How can war-ravaged communities rebuild with resilience, sustainability, and innovation in the face of devastation and trauma? In this compelling discussion, architect Victoria Caubet shares insights from her work with Neo-Eco Ukraine on the reconstruction of the Zeleny Hai School in Mykolaiv. Despite the immense challenges of war, including material shortages, inflation, and the overwhelming scale of destruction, Victoria highlights the efforts to rebuild with local, circular materials like clay and reed, focusing not only on structural integrity but also on community healing.
Alison Mears, co-founder of Healthy Materials Lab and HML gGmbH, presents student projects from Parsons that explore adaptive reuse and sustainable rebuilding strategies for social housing in Ukraine. Together, they emphasize how design can play a transformative role in recovery, demonstrating the power of community engagement, biogenic materials, and regenerative design in rebuilding not just buildings, but lives.
One of the central themes of the conversation is that rebuilding is not simply about constructing new buildings but also incorporates adaptively reusing existing buildings.
“The first step to addressing the demolition site was to assess the demolition waste.” -Victoria Caubet
This kind of thinking focuses on responding to the devastation of war by adopting low-carbon materials, proving that innovation and resilience can guide the path forward even in the most difficult contexts.
The discussion underscores the importance of understanding deeply rooted local traditions and materials. For example, the reconstruction of the Zeleny Hai School in Mykolaiv incorporates locally sourced clay, reed, and straw to minimize environmental impact while honoring the community’s heritage. Beyond the physical structures, the projects aim to restore a sense of dignity and local identity, with initiatives like workshops where local children help co-design murals for incorporation into the new school. Additionally, adaptive reuse and modular construction are key to accelerating the rebuilding process, offering solutions that are both sustainable and responsive to the urgent need for shelter and community spaces.
The Parsons students are working with faculty Alison Mears and Bless Yee, with Victoria and NeoEco, and the municipality of Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, exploring the adaptive reuse of existing buildings and the design of new buildings to incorporate new social housing and provide space for new community activities. There is an urgent need for new housing in Ukraine to replace buildings destroyed by military action and accommodate Internally Displaced People. The outcomes of the semester will be shared with the municipality as ideas and starting points for new social housing initiatives.
This inspiring event highlights how, even in the face of profound hardship, communities can rebuild with strength, creativity, and a deep sense of purpose.
Watch the full event recording here.
Related Links:
- Read the speaker bios here.
- Check out a related blog article here: From Demolition to Deconstruction.