RE:UKRAINE HOUSING PILOT PROJECT
Basic information
Project Title
RE:UKRAINE HOUSING PILOT PROJECT
Category
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
Project Description
RE:UKRAINE HOUSING
PILOT PROJECT
RE:Ukraine Housing is a temporary housing system for displaced persons our team has been working on since March 10th.
The next phase of the project is constructing a pilot for 15 displaced families.
VISION:
Dignity
no matter what
MISSION:
Raising the standard of temporary housing
CORE VALUES:
• Comfort
• Adaptability
• Functionality
PILOT PROJECT
RE:Ukraine Housing is a temporary housing system for displaced persons our team has been working on since March 10th.
The next phase of the project is constructing a pilot for 15 displaced families.
VISION:
Dignity
no matter what
MISSION:
Raising the standard of temporary housing
CORE VALUES:
• Comfort
• Adaptability
• Functionality
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
Ukraine
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
RE:Ukraine Interaction and Recovery Center aims to develop a community-driven recovery and reintegration program for Ukrainian society. We seek to provide IDPs with the necessary opportunities for socialization, rehabilitation, and restoration of their social status. This idea grew out of the concept of the RE:Ukraine Housing pilot project, which had a dream and vision of dignified temporary housing for Ukrainians who had lost their homes. Over time, we felt the need to expand our services and offer a comprehensive approach to support and reintegrate our fellow citizens – sustainable, inclusive and long-term oriented.
The project includes:
● Administrative services for IDPs and locals affected by hostilities
● Physical rehabilitation and health recovery programs
● Psychological support and mental recovery
● Educational programs and skills development courses
● RE:Ukraine Housing – comfortable long-term stay for IDPs
The project includes:
● Administrative services for IDPs and locals affected by hostilities
● Physical rehabilitation and health recovery programs
● Psychological support and mental recovery
● Educational programs and skills development courses
● RE:Ukraine Housing – comfortable long-term stay for IDPs
Key objectives for sustainability
The RE:Ukraine Interaction and Recovery Center project is being developed by the balbek bureau architects according to the principles of sustainable production. The average lifespan of the residential sections is 15+ years. The construction takes place on a pile foundation, with minimal soil load, and involves the use of local materials. The design also includes the principle of relocation of the settlement with the preservation of up to 60% of resources and reuse for a new purpose (up to 3 cycles).
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
RE:Ukraine Interaction and Recovery Center strives to achieve comfort, adaptability & functionality for its residents. The main task that we set for ourselves is to maintain a dignified lifestyle. We must ensure a usual and healthy lifestyle and decent conditions in the temporary residence of Ukrainians who lost their homes. Convenient way of life makes the basis of residential comfort: sanitary units, fully equipped kitchens, baby care rooms, and laundries. Residents should not experience any restrictions or lack of auxiliary zones on any square meter of the project.
We have analyzed more than 20 IDP housing projects in different countries. While most of them solve practical problems, they tend to neglect the aesthetic component of temporary housing. When designing the project, we took advantage of the balbek bureau's extensive experience designing shared spaces and commercial properties. The main goal of the RE:Ukraine Housing project is to offer displaced persons cozy housing after the shocks they've experienced. Temporary, but no less comfortable than permanent. With a design that feels both new and familiar. To realize this idea, we've partnered up with a number of companies – for example, IKEA will provide furniture and home decor for residential sections.
We have analyzed more than 20 IDP housing projects in different countries. While most of them solve practical problems, they tend to neglect the aesthetic component of temporary housing. When designing the project, we took advantage of the balbek bureau's extensive experience designing shared spaces and commercial properties. The main goal of the RE:Ukraine Housing project is to offer displaced persons cozy housing after the shocks they've experienced. Temporary, but no less comfortable than permanent. With a design that feels both new and familiar. To realize this idea, we've partnered up with a number of companies – for example, IKEA will provide furniture and home decor for residential sections.
Key objectives for inclusion
– Individualized Approach: The project provides services that focus on the needs of each individual and take into account their unique circumstances, age, gender, and other individual factors. This is achieved through personalized support and programs that are adapted to the needs of users.
