Panorama Ukraine: Resilient Energy Production Workshop
During the Resilient Energy Production workshop in Rotterdam from November 19 till 22, experts and participants worked together to come up with strategies, concepts and possible solutions for Ukraine’s energy problem. This is the fourth workshop organized in the context of Panorama Ukraine, a long-term collaborative project aimed to research and catalyze the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Case studies During the Resilient Energy Production workshop in Rotterdam from November 19 till 22, experts and participants worked together to come up with strategies, concepts and possible solutions for Ukraine’s energy problem. This is the fourth workshop organized in the context of Panorama Ukraine, a long-term collaborative project aimed to research and catalyze the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Participants and experts were divided into six working groups, all working on their own case study. For Drohobych, Kherson, Klesiv, Okhtyrka, Voznesensk this meant the third time that they are involved with Panorama Ukraine, after also collaborating on both Neighborhoods workshops (in the Netherlands in June 2024 and in Ukraine in September 2024). The sixth case study Vynnitsia participated for the first time. One of the goals of Panorama Ukraine is to collaborate with the local representatives from the municipalities, to make sure that our project fit with the local needs. As workshop leader Gerjan Streng reflected: “These three days also show that this approach of collaborating, coming from different backgrounds, proves its value and can be applied in a similar form in practice. At these 6 locations, and many others.” For this workshop, we were very grateful that representatives from Kherson, Klesiv and Okhtyrka traveled to Rotterdam to join us in person. With the other three municipalities we were in touch digitally before and during the workshop.
Energy group leaders
Because the topic of Energy is also closely related to fields besides architecture and urban design, we brought experts with different backgrounds together for this workshop. We coupled energy specialists with architects and urbanists, to make sure that every group could look at the task from both perspectives. The different working groups were guided by experts from offices and NGO’s such as Bright (NL), Fabrications (NL), Rethink (UA), Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation (UA), Generation.Energy (NL), Urban Synergy (NL), Rebel Architects (NL) and CEE Bankwatch Netwerk (UA).
Next to the 12 group leaders, we also had two workshop leaders present. Gerjan Streng (Bright) was joining us as Dutch workshop leader and Roman Zinchenko (Green Cubators) as his Ukrainian counterpart. Their responsibility was to engage with all the groups, deliver constructive feedback, present diverse perspectives, and effectively guide the research process as a whole.
Participants and experts
This time, 18 participants joined us to contribute to the research groups. Participants came from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Mexico.
Sven Stremke (Professor Landscape Architecture at Wageningen University and Research) joined us on Wednesday morning to open the workshop with a lecture on the Power of Landscape. On Thursday, workshop leader Roman Zinchenko provided us with insights into the Ukrainian energy system and energy expert Vaagn Mnatsakanian (former representative from Mariupol, currently working at the municipality of Arnhem) was present to share his extensive knowledge with all the groups.
Conclusions and follow up
Since people came from different backgrounds, the first challenge was to find a way to communicate with each other. “After three days of working on a common understanding of our energy system in relation to urban structures, we have found a shared language in typologies and communities,” says Gerjan Streng. Results of the workshop were presented by the groups on Friday afternoon, ranging from local action plans to long-term visions. “A key revelation for me was the importance of forward-thinking approaches rather than rebuilding what was lost. While the phrase "build back better" has become common in reconstruction contexts, our participants embraced "building forward" as their guiding principle and it is a key principle for further efforts,” reflects Roman Zinchenko.
All presentations in one way or another achieved the goal of breaking free from fossil fuel dependency. From the first presentation onwards, it is clear that people in Ukraine are vulnerable to energy poverty and the land is taken over by energy producers, while the consumption of energy is getting problematic in these times of war. All groups worked out great ways of empowering local communities and creating a low-term sustainable vision for the contexts they were working with. Through joint work across six cases studies, participants explored how energy shapes communities and how communities can reshape their energy future.
Drohobych: Researchers proposed engaging Donetsk National Technical University, soon based in Drohobych, to drive energy innovations aimed at flexibility and behavioral change, with a focus on eliminating energy poverty and ensuring access to affordable energy for residents.
Okhtyrka: The study emphasized rebuilding human capital in Okhtyrka, where population loss is significant and 3% of residents face cancer, while also prioritizing schools and kindergartens as critical infrastructure and suggesting five steps to achieve municipal energy efficiency.
Voznesensk: Researchers recommended prioritizing solutions for housing, industry, and mixed-use areas, including the installation of solar panels in residential backyards and fostering collaboration between industry and agriculture for local biogas production.
Vinnytsia: The research team developed an educational game for young professionals and communities in Vinnytsia to simulate energy sustainability scenarios in diverse contexts, positioning the tool as a resource for municipal decision-making.
Klesiv: For Klesiv, the study proposed addressing energy security, water sanitation, and air pollution by transforming quarry waste heaps into solar energy sites, promoting energy independence while improving environmental conditions.
Kherson: Researchers envisioned Kherson's future by suggesting a 100-year strategy involving the relocation of its port and industries, alongside biofuel production and the creation of a biomass supply chain for regional development.
We aim to organize a follow up workshop on the same topic next year in Ukraine. Please subscribe to our newsletter if you want to stay up to date!
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Panorama Ukraine is a joint project of the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR), Ukraine – Netherlands Urban Network (UNUN), the Dutch Board of Government Advisors (CRa) and the Vereniging Deltametropool (VDM) and generously supported by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW).
