Fast development.
I. Genesis
UNBROKEN Mothers Center is a project of temporary housing for internally displaced persons (primarily families with children and mothers in pregnancy) who have been forced to leave or lost their homes due to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. It demonstrates how temporary housing can be constructed both quickly and sustainably and be part of urban architecture.
Construction work began in early May and was completed in July 2022 – which is overwhelmingly fast. Such a hurry was reasonable due to the high relevance of the demand – mothers and their children needed support as soon as possible. This project is an element of the UNBROKEN ecosystem and shares its values – human centered, holistic approach. It was implemented in close cooperation between institutions of the Lviv City Council, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and residents. Communities of the city of Lviv actively participated in the process from the very beginning at the stage of preliminary research and analysis of the territory. Project team also received support from residents in the process of implementing decisions and approving project proposals.
The task set before the architectural studio developing this project required clean and concise architectural solutions that could be implemented quickly and on a budget. Another essential aspect is the possibility of changing the purpose of the buildings over time, which involves using them for the needs of the Lviv community after there is no longer a need to accommodate internally displaced persons.
The project implied the construction of two mirror houses united by a common courtyard space. They are located next to a forest park area in a quiet area on Nad Dzherelom Street. Shortly after the buildings were finished, the revitalization of the mentioned forest park started. The revitalization project called “Nad Dzherelom” (eng. “Over the Source”) was aimed to restore an abandoned natural area for social integration of internally displaced persons with the local community while preserving the ecosystem and biodiversity. It has an objective to create a sustainable, inclusive, beautiful space that will bring people and communities closer to nature, contributing to the restoration of natural ecosystems and preventing the loss of biodiversity by inviting them to reconsider their relationship with nature from the perspective of life as an alternative to anthropocentrism.
II. Triggers
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 not only forced millions of Ukrainians to leave their home but also put psychological pressure on citizens of every region. According to the words of Lviv City Mayor Adndii Sadoviy, in April 2022, approximately 2,500 internally displaced persons arrived in Lviv every day at that time, and 1,500 stayed in the city. Losing a home is about losing property and putting at risk one’s social, mental and economic stability. Understanding what are the challenges that mothers and children face after moving to Lviv pushed our municipality to take action to protect, support and integrate new families into the Lviv community.
Construction works must have been fast to not let those mothers who needed support be deprived socially and economically. The risk of deprivation of numbers of IDP’s was the main trigger for these projects. Deprivation of people often goes in line with the marginalization of the space, thus all construction must have been high quality and sustainable in the long run.
The sustainability aspect of the project was also triggered by the city’s willingness to avoid any excessive damage to the environment. The area where the Center is constructed is essential for climate change mitigation. The forest surrounding the place plays an important role in ecosystem management. Thus, human interventions there must have been minimal. That is why the architectural studio used nature-friendly materials in their project. Afterwards, the project of revitalizing the nearby forest park was aimed at regenerating natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Nature-friendly solutions were also essential for creating green space for the mental recovery and the rest of both residents of the centre and the city residents.
As soon as the project team aimed to create the proper environment for social integration, the area should not have been closed to other citizens. The forest part attracted residents of other parts of the city to visit the place, and in this way, community coherence was reached. Though the target group for the UNBROKEN Mothers project is, first of all, pregnant women and women with children who are internally displaced persons due to a full-scale invasion of Russia on the territory of Ukraine, the forest park was created for the whole Lviv community. It shares the values of social inclusion – persons who live in the city of Lviv and are interested parties who can take advantage of the benefits and services that the recreation zone provides.
III. Transformational context
Thinking of solutions to address the challenges
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as of the first three months of the full-scale invasion, the proportion of households with pregnant or breastfeeding women stood at 11% among internally displaced persons (IDPs). This is a particularly vulnerable population group, and the UNBROKEN Mothers project implies the creation of a safe environment for them. When the buildings were constructed, the project team, following an integrated approach, was trying to create not just housing but an environment that provides shelter, supports motherhood, and facilitates rehabilitation for women displaced by war during pregnancy and childbirth. This approach logically led to the idea of the project “Nad Dzherelom”, which complemented the Unbroken Mothers project.
