Russia’s war, inflicted towards Ukraine, has caused significant overall damages, public infrastructure being not an exception. Schools, cultural centres, libraries, museums, hospitals (among others) as the focal points of social life and development and shelters, were targeted deliberately.
In the paradigm of the reconstruction of the country and society of Ukraine, public infrastructure plays a major role, as these places work as hubs of hope and togetherness.
In the urgent need for the restored public infrastructure, there have been and still are emerging various initiatives by individuals, organizations, and governments, aiming to contribute to the restoration of the public infrastructure in Ukraine. We believe that the best results of such endeavours can only be achieved with NEB values integrated: beautiful and culturally integrated design, (re)use of sustainable materials, innovative sustainable techniques and technologies and involvement of and collaboration with local specialists and communities, analysis of the local context (urban, natural and intangible).
The Lab aims to establish a hub of professional knowledge, and incubator for case studies, paving a way for democratic, open, transparent, quality-oriented processes to obtain the best design and implementation schemes for the public infrastructure in Ukraine.
Starting with a Lithuanian initiative, "Future school for Ukraine", the Lab will explore and adapt the lessons and experiences of an architectural competition as the best tool to get the best quality design, to Ukrainian context. Relevant lessons learned (based on evaluation of the case studies) would end up as recommendations for local and State’s administration to amend Ukrainian legislation, in order to ensure quality processes and results when rebuilding public infrastructure in Ukraine.
The initiative "Future school for Ukraine" will result in a contract with an architectural competition winner, to design an adaptive project for a new school for Ukraine, which could be implemented, after adaptation to a specificities of a context, in various Ukrainian locations, at various times. The competition invites participants to design a new school that would provide inspiring environment to teach, learn, collaborate and create; inclusive (accessible for all, providing various functions for all the ages and social groups); built using sustainable materials, innovative techniques and ensuring rational use of resources during the exploitation.
Indicative project milestones
2024
- February: Announcement of an open international architectural competition "Future school for Ukraine"
- April: Project’s presentation at the NEB Festival (9-13 April)
- May: Deadline (25 May at 10:00 AM (GMT+2) for submissions for the competition "Future school for Ukraine"
- June: Exhibition of the project proposals
- July: Announcement of the competition results
- September: Analysis and compilation of the lessons learned at the initiative "Future school for Ukraine"
- October: Publication of a public report on the initiative "Future school for Ukraine"
2025
- January: Adaptive project “Future school for Ukraine” design presentation
- March: Analysis of design procedure, compilation of lessons learned
- April onwards: Mapping, selection and development of any other initiatives by the NEB Lab partners, related to the rebuilding of public infrastructure of Ukraine - April 2024 - undefined (constantly)
Participation in the project
The initiative aims to connect Ukrainians (who are in need of public infrastructure) and Europeans (who are willing to donate or contribute) stakeholders: architects, creative industries, communities, businesses, local administrations, regional and global donors and to assist them in creating a unique methodology for each case, using the best lessons learned.
The project is open to welcome new partners and initiatives, especially architectural organizations from Europe and Ukraine; universities and research institutions from Europe and Ukraine; governmental bodies from Europe and Ukraine; local administrations from Ukraine; communities and NGOs from Ukraine or regional communities and NGOs from Europe; regional and global donors.
Project coordinators
- Architects Association of Lithuania (New European Bauhaus Partner)
- Architects Council of Europe (New European Bauhaus Partner)
- Ministry of Economics and Innovation of Lithuania (New European Bauhaus Friend)
- State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (New European Bauhaus Friend)
- Ro3kvit, Urban Coalition for Ukraine (New European Bauhaus Partner)
- Central projects management agency of Lithuania
Contacts
%20ruta [dot] leitanaite
gmail [dot] com (Rūta Leitanaitė)
Architects Association of Lithuania
Kalvariju St. 1, Vilnius
LT-09310, Lithuania
infoarchitektusajunga [dot] lt (info[at]architektusajunga[dot]lt)
Related information
- Project locations
- LithuaniaUkraineBelgiumAustria