the new houses be like? Each residential property will be rebuilt with the principle of a semi-closed or inner courtyard, which is historically characteristic of the local architecture. The courtyard will include both the house itself and a certain number of auxiliary buildings (cellar, summer kitchen, chicken coop, barn, etc.).

"We do not define the function of the auxiliary buildings. By making them versatile, we allow each owner to adapt these structures to their needs," says Oleksandr Stolovy. Such auxiliary buildings will be located along the fence, which also allows for the development of small family businesses oriented towards the internal demand of the village, such as shops, veterinary clinics, and more.

What else will be built besides housing? Since it is a comprehensive solution, the plan is to restore not only housing but also all the necessary infrastructure for the community. In particular, it is proposed to have a single complex for a school, kindergarten, and cultural centre in the centre. Additionally, the village will have an administrative centre, a security centre, a police department, an ambulance station, a fire station, shops, cafés, a pharmacy, and all other necessary facilities for the residents.

The project proposes to restore a church in the village. Next to it, a memorial to the victims of World War II will be preserved, and a Centre for the Memory of the Struggle of Ukrainians against russian aggression will be established. Depending on successful hydrogeological tests, the architects suggest attempting to restore a pond and creating a recreational park.

What will the village's economy be like? The main source of livelihood for the village will be household farming and micro-farming. The architects want to provide the community members with the opportunity to sell their produce, so they propose building a transport and trade hub. This hub will be located along the international highway E58, which connects Mariupol and Vienna, as well as Kyiv and Sevastopol. In addition to a market, the hub will have stops for long-distance buses and a block of bicycle parking spaces, as the residents actively use bicycles..

What other aspects did the architects emphasise? Another important aspect of the restoration project is the establishment of a centre for the care and support of the elderly. Since the village has a significant number of elderly residents, one of the ideas is to create a space for them in the heart of the village. The goal is to ensure that the elderly continue to actively participate in the community's public life and have opportunities for socialisation.

Was the opinion of local residents asked? Yes, the opinions of local residents were gathered through an online poll, based on which the list of the community's main expectations was determined. "An important influencing factor in the design decisions was the appropriate consolidation of the requested functions into a complex that is easy to maintain, so that the community does not incur unnecessary costs for operation. Additionally, the facilities within the centre should be filled with activities necessary for the village, so that the infrastructure does not remain idle. Therefore, versatility is a fundamental element of the project," summarises Oleksandr Stolovy..