The revitalization project “Nad Dzherelom” required the unification of many experts who were able to implement complex solutions in a short period. The team consisted of architects, ecologists, engineers, social workers and local government. Through regular weekly meetings held directly on-site, the team was able to address various complexities swiftly, resolving questions and clarifications in real time. This made it possible to quickly solve any inaccuracies on the spot and find the best decisions. Moreover, the inclusive nature of these meetings allowed for the integration of knowledge and experience from all participants, leading to adaptive decision-making and effective problem-solving.
The project showed that close and high-quality communication of all stakeholders enables the timely implementation of high-quality solutions. Citizens provided extremely valuable information – explained the history of the area, the operation of the former quarry, and how the landscape was transformed after its closure. All this knowledge gave the project team an understanding of the value of the territory, which architects used when developing the approach and the first concept of landscaping. Residents also expressed the need for an area for recreation and psychological relief, which prompted architects to move in this direction.
How the Challenges are Being Addressed
The project was implemented with the support of the Ukrainian Red Cross, which allocated €710,000 for the construction of the buildings. Sulyk architects, the architectural buro that made the construction works, provided an exhaustive description of the site:
“(…) there were two buildings with the same planning structure, consisting of 17 separate modules each, combined into one common two-story volume with an area of 650 sq.m. Each building has 13 rooms for comfortable accommodation for 26 to 52 people. The building has a common kitchen-dining space, with two separate working kitchen areas and an open dining room volume up to the height of the attic. There are blocks of bathrooms and showers on each floor. On the second floor, a spacious room for relaxation, group classes and remote work is arranged in a protruding glazed volume. At the end of the building, the dining room space turns into a large green loggia with access to the outside”.
Inhabitants have access to diverse social services, including assistance with document preparation or restoration, psychological support, and art therapy. The Center is equipped with facilities for food preparation, including a spacious kitchen and dining area. Additionally, there is municipal security present around the clock to ensure the safety of the residents.
In terms of the project “Nad Dzherelom”, due to short deadlines, the development process differs from the usual process. The Office of Architecture and Urban Planning worked out a plan that was taken as a basis, but during the execution of the works, many design decisions received corrections during the implementation of the project. This meant that many site adaptations for conservation or the possibility of using recycled materials were much more flexible than the more traditional construction procedure with strict construction documents. The main principle of our project was fast, cheap (rational use of resources), natural, and affordable. This project demonstrates how small interventions can revitalize an area and integrate it into the urban environment, making it a part of public space. Nowadays, such decisions represent a novel approach to designing natural areas in Lviv.
Approaches for Addressing Future Challenges
The UNBROKEN Mothers Center project embodies a holistic approach that integrates speed, sustainability, adaptability, community engagement, and collaborative partnerships to address immediate needs while anticipating and preparing for future challenges:
- Speed and Efficiency: The project demonstrates the capability to respond swiftly to urgent humanitarian needs. By completing construction within a short timeframe (from May to July 2022), the project addresses the immediate need for housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs), particularly mothers and children. This approach highlights the importance of rapid response in humanitarian crises.
- Sustainability: Despite the urgency, the project incorporates sustainable construction practices. This implies that future challenges, such as environmental concerns or resource scarcity, are taken into account. Sustainable architecture ensures that the project minimizes its environmental impact and contributes positively to the surrounding ecosystem.
- Adaptability and Flexibility: The project emphasizes the adaptability of the constructed buildings to serve multiple purposes over time. This approach anticipates future challenges by recognizing that the needs of the community may evolve. The ability to repurpose the buildings for the needs of the Lviv community demonstrates foresight and long-term planning.
- Community Engagement: The project actively involves the local community throughout its development and implementation phases. This participatory approach fosters community ownership, enhances resilience, and builds social cohesion. Involving residents in decision-making processes ensures that future challenges are addressed with the input and support of those directly affected.
- Collaborative Partnerships: The project relies on collaboration between various stakeholders, including institutions, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and residents. This multi-sectoral approach ensures that diverse perspectives are considered, resources are optimized, and expertise is leveraged effectively. Collaborative partnerships strengthen the project’s resilience and capacity to address future challenges.