– Holistic Approach: The center integrates various services (medical, psychological, social, educational) to ensure harmonious recovery of the individual.
– Diversity Consideration: The project emphasizes the need to understand and respect the diversity of individuals, which ensures the acceptance and integration of all, regardless of their age, gender, social status, or special needs.
– Inclusive Space Design: The center's spaces are designed with accessibility in mind for people with different physical abilities, providing easy access to all services without barriers.
– Holistic Approach: The center integrates various services (medical, psychological, social, educational) to ensure harmonious recovery of the individual.
– Diversity Consideration: The project emphasizes the need to understand and respect the diversity of individuals, which ensures the acceptance and integration of all, regardless of their age, gender, social status, or special needs.
– Inclusive Space Design: The center's spaces are designed with accessibility in mind for people with different physical abilities, providing easy access to all services without barriers.
How Citizens benefit
1. Participation in Project Planning and Implementation: Representatives of civil society interact with the project from the very beginning of planning, making suggestions and ideas, which allows us to adapt the project services to the real needs of the community.
2. Volunteering: Volunteers play an important role in providing services, supporting rehabilitation programs, and educational initiatives, ensuring close communication with the needs and preferences of the community.
3. Discussion and Feedback: Regular meetings and forums with the community provide an opportunity to discuss project progress and provide a platform for feedback that is used for further improvements.
4. Partnerships with Local Organizations: Local organizations representing the interests of different population groups actively cooperate with the project, helping to expand its reach and impact.
2. Volunteering: Volunteers play an important role in providing services, supporting rehabilitation programs, and educational initiatives, ensuring close communication with the needs and preferences of the community.
3. Discussion and Feedback: Regular meetings and forums with the community provide an opportunity to discuss project progress and provide a platform for feedback that is used for further improvements.
4. Partnerships with Local Organizations: Local organizations representing the interests of different population groups actively cooperate with the project, helping to expand its reach and impact.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
Establishing a settlement-based Interaction and Recovery Center for internally displaced persons involving the local community, activists, businesses, and local authorities is an innovative approach to addressing the humanitarian crisis. It is ruled out by key principles:
People first – focusing on each person's individual needs, considering their characteristics, age categories, gender and other factors.
Holistic approach – a combination of medical, psychological, social and educational services to ensure harmonious recovery.
Cooperation with local community – active participation of the local community in the center's activities; cooperation with volunteers, local organizations and businesses.
Life-long learning – preparing IDPs to reintegrate, helping them develop new professional and life skills.
Transparency – informing the public about the center's activities, a transparent reporting mechanism to donors and partners.
People first – focusing on each person's individual needs, considering their characteristics, age categories, gender and other factors.
Holistic approach – a combination of medical, psychological, social and educational services to ensure harmonious recovery.
Cooperation with local community – active participation of the local community in the center's activities; cooperation with volunteers, local organizations and businesses.
Life-long learning – preparing IDPs to reintegrate, helping them develop new professional and life skills.
Transparency – informing the public about the center's activities, a transparent reporting mechanism to donors and partners.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
RE:Ukraine Housing Pilot and Interaction and Recovery Center was developed by balbek bureau, an interior architecture studio: architects, project and communications managers joined forces to improve the comfort of IDPs' housing. In addition to the architectural expertise, sociologist and researcher Oksana Lemishka participated in developing the concept. Her findings helped us to define the principles of development of a system for selecting residents of the pilot site and the interaction center. We also engaged a fundraising consultant for effective communication with stakeholders and advocacy, which added value to the project.
The project also actively invites global architectural expertise to international cooperation and offers a pilot for global architectural universities. Students can practice interior and product design by creating custom furniture and decor for the RE:Ukraine residential sections. A school could assemble a showcase RE:Ukraine module on its grounds to allow future designers to develop their projects in real-life conditions.
The project also actively invites global architectural expertise to international cooperation and offers a pilot for global architectural universities. Students can practice interior and product design by creating custom furniture and decor for the RE:Ukraine residential sections. A school could assemble a showcase RE:Ukraine module on its grounds to allow future designers to develop their projects in real-life conditions.