Panorama Ukraine: Working on Water
The workshop Working on Water marked the beginning of Panorama Ukraine, a multidisciplinary project aimed at the reconstruction of Ukraine. Working on Water was a week of knowledge sharing and collaboration in which architects, urban designers, policymakers, and academics explored the role of water in the reconstruction of Ukraine. The focus was on the region of the Dnipro River delta: the area around the destroyed Kakhovka Dam. The workshop took place at the Keilepand in Rotterdam from 27 November to 1 December 2023.
More about Working on Water
More about Working on Water
Panorama Ukraine: Healthy & Future-Proof Neighborhoods Rotterdam
What would a resilient neighborhood look like in the twenty-first century? This question was at the core of the program of the workshop Healthy and Future-Proof Neighborhoods, the second installment of Panorama Ukraine, a multidisciplinary project aimed at the reconstruction of Ukraine. Healthy and Future-Proof Neighborhoods took place from 11 to 14 June 2024 at the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
More about Neighborhoods Rotterdam
More about Neighborhoods Rotterdam
Panorama Ukraine: Healthy & Future-Proof Neighborhoods Lviv
news
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Discussion «The reconstruction of Ukraine» with Patrick Meijers, Oleksandra Tkachenko, Julia Westerveld-Soldatiuk and Lilet Breddels was held on the 19th of February at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam.
Recording
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aug 07
TU Delft course ‘Tools for Postwar Urban Recovery: Ukraine’
TU Delft in partnership with UNUN (Ukraine -The Netherlands Urban Network) and Ukrainian colleagues provided an online course on May-June 2023.
List of lectures
This course discusses spatial strategies for an integrated urban recovery in post-conflict settings. It investigates the process of reconstruction and what “building back better” implies: tackling inequalities, strengthening the capacities of local actors and pursuing a green, resilient and inclusive economic recovery anchored on sound spatial planning, design and policy.
This course was given by a team of academics & experts from several institutions.
read furtherList of lectures
This course discusses spatial strategies for an integrated urban recovery in post-conflict settings. It investigates the process of reconstruction and what “building back better” implies: tackling inequalities, strengthening the capacities of local actors and pursuing a green, resilient and inclusive economic recovery anchored on sound spatial planning, design and policy.
This course was given by a team of academics & experts from several institutions.
may 02
Report: Ukraine’s housing recovery forum – rebuilding a place to call home
PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency has just published a report based on the symposium ‘Ukraine’s housing recovery forum – rebuilding a place to call home’.
The report responds to Ukraine’s ambitions for the recovery of homes and neighbourhoods. It calls on policymakers in Ukraine, partner countries, and international organizations to give strategic attention to safe, affordable, and energy-efficient housing in future recovery efforts.
English and Ukrainian versions can be found here
read furtherThe report responds to Ukraine’s ambitions for the recovery of homes and neighbourhoods. It calls on policymakers in Ukraine, partner countries, and international organizations to give strategic attention to safe, affordable, and energy-efficient housing in future recovery efforts.
English and Ukrainian versions can be found here
apr 19
Webinar: Post-war Reconstruction strategies
The webinar took place on 18-05-2022 and featured good case practices of recovery after war or natural disasters. Hosted by IHS Rotterdam (Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam).
Speakers: Anila Bejko, Pavlo Fedoriv and Claudio Acioly Jr.
Moderator: Oleksandra Tkachenko.
You can find a record of the webinar here
read furtherSpeakers: Anila Bejko, Pavlo Fedoriv and Claudio Acioly Jr.
Moderator: Oleksandra Tkachenko.
You can find a record of the webinar here
apr 04
Article ‘Ukraine’s housing recovery forum – rebuilding a place to call home'
We are happy that new connections between Dutch and Ukrainian organizations (PBL and New Housing Policy) keep developing with follow-ups.
We are excited to share with you an article published in Housing Finance International by Julie Lawson, Oleksandr Anisimov, and Edwin Buitelaar. This article is a follow-up to our event, "Ukraine's Housing Recovery Forum – Rebuilding a Place to Call Home."
Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the challenges facing Ukraine's housing sector and the best practices that can be implemented to address them. We hope that this article will serve as a call to action for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to work together to improve the housing situation in Ukraine
read furtherWe are excited to share with you an article published in Housing Finance International by Julie Lawson, Oleksandr Anisimov, and Edwin Buitelaar. This article is a follow-up to our event, "Ukraine's Housing Recovery Forum – Rebuilding a Place to Call Home."
Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the challenges facing Ukraine's housing sector and the best practices that can be implemented to address them. We hope that this article will serve as a call to action for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to work together to improve the housing situation in Ukraine
nov 02
Launch of UNUN at City Makers Congres
On Friday 4 November UNUN will be publicly launched at the City Makers Congres in Rotterdam. In a short Q&A, Ukrainian urban planner and initiator of UNUN, Oleksandra Tkachenko, talks to Chief Government Architect Francesco Veenstra. They will discuss the Dutch-Ukrainian cooperation in which spatial design professionals will use their collective brainpower for the reconstruction of Ukraine. This will also be the official launch of unun.nu, our online platform.
read furthersep 08
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While the war in Europe is still an everyday reality, people around the world are starting to think about the rebuilding of Ukraine. This weekend, for example, University College London is hosting an online symposium about the reconstruction of Ukraine. In this article, Hedwig van der Linden and Oleksandra Tkachenko explore how the Dutch professional community of urbanists, planners and architects could help Ukraine to build back its cities together and better.
read furtheraug 16
Support for Ukrainian artists in the Netherlands
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