The “Nad Dzherelom” project is showing new ways to deal with future challenges in Lviv. It suggests using nature-focused landscaping with mulch and crushed stone instead of traditional hard surfaces like paving stones. A nature-centric approach to landscaping has gained popularity in the planning of new areas and nature-oriented paving has been adopted in an additional 5 city facilities over the past year. The simultaneous design and construction process is also a novel experience where the district administration directly executed the works. Such collaboration has been replicated in 9 city facilities over the past year. For instance, ongoing sidewalk repairs have seen a reduction in paving, with the addition of tree planting. Additionally, targeted interventions are being carried out in other areas of the city to improve the overall urban environment.
IV. Action journey
The UNBROKEN Mothers Center began to operate fully in August 2022. Both houses were quickly inhabited by mothers who had to flee the war from their hometowns, towns and villages, and their children. Social transformation was fostered by the availability of open public spaces, enabling interactions and communication between local residents and internally displaced persons. This helps to diminish inequality and ensure equal access to leisure and recuperation opportunities for everyone.
The construction of the UNBROKEN Mothers Center and the “Nad Dzherelom” revitalization project incorporated disaster resilience by implementing robust building designs and land use planning strategies. These projects aimed to mitigate the risk of future disasters by ensuring that buildings and surrounding areas are resilient to environmental hazards. Additionally, the involvement of various experts, including architects, engineers, ecologists, and social workers, ensured a comprehensive approach to disaster resilience.
Both projects prioritized the sustainable use of natural resources by usage of nature-friendly materials in construction and landscaping. The executors of the works tested innovative nature-oriented approaches in the construction of improvements. Their direct involvement in the process on site and successful outcome advocate for application of these approaches in other urban projects. The use of eco-friendly materials minimizes environmental impact while contributing to the preservation of natural ecosystems. Furthermore, the “Nad Dzherelom” project focused on restoring and preserving the surrounding forest park area, emphasizing the importance of maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Climate change: preserving green space increases the number of natural surfaces in the city and reduces heating. Optimizing the future traffic junction reduces the surface area that is heated. Restoration of the water body helps to reduce the temperature.
Biodiversity loss: ensuring the preservation of the established ecosystem. As a result, urban planning documentation was reviewed and transport interchange optimization was initiated due to the natural value of the territory. In the area without mowing, the ecosystem is self-regulating.
Water resources: the project contributes to the protection, restoration and reduction of pollution of water ecosystems, the economical use of water resources, as well as the safe reuse of water resources.
Reduction of the carbon (carbon) footprint: the projects use materials and technologies that contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint in particular the paving technology requires minimal use of equipment. The soil from clearing the lakes was not taken away but was used on the site. Reduction of supply chains: the basis of landscaping is the plants available on the site. New plants that were planted, grown and brought from local nurseries in Lviv.
The landscape project with an area of 6.5 hectares was designed and completely completed in a month (start of work on June 14, 2022 – opening on July 15, 2022), and this is only 5 months from the beginning of the full-scale invasion when the need for housing and an environment for psychological recovery was acute. In May 2024 the recreational area “Nad Dzherelom” near the UNBROKEN Mothers center received a Special Mention for its efforts to reconstruct and restore Ukraine at the New European Bauhaus Prize 2024.
V. Future
The transformation of place shows how renewed or regenerated built environments and public spaces can contribute to the protection, restoration or regeneration of natural ecosystems and biodiversity. The use of nature-oriented solutions and materials can be an important aspect of the transformation of space.
The transformation should promote social integration for example taking into account the accessibility of the place including the principles of design for all using the preservation and restoration of the environment as a common task for the whole community using green areas as connecting links between the common and shared spaces of different districts.
Moreover, there is a growing trend towards creating therapeutic environments, such as gardens, in neglected natural spaces with minimal resources.
Annex I: Additional Links
Description of the project by Sulyk Architects
Inside the Red Cross-supported centre for displaced mothers and children in Ukraine.