Methodology used
Our three main approaches in terms of projecting RE:Ukraine Housing Pilot & Interaction and Recovery Center:
1. Real model
A pilot project is required to showcase a model residential section, test the pace of construction, experiment with several construction technologies, and measure assemble and disassemble cycles.
2. Analysis
The trial project will allow us to get honest feedback from the people we initially created RE:Ukraine Housing for. Our team will be analyzing how residents interact with both each other and the space and optimizing the project considering their comments.
3. Experiment
The pilot will also help us test different construction technologies and find the best option in terms of time, labor costs, and energy efficiency.
We also seek to develop mechanisms for interaction and socialization of internally displaced persons and to help establish connections between IDPs and the local community.
1. Real model
A pilot project is required to showcase a model residential section, test the pace of construction, experiment with several construction technologies, and measure assemble and disassemble cycles.
2. Analysis
The trial project will allow us to get honest feedback from the people we initially created RE:Ukraine Housing for. Our team will be analyzing how residents interact with both each other and the space and optimizing the project considering their comments.
3. Experiment
The pilot will also help us test different construction technologies and find the best option in terms of time, labor costs, and energy efficiency.
We also seek to develop mechanisms for interaction and socialization of internally displaced persons and to help establish connections between IDPs and the local community.
How stakeholders are engaged
Stakeholders and their responsibilities:
Territorial community
● Creating a unique value for local residents
● Building ties between IDP and hosting community
● Contributing to an image of a healed and socially responsible Bucha community
RE:Ukraine team:
● Designing a dignified temporary housing system for IDPs
● Implementing the architectural and design project
● Creating a partners’ consortium
Partners:
● Financial support: international charities, businesses, NGOs
● Physical rehabilitation
● Mental recovery
● Education
State support:
● Ministry for Restoration
Territorial community
● Creating a unique value for local residents
● Building ties between IDP and hosting community
● Contributing to an image of a healed and socially responsible Bucha community
RE:Ukraine team:
● Designing a dignified temporary housing system for IDPs
● Implementing the architectural and design project
● Creating a partners’ consortium
Partners:
● Financial support: international charities, businesses, NGOs
● Physical rehabilitation
● Mental recovery
● Education
State support:
● Ministry for Restoration
Global challenges
The RE:Ukraine Interaction and Recovery Center project was created as the most practical response to a real problem – the flow of internal migration caused by military aggression against Ukraine. The experience of living in Ukraine during the full-scale war has demonstrated that global humanitarian organizations are not flexible enough to effectively address the problems on the ground and understand the local context. Born out of the horizontal interaction of the local community, volunteers, and people who have directly lived through the experience of an internally displaced person, the project presents a local solution for organizing recovery and reintegration into society. In times of global turmoil and political instability, our experience can be useful in many parts of the world.
Learning transferred to other parties
RE:Ukraine Housing Pilot project as an architectural solution can be adapted for various purposes. Although our team developed it as a response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we believe it can benefit other countries, too, such as for the temporary resettlement of victims of natural disasters. Fellow architects from different countries could adapt the project's planning solution in compliance with local building standards and regulations.
The project is aimed at a strategic and comprehensive approach to reintegration. In addition to the actual buildings of the center and the architectural component, we are developing a model of interaction between the community and the rehabilitation center. This means that its algorithms and principles can be transferred and applied in different countries for recovery after wars, social upheavals and natural disasters to integrate affected citizens into society and provide them with sustainable support.
The project is aimed at a strategic and comprehensive approach to reintegration. In addition to the actual buildings of the center and the architectural component, we are developing a model of interaction between the community and the rehabilitation center. This means that its algorithms and principles can be transferred and applied in different countries for recovery after wars, social upheavals and natural disasters to integrate affected citizens into society and provide them with sustainable support.
Keywords
Decent temporary housing
Problems of temporarily displaced persons
New standards of modular housing
Recovery and Interaction Center
Social reintegration
