Post-war/conflict Urban Regeneration   
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Online workshop event
22-24 march, 2023
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Workshop schedule
The workshop took place online and included lectures on post-war and post-crisis urban development, preservation and participatory planning research, drawing on experiences from academic staff based at both universities. The students were separated in groups according to the thematic approach and interest of their ongoing academic work (i.e. housing and habitat, public space and green infrastructure, cultural heritage, mobility and socio-spatial integration). In these groups and building on the range of experiences, the students were expected to work collaboratively to analyse a specific context which considers the physical, socio-economic and political conditions that will drive reconstruction and regeneration, and build a narrative focused on key principles that reflect on the rebuilding of cities better after crises. The outcomes of their collaborative work were presented for feedback, which was an opportunity to exchange ideas and define a shared framework for intervention. Finally, a roundtable discussion took place to discuss and summarise the findings of the students’ work and how that could contribute to their academic work within their respective programmes of study. 
The participants worked on an interactive board, to add their notes of reflections around the themes of Housing and Habitat; Public Space, Infrastructure and Wellbeing; Mobility and Socio-spatial Integration; Cultural Heritage, and Public Participation.
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workshop questions​
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Overarching question
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Secondary questions
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What are the key challenges that will need to be confronted during and after the war in the reconstruction of urban place in Ukranian cities?
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How can the existing planning frameworks support a reconstruction that is based on widening participation in decision making around cities?
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What are the key socio-demographic challenges that are shaping relationships and social roles now?
housing & habitat
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Alternative housing structures and approaches
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Focus on public housing provisions
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Integrated housing options for locals and IDPs
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Utilise available vacant industrial building stock or land for redevelopment of housing
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Multifunctional neighbourhoods
public space, infrastructure & wellbeing
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Human-oriented design of public spaces
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Integrated Green Infrastructure, variety of functions and energy efficient
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Build socio-ecological resilience
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Incorporate public systems of protection (shelter, air alert notifications, air defense, etc.)
mobility & socio-spatial integration
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Provide solutions that offer "more than public transport" (i.e. metro stations as shelter)
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Consider 15-minute city model (mobility, accessibility, functional mix, subcentres)
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Decentralisation strategies in monocentric urban regions
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Use school as an 'anchor' for culture shift of transportation habits
cultural heritage
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Consider socialist heritage as a development resource, not a burden
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Promote a shift from traditional ways of commemoration to anti-monuments, etc.
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Take into consideration socialist-oriented population
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Include more local historians, geographers, local experts, and museum workers in decision-making
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Demand transparent processes in decision-making, to avoid using heritage for political manipulation
public participation
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Incorporate the 'right to the city' in policies towards building public participation framework, i.e. participatory budgeting, and promote dialogue.
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Make space for the voices of children, elderly and IDPs to be heard. 
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Emerging self-organised, solidarity, local community groups to claim transparency and participation in decision making.
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Include academia to attract youth in participation processes.
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Take in consideration the parameter of time on when engagement starts and ends.
other key drivers
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Address question of security and safety.
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Understand the different levels of conflict and how these may affect urban space, even after conflict is 'officially' over.
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Consider the sources for financial support for recovery and redevelopment.
workshop recordings
The video recordings of days 1 and 3 of the workshop are available to watch on YouTube, below: