In April, 2022 Victoria Yakusha, the chief architect and founder of Yakusha Studio initiated the concept for the redevelopment of Chernihiv. 

Chernihiv is one of the oldest cities in Ukraine, with a history dating back more than 1300 years. Its unique historical heritage includes monuments from the 11th to 13th centuries, buildings from the Cossack period and Ukrainian modernism.  

Since the beginning of the russian invasion of Ukraine, the city near the belarus border has been blockaded for more than a month, under constant shelling. Many objects of heritage have been damaged, as well as residential buildings and infrastructure.

Together with volunteers from all over Ukraine, Yakusha team has analyzed the city's destruction, its safety, historical and cultural heritage. The work was centered around the city's master plan and architectural code including issues of pedestrian and transport infrastructure, landscaping, energy efficiency, sport, cultural and educational centers. 

To reposition the city and explain in one word what Chernihiv is about, the word "RESILIENT" was chosen, which combines the past, present and future of Chernihiv:

Resilience is about sustainable development, without which no modern European city, built around a person who is a part of nature, is possible.​

Resilience is about the indomitable spirit of Chernihiv residents who managed to resist enemies, protect their hometown and support others during the blockade. It is about the motivation to work on the development of the city now.

Combining the city's strengths — stoic spirit, historical wealth, and ecology — the project aims to preserve the historical, cultural and natural heritage and unlock the potential for Chernihiv's development as a historical and ecological center of Ukraine. 

  • Who we do it for

    For residents of Chernihiv who want to live in a convenient and comfortable city created around people.

    For residents of other Ukrainian cities who are still planning to get to know Chernihiv.

    For everyone who cares about Chernihiv and a holistic approach to the city's development.

  • Why us and why now

    Since February 24, 2022, Chernihiv has been under siege for more than a month. The city has suffered.

    Planning for recovery and development is a long-term process. World examples include planning during the war.

    The values we fight for should be reflected in the restored cities.

    The concept will allow us to attract funding as soon as the opportunity arises.

  • Who we are

    Multidisciplinary architectural studio Yakusha.

    Cooperation with Chernihiv City Council.

    Constant interaction and involvement of the community.

    Teamwork of the community of specialists in the areas.

    Support from international organizations

    Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine

About the vision of a sustainable city

The concept of a "sustainable city" is a combination of meanings, which is what Chernihiv is about.
First, it is historical resilience, as the city managed to survive the invasion of Russian occupation forces. In addition, Chernihiv is currently home to a third of all historical monuments in Eastern Europe that have survived from the pre-Mongol period. Second, sustainable means sustainable, ecological. We would like Chernihiv to become the historical and ecological center of Ukraine. Chernihiv already has a high-quality proportionality of street widths, building heights, and the amount of greenery. We need to rebuild Chernihiv so that the old and the new have a coherent history. If we build now with poor quality and without an idea, we may have problems in the future.

As such, the draft development concept is intended to inspire citizens for the future, to develop a modern city built around people, with energy-efficient solutions, modern technologies, a city that is in scale with people, comfortable for living, raising children, recreation and business, with developed historical and environmental potential.

For example, it is planned to create a developed infrastructure of bicycle paths, and to transfer urban transport to eco-friendly buses and trolleybuses to the maximum extent possible; to implement a waste management system and raise environmental awareness; to decentralize urban life and introduce the concept of a "15-minute city"; to develop new tourist routes for a deeper study of the history of Ukraine not from books, because Chernihiv has a 1300-year history and untapped potential of the historical center. Moreover, there are well-preserved monuments not only of the Old Russian and Cossack periods, but also of Ukrainian modernism and Soviet monumentalism, and Chernihiv's authentic "wooden lace".

The development concept "Sustainable City. Resilient Spirit, Sustainable Development" will inspire citizens to solve social problems and unite civil society around a large-scale city development project. Since Chernihiv has no heavy industry, the proposed solutions for tourism, ecology, health improvement and green economy will help develop the region's economy, create jobs, bring back relocated businesses and those Chernihiv residents who left for other regions and countries due to active hostilities.

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