Introduction to the Norman Foster Foundation
Norman Foster Foundation is a widely developed organisation of architectural direction, or rather design, architecture, engineering and urbanism which are inseparably combined with art. It was founded by the famous British architect Norman Foster, whose name is reflected in the foundation’s name. Its aim was to develop education and research in fields related to architecture and urbanism. The organisation does not aim to develop these areas in a closed coalition, but seeks to expand its capabilities and services for the public in order to develop together. This is an extremely democratic approach, the creators of which give the opportunity to touch their professional support. For this foundation, it is important to inspire potential collaborators with their creative art projects and initiate possible cooperation, as there is a room for growth and vice versa. The Foundation works with a variety of organisations and professionals from around the world to stimulate creative approaches to creating new projects together.
Membership in the Norman Foster Foundation’s KHARKIV FREEDOM SQUARE REVIVAL initiative
The organisation is developing several main areas of activity, including research on global issues such as climate change, sustainable development and various urban challenges. This part of their activities was chosen for a reason. Yaroslav Protsyk, a Lvivite who is studying at Lviv Polytechnic, joined the project of the Norman Foster Foundation. His cooperation with the Norman Foster Foundation focuses on a truly good mission: the restoration of Freedom Square in Kharkiv and the damaged buildings in the area.
About the joint project
It is worth noting the need to develop the project to revive Freedom Square, one of the largest in the world, and the Derzhprom Building in Kharkiv. This initiative was first spoken about by the mayor of Kharkiv, who asked Yaroslav Protsyk to take on the task of making Freedom Square luxurious again.
At first, a competition was organised for Ukrainian and international architects, the results of which were evaluated by a jury of ten local and international experts headed by the mayor and Yaroslav himself. This is how some progress began in this direction. Active discussions on identifying actions followed. At the end of the first stage of the competition, on behalf of the city of Kharkiv, the mayor and colleagues, they expressed gratitude to all participants for their work and announced that the results of the competition would help shape the future of the historic center.
A vision of a new Kharkiv
This competition with the participation of expert architects is part of the broader concept of the Kharkiv urban plan initiated by the Kharkiv City Council in cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the Norman Foster Foundation, Arup, as well as local architects and experts. The plan concept aims to revitalise Kharkiv by creating a vibrant, inclusive and forward-looking urban environment, at the same time respecting the city’s historical identity.
A broader vision for Kharkiv Freedom Square
Each project contains really useful and unique ideas that will serve as the basis for the implementation of the plan, so to speak, an ambitious start that will bring together favourable ideas for Kharkiv. The applications and proposals that have already been submitted are very valuable and help a lot in shaping the final plan, as the project is complex. But, as mentioned above, these ideas are very significant and will certainly be taken into account. Norman Foster explained, using the example of the Reichstag in Berlin which required a lot of effort and many competitions, that projects can go through several competitions before they can move to a successful solution.
«This project will be truly successful when we can combine the history of Kharkiv and at the same time make it modernly equipped», says Yaroslav. The jury highly appreciated the work of all the participants and confirmed the desire to create a space that will reflect Kharkiv’s resilience, democratic values and desire for renewal and prosperity. This competition is not the end point, but the basis for a further transformational journey.
Interview with Yaroslav Protsyk
– How is the project to restore Kharkiv Freedom Square and the State Building progressing? At what stage is it now?
– Currently, our team is actively working to ensure that as many people as possible see our project. I think we will be able to implement our plan, because we have taken into account almost all the factors that can affect its successful implementation.
– Are you directly involved in the project itself?
– Yes, I am officially registered as a project participant on the BUILDNER and Architects Network website.
– You wanted to create something that would become a symbol of the city’s resilience and recovery. What exactly was your goal?
– Our goal was to rethink the functionality and attractiveness of one of the largest squares in Europe and to highlight the difficult history of Ukraine and Freedom Square in particular. To do this, we preserved the key elements of the history of this place: for example, we turned the location where the Lenin statue once stood into a symbol of the illusion of the Soviet system, a kind of image of the oblivion of the Soviet idea and, in particular, its rejection.
– How did the participation of foreign architects influence your vision of this project? I know that these are experts from the USA, India and Germany.
– It was important for us to analyse a large part of the projects that were included in this competition, because it is important for us to see alternative options for rebuilding this place with the help of our colleagues.
We saw several interesting options from other architects, but unfortunately, most of them were not deeply familiar with the history and underground infrastructure of this place, so there were absolutely absurd ideas that were extremely difficult or impossible to implement.
– What does participating in this competition mean to you personally at a time when Ukraine is fighting for its right to freedom?
– For me personally, this project allowed me to create something that will be an important part of our country’s history, especially in such a difficult time for Ukraine. This means that I have contributed to the future of Ukraine and our people, which is extremely important to me.
