Kateryna Romanenko is a Ukrainian architect and head of the disciplinary commission of the Architectural Chamber of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine. Teacher at the laboratory of architectural education "ARCHIKIDZ!" at the Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. In addition to his achievements, he is a person-battery, whose energy is enough not only for professional activities (project management of his own architectural office "C. Babushkin", moderation of lectures and meetings in cooperation with the school of construction project management PRO PM, creation of educational content for the magazine A:1 — Ukrainian Urban Magazine as a presenter), but also for the struggle for the future cultural, namely, the architectural heritage of Ukraine.
From the first days of the full-scale invasion of Russia, Kateryna embarked on the path of an expat who, despite her location, remains faithful to her profession and useful to her country. Her travels through the surreal reality of Ukrainians in the conditions of Russian aggression can become an actual example of rethinking one's own experience and the past, an example of adaptation without disappointment, or a story - proof of the indisputable right of each of us to freedom.
Architect Kateryna Romanenko
On the night of February 24, 2022, the peace of Ukrainians was disturbed. After the full-scale invasion of Russia, thousands of families were forced to leave their homes. Escaping from danger, they left behind their former life and all its components: career achievements, stability and usual life. Each of these Ukrainians had to choose a new place to rebuild their lives, far from their native home. Many joined the volunteer movement abroad, some announced money collections, some engaged in public speaking, and some provided the population with humanitarian aid. Professionals from various industries have sought support from international communities. Kateryna Romanenko was among them. On the day when the first explosions rang out in Ukraine, she was in Kyiv and knew only that she had to protect her young children. Thanks to their friends Yulia and Manuel Núñez-Yanovsky, famous Spanish urban architects, the decision to get on the train to Lviv (they were dragged there by the crowd) was made without any hesitation. Lviv received, as usual, hospitably and creatively, despite the war that was raging around. Kateryna had no future plans, as her whole life was focused at home: work on commercial and social projects, etc.
"Once I was in Europe, I just couldn't stop. Everywhere we met incredible people who not only supported me, they directly influenced my path and created decisive events in my search for new sustainability. From start to finish, the meetings and places were amazingly professionally connected to the art of architecture. In Munich, we lived in a house that was designed by Herzog & de Meuron (Swiss architectural office founded in Basel in 1978 by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. — Ed. Ed.). The owner of the house where we stayed for the first time was the rector of the Technical University of Munich. After talking with her about my future, I understood: despite the fact that the bureau "S. Babushkin" works without obstacles, I have to look for a job at the place of stay. On her advice, I went to an interview at a project manager's office, where at that time they were involved in the implementation of industrial zone redevelopment projects, namely the "Werk" project (this name refers to industrial facilities where creative and business spaces have grown. — Note ed.). In the past, MVRDV (the Dutch architectural office founded in 1993 by Vinnie Maas and his former colleagues) worked on this object. — Editor's note. Soon we started working together. In the project management bureau team, I was involved in the creation of two interesting objects: one of the most powerful helicopter schools in Germany and a logistics complex for the Airbus company. The work was very intensive and interesting.
Participating in the design of these objects, I observed the differences in the Western and Eastern schools of architecture. I will give a general example: in Germany there are 9 design stages, while we have 3; in Germany, the foundation of a strategic urban object can stand for 8 years, while in Ukraine, similar terms are simply impossible to imagine. I disagree with this approach for a good reason: over time, technologies and architectural solutions lose their relevance. Of course, first of all, the disparity of construction methodologies is due to the economic circumstances of the region, which should be taken into account when exchanging experience with specialists from other countries. Differences of opinion can sometimes be shocking, but more often lead to optimization of the work process. Traveling around the world, we treat what we see in cities abroad as undeniably better, elevated in the technological sense and more economically balanced, but we often ignore the shortcomings that cannot be seen from the outside, with the eyes of a tourist."
"It is important for Ukrainian architects to present themselves and the country at a high professional level without underestimating their own value, because the level of our specialists is really high, but presentation skills need development." — Kateryna Romanenko
After completing the work on the helicopter school, Kateryna attended new interviews for 7 months, at the same time she actively interacted with international communities, giving publicity to events in Ukraine. The architect remotely managed the bureau "S. Babushkin", participated in communications with the international professional community Architects' Council of Europe (ACE), International Union of Architects (UIA) and was involved in the creation of the American Fund for Ukrainian Reconstruction at the initiative of Eduard Khodorkovsky, a native of Kyiv and a graduate of the same secondary school as Kateryna, with a difference of ten years.
