As Kharkiv continues to recover from the effects of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Norman Foster Foundation and Buildner have launched an international competition to reimagine one of the city’s most significant landmarks: Freedom Square. Once a bustling center of Soviet-era urban planning, the square and its iconic Regional Administration Building were struck by a missile on March 1, 2022. This airstrike left the building severely damaged.
Now, two years later, efforts to restore and rebuild Kharkiv are gaining momentum. The competition, organized in collaboration with the Kharkiv City Council, UNECE, and Arup, invites architects and designers from around the world to propose innovative solutions for transforming the square into a vibrant, revitalized public space. The challenge not only includes restoring the heavily damaged Regional Administration Building but also rethinking Freedom Square itself—one of Europe’s largest public squares.
Historically, Freedom Square has been a prominent symbol of Kharkiv’s role as a cultural and political hub. Its vast size, shaped by Soviet planning ideals, often rendered it underutilized in recent decades. However, its central location has made it a focal point for public life, hosting gatherings, events, and protests. Now, with the city’s future in mind, the competition seeks to breathe new life into this monumental space, transforming it into a pedestrian-friendly, community-focused area that reflects Kharkiv’s resilience and identity.
The competition brief calls for designs that honor the city’s past while offering a vision for a prosperous future. Proposals should incorporate sustainable landscape strategies, promote public interaction, and celebrate the historical significance of both the square and the Regional Administration Building. The aim is to create a space that embodies Ukraine’s progress and potential, much like Berlin’s Reichstag after its post-war reconstruction.
The competition is part of the broader Kharkiv Masterplan project, launched in collaboration with international partners, including the Norman Foster Foundation, UNECE, and Arup. Competition submissions are due by November 5, with winners announced in December.
The jury panel for the competition comprises renowned experts in architecture and urbanism. Norman Foster, founder of Foster + Partners and winner of the Pritzker Prize, leads the jury, bringing decades of experience in sustainable urban design. Deborah Berke, Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, is celebrated for her significant contributions to architectural education. Vishaan Chakrabarti, author and urbanist, has led major projects like New York’s Penn Station redesign. Beatriz Colomina, a distinguished architectural historian, brings expertise in architecture’s intersection with media and society. Anupama Kundoo, known for her sustainable architecture, and Moshe Safdie, a pioneer in socially responsible design, also serve, alongside Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov and local architect Maksim Rozenfeld of the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, offering a diverse range of perspectives.
Additional information about the event can be found on the competition website.