THE SQUARE - In this project I invite you to look closely at the architectural history of Freedom Square — the main square in Kharkiv, one of the most bombed cities of Ukraine during the armed attack in 2022.

THE SQUARE

We commonly use architecture as a tool to look into the future. By sketching, drawing and 3D-modeling we tend to analyze and design the way we are going to live in the next 2 years, 10 years, 50 years. But here I propose to use architecture as a tool to look into the past. 

In this project I invite you to look closely at the architectural history of Freedom Square — the main square in Kharkiv, one of the most bombed cities of Ukraine during the armed attack in 2022.

Kharkiv is the second biggest city of Ukraine. It lies in the east of the country, 25 km from the Russian border. It’s also one of the closest cities to the “Donbass” area where the war took place in the last 8 years. Among the big cities Kharkiv is the most ambiguous in terms of Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Since it is located near the Russian border it is a place where both pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian movements left traces. 

This architectural research allows us to see how some movements left no trace in architecture and others do. You can look at the example of the protest in 2014, where Russian side of the conflict didn’t leave any trace back then, and in the end they could only make an intervention into the square by bombing it in 2022.

1931

Foundation of Dzerzhinsky Square

A place that used to be a big empty space in 1931 turned into the main square of the city designed by the Soviet government. 

1944

Stalin Monument

After the liberation of the city from the German occupation, in 1944 the Soviet government designed an extension to the round part of the square and built a Stalin monument there.

1963

Lenin Monument

In 1960 after the 20th Congress of the Communist Party Stalin monuments were demolished throughout the Soviet Union, including Freedom Square in Kharkov. Three years later, in 1963 a sculpture of Lenin was installed in that place.

2014

Demolishing of the Lenin monument

Following the Maidan Revolution in 2014, protests took place in cities all over Ukraine. In particular, both pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian protests took place on Freedom Square. While the pro-Russian protest left no trace, pro-Ukrainian protesters tore down Lenin's monument during a protest.

2014-2021

“Everything for the Victory” tent 

In 2014 Ukrainian activists installed a tent called “Everything for the victory” on the Freedom square. 8 x 3 meters tent was used as a place to collect donations for the Ukrainian army defending Donbass area. Over the years this tent painted in the color of the Ukrainian flag became a resistance symbol.

2022

Russian armed attack

On March 1, the Russian military shelled Freedom Square. A large rocket hit the city administration building. As a result, the southern part of the building was destroyed. Other buildings were also partially destroyed, the entire square is littered with debris.