KHARKIV FREEDOM SQUARE REVIVAL

Our proposal for reviving Kharkiv Freedom Square is grounded in a deep respect for Ukraine’s history, resilience, and ongoing fight for independence. Working across three scales, master planning, architecture, and strategic programming, the project reimagines Freedom Square as a dynamic civic landscape. It restores and repurposes the Kharkiv Regional Administration Building into the Ukrainian Museum of Arts & Culture (UMAC), while introducing a new Freedom Stage Pavilion and a revitalized, pedestrian-first plaza designed for public gathering, cultural expression, and collective memory.

At the heart of this proposal is an unwavering commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion. A new landscape structure formalizes and expands existing humanitarian efforts by housing a Supportive Services Center underneath, where citizens can donate goods, access aid, and gather regardless of status. Public all-gender restrooms and fully accessible pathways ensure inclusivity across the site. The project transforms the square into a space not only for civic events, but also for care, dignity, and community support, responding directly to the realities of a city shaped by conflict.

The design is equally driven by sustainability and ecological resilience, rooted in circularity and local economic recovery. Modular, demountable structures made from locally sourced Scots Pine mass timber reduce embodied carbon while supporting Ukraine’s forestry industry. The plaza integrates green infrastructure, including bioswales, water collection systems, and native plantings to manage stormwater, promote biodiversity, and adapt to seasonal use. Reclaimed debris from war-damaged buildings is repurposed into the plaza surface, embedding memory into material while minimizing environmental impact.

Ultimately, the project envisions Freedom Square as a living, adaptable urban ecosystem, one that supports year-round programming, fosters environmental stewardship, and strengthens community resilience. By combining sustainable design strategies with a socially responsive framework, the proposal creates a powerful civic space that honors the past, supports the present, and contributes to Ukraine’s long-term recovery and future identity.