Reevaluation and Reconstruction: Late Modernist Mass Housing Estates in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia 

Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia served as key sites for urban planning experiments by local departments of the urban planning institute Dipromisto. However, since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, their proximity to the frontline has led to the extensive destruction of these residential areas. Additionally, the problematic inclusion of mass housing estates in heritage discourse raises questions about their future preservation. 

The project analyses Soviet urban planning principles and decision-making networks to reassess the late modernist heritage in Ukraine’s post-colonial context. One of the key issues is the evolving perception of Soviet architecture since 2022 and balancing the need for decolonisation with fundamental preservation principles. The research explores the role of »soft« urban structures in reconstruction, focusing on the rise of civil activism, community-building, local initiatives and participatory approaches. The project aims to develop approaches to the preservation of the historical building stock as part of a resilient and sustainable urban development strategy.