UNUN is an open community of Ukrainian and Dutch spatial professionals from diverse public and private organizations that have come together to focus on sustainability, education, policy, urbanism, architecture, landscape, and mobility for Ukraine's reconstruction.
Our main areas of work are Education & Capacity Building, ThinkTank, and Networking. We collaborate with Dutch and Ukrainian organizations to facilitate ongoing knowledge exchange and connections among NGOs, public and private institutions, research organizations, and emerging professionals.
We drive knowledge exchange in spatial planning by facilitating collaboration among architects, urban planners, academics and other stakeholders. Our diverse range of events, including symposiums and workshops, provides valuable networking opportunities and further supports our mission to enhance skills and knowledge in spatial transformations for the reconstruction of Ukraine through dynamic educational programs and resources. As part of the Panorama Ukraine project, UNUN partners with key organizations in the Netherlands and Ukraine. This collaborative approach generates new knowledge and insights, which are shared with the broader community. We actively foster collaboration between Ukrainian and Dutch professionals, working together on projects and educational initiatives to address today's challenges with a view to the future.Our main areas of work are Education & Capacity Building, ThinkTank, and Networking. We collaborate with Dutch and Ukrainian organizations to facilitate ongoing knowledge exchange and connections among NGOs, public and private institutions, research organizations, and emerging professionals.
Events & Networking
We bring people together through a varied range of events, from symposiums and forums to conferences, seminars, workshops, and studio visits. Our events are aimed to engage and inform professionals, students, and members of the general public. We also provide vibrant networking opportunities and promote connections within the architecture community, encouraging collaboration and the sharing of knowledge. Every year during Rotterdam Architecture Month, we organize a large networking event. In addition to meetings, we created a digital arena on LinkedIn to share ideas and increase synergy.
Education & Capacity Building
UNUN is committed to advancing education in spatial planning through dynamic programs developed in partnership with universities and institutions. We offer a range of courses, workshops, and learning opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge in the field. Our digital library supports these efforts by providing essential resources for our members and the broader community of spatial professionals. An online course was developed in collaboration with TU Delf and is freely available online to address spatial options for integrated urban recovery in post-conflict settings. Working on capacity building for Ukrainian municipalities, we developed a series of online urban development lectures for Ukrainian communities along with a series of webinars in collaboration with VNG International. Workshops on educational subjects have previously been held in collaboration with Breda University, as long as participation in the TU Delf Extreme course. We provide DUO lectures with Ukrainian and Dutch professionals, and all recordings are available on our YouTube page.
ThinkTank
We support research and development in spatial planning, by funding research projects and facilitating collaboration between academics, architects, urban planners and other stakeholders. This helps to generate new knowledge and insights that can be shared with the wider community. As part of the long-term Panorama Ukraine project, UNUN collaborates with partners including the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR), the Dutch Board of Government Advisors (CRa), the Nieuwe Instituut (NI), and the Vereniging Deltametropool (VDM), with generous support from the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW).
news
feb 22
The reconstruction of Ukraine
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
read furtherRecording
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
Build Ukraine back together – A call for exchange and creating networks
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
The Dutch government has announced that it will allocate 1 million euros to support artists who were forced to flee their country after the Russian attack on Ukraine and are living in the Netherlands, to enable them to continue their work here. This programme is financed by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, each allocating € 500,000. The Dutch Foundation for Literature is coordinating this support programme on behalf of the six national cultural foundations. Applications must be made by a Dutch legal entity, i.e. a cultural organisation or institution. The closing date of the support programme is 15 November 2022.
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