Kharkiv Freedom Square Revival
Masterplan
Competition / Shortlisted
2024
Kharkiv, Ukraine
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A NEW VISION FOR FREEDOM SQUARE
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Amid ongoing reconstruction efforts in Kharkiv, Freedom Square stands as a symbol of resilience, embracing a future centred on transparency, openness, and sustainability. The proposed redesign divides the square into two distinct areas: the Green Circle and Dry Fountain area, preserving its natural serenity, and an open square designed to host large-scale events for up to 44,500 people.
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A new extension of Trinklera Street will enhance vehicular flow while perimeter bollards ensure pedestrian safety. The Green Circle will undergo restoration to preserve its tranquil character, while the open square adjacent to the Regional Administration Building will feature four key elements:
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- A permanent memorial to honour victims of the ongoing conflict, replacing the ad-hoc memorial in the same location.
- An open-air sports field, fostering a culture of health and community engagement.
- A multi-faceted market space, offering local produce, fish, and dining experiences, with a mezzanine-level fish bar and restaurant spaces to invigorate the area.
- An annex to the Kharkiv Regional Palace of Children and Youth that will house a day-care and play centre, with a terraced roof doubling as event seating that creates a dynamic and accessible public space.
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The Regional State Administration building, at the eastern end of the square, will preserve its historical identity while incorporating modern elements that reflect openness, inviting public interaction. This transformation turns Freedom Square into a vibrant hub, blending culture, history, and innovation, poised to attract both local and international visitors.
SVOBODY SQUARE / FREEDOM SQUARE
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Freedom Square, also known as Svobody Square, is a historic and cultural landmark in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Established in the 1920s, it was initially named Dzerzhinsky Square during the Soviet era. The square is one of the largest in Europe, covering approximately 115,00sqm, and is surrounded by iconic structures, including the Derzhprom (State Industry Building), a monumental example of Constructivist architecture built between 1925 and 1928 and the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Building which is part of this master plan proposal. The square has been a focal point for significant cultural, political, and public events, hosting concerts, exhibitions, and rallies. It gained additional prominence during Euro 2012 as a major fan zone venue.
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After Ukraine’s independence in 1991, the square underwent symbolic changes, including the removal of the Lenin monument in 2014, marking the decommunization of the area. Today, it is a central hub for both local life and patriotic demonstrations, reflecting the evolving identity of Kharkiv and Ukraine as a whole.
Amid the ongoing war with Russia, Freedom Square has become a symbol of resilience. In March 2022, the square and its surrounding buildings, including the Regional State Administration, were heavily damaged by Russian missile strikes. Despite this, the square continues to serve as a gathering place for humanitarian efforts, volunteer support, and demonstrations of solidarity, embodying the city’s enduring spirit of freedom and resistance.
REGENERATING AN AREA
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New contemporary food markets like Borough Market in London, Time Out Market in Lisbon, and Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid as well as more traditional food markets such as Pryvoz Market in Odesa, bring a range of benefits to their local areas and neighbourhoods. Economically, they revitalize communities by creating jobs for vendors, chefs, and market staff while offering a platform for small businesses and local artisans to showcase their products. These markets also attract tourism, bringing revenue that bolsters the surrounding economy and often encouraging further development in the area, which is why a multi-facet market is proposed for the site at the junction between the green circle and the open square as this position capitalizes on its central location.
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Culturally, the food market serves the local area as a vibrant hub that celebrate regional culinary traditions and local produce, fostering a sense of identity and pride within the people of Kharkiv and will also act as an important social space where residents and visitors interact, strengthening community ties, with the markets ability to host events such as cooking classes or food festivals, creating opportunities for education and cultural exchange.
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Additionally, the market can contribute to the urban sustainability by promoting fresh, local, and seasonal products, reducing the carbon footprint associated with food transportation and also aims to reinvigorate the underused space, turning it into a bustling, dynamic centre that enhances the quality of life in the neighbourhood. These factors collectively make the proposed markets a significant asset to the community it will serve.
“VSE DLYA PEREMOGY”
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The “Vse Dlya Peremogy” (All for Victory) tent, located in Kharkiv’s Freedom Square, was established in 2014 following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It emerged as a grassroots initiative to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces and provide assistance to victims of the war in the Donbas region. Painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, the tent symbolized resistance, unity, and patriotism during turbulent times. Volunteers used the space to collect donations, distribute information, and hold workshops, such as teaching military scrim weaving​.
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Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict, the tent has remained a central hub of volunteer activity. Notably, it survived the devastating Russian missile strike on Freedom Square in March 2022 that severely damaged the Regional State Administration building and other structures nearby. This resilience further solidified its role as a symbol of defiance and community solidarity in Kharkiv, and is the exact reason this structure is proposed to be immortalized in the form a memorial that takes on the silhouette of the original tent.
KHARKIV REGIONAL STATE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
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The Kharkiv Regional State Administration (RSA) Building, a prominent structure in Freedom Square, Kharkiv, was a central administrative hub for the region. Built during the Soviet era, the building served as a key governmental site in Ukraine’s second-largest city. It became a significant landmark not only for its administrative role but also as a symbol of Kharkiv’s regional prominence.
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On March 1, 2022, during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the RSA building suffered catastrophic damage from a missile strike targeting Freedom Square. This attack, part of a broader campaign to capture Kharkiv, resulted in the destruction of the building’s right wing, extensive damage to surrounding structures, and the deaths of at least 29 people. The city continued to face repeated bombardments throughout the war, with subsequent attacks worsening the damage. By mid-2022, the building was deemed beyond restoration.
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As the war continues, the site remains a poignant symbol of the devastation in Kharkiv. While large parts of the city, including residential areas and other key infrastructure, are in ruins, plans for post-war reconstruction have been proposed. A master plan by British architect Norman Foster envisions a modernized and resilient Kharkiv, including initiatives to rebuild cultural and governmental landmarks. However, reconstruction depends on achieving peace and securing resources, as Russian missile strikes still threaten the city.