Instead, the search for a job was reduced to receiving yet another rejection. A high level of qualification, a huge amount of experience, a diverse portfolio, surprisingly, did not give me a chance to get a job in my specialty. Kateryna was also affected by the difficulties with confirming one's own license abroad, bureaucratic nuances and the policy of banning some companies from cooperating with specialists from outside the European Union, which are familiar to many Ukrainians in emigration. She continued her efforts not just to get a job, but to keep her profession in a new city — Madrid. There, Kateryna researched the roots and derivatives of the profession of an architect, which led her to a new answer. It was decided to switch to Real Estate.
"All my life I sold an idea, sold a dream, standing on a bare lot, but in the world of sales I decide the fate of the object, I am engaged in legal and financial creativity. Sales are the last cycle of all construction, the opportunity to hand over an architectural object. This is a very interesting field that I want to master..." — Kateryna Romanenko
To be a diplomat of architecture
All this time, restoring her life, Kateryna worked as part of the Ukrainian team of the American Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine (AFUR), a non-profit organization that is responsible for raising funds for the realization of architectural, engineering, and construction projects for the restoration of real estate damaged by Russian armed aggression. AFUR's Ukrainian experts are involved in the capital repair of buildings throughout Ukraine to accommodate and provide new housing for internally displaced persons, in the development of concepts for the reconstruction of destroyed ones. The foundation is focused on helping to rebuild Ukraine, not by building something new, but by restoring the old one that was minimally damaged by the hostilities. In addition to architectural initiatives, specialists are actively working on the identification of priority projects for the Fund's support in the public and private sectors, their coordination with authorities and end users, on the implementation of project management support, etc.
The American Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine (AFUR) is a special non-profit organization whose purpose is to support communities affected by the war and restore damaged real estate. Image source: afur.org (screenshot)
"The volunteer work I do with the team of the American Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine (afur.org) is currently one of the most urgent tasks in my work schedule that requires attention and participation. Together, we attract international funds and restore housing for internally displaced residents of the city of Mariupol. Speaking on Ukrainian and international stages, participating in conferences, discussions, round tables, meetings, interviews and dialogues - private and recorded, personally offline and online, I always conveyed my professional and public wish: to build anything in Ukraine , and even more so, it is necessary to rebuild EXPENSIVELY, QUALITYLY and LONG-TERM. Namely: remove the consequences of the war and process them and, if possible, use them in reconstruction, develop solutions for people of a very high architectural and aesthetic level and implement them in a very high quality. In my opinion, building for a hundred years of operation is new sustainability, new sustainability, Ukrainian sustainability. I ask everyone to come to this and not agree to outdated, typical projects, modular construction, which foreign partners want to implement en masse, imposing their own established production line. This is an offer of a low quality of life. Say NO to fast architecture," says Kateryna.
"Responsibility this is the constant state of the architect, regardless of the war. Endurance, a message to the world, questions and tasks for the authorities, professional activity daily "diet" in our work"
Over the past few years, Kateryna Romanenko has participated in a number of European grant projects in culture, architecture, research and education.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she acts as a permanent moderator in the communications of AP NSAU, domestic architects with the international professional community Architects' Council of Europe (ACE), International Union of Architects (UIA). This is a methodical activity that can be called architectural diplomacy: the search for opportunities for interaction, preparation and speeches at dozens of forums and conferences, where Ukrainian experts tell foreign colleagues about Ukraine, the context of the events taking place, the scale of destruction and loss of cultural heritage, the needs for post-war reconstruction bridges and infrastructure.
The Ukrainian team of architects and foreign colleagues during the World Congress of Architects in Copenhagen, 2023. Photo source: Facebook of NSAU vice-president Olena Oliinyk
Among other events in which the architect personally or together with her colleagues from NSAU represented the interests of the country in the first year of the full-scale war, we can mention the conference "Virtual heritage - modern reality", organized by the Order of Architects of Romania in Suceava, a meeting of the Council of European Architects (Architects' Council of Europe) in Genoa, at which Kateryna raised the issue of the interaction of Ukrainian and European architects and their accreditation, the result of which was the direction of professional internationalization, the EXPO REAL forum in Munich, a meeting of the Working Group on International Business Models of the Council of European Architects, a seminar of the Royal Danish of the Academy, dedicated to the reconstruction of Ukraine, the Czech architectural award, the public conference "Architects for Innovation" of the European Council of Architects in Brussels.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Kateryna Romanenko has acted as a moderator in the communications of AP NSAU, domestic architects with the international professional community. Photo from the archive of the architect
In 2023, Kateryna participated in such events as orientation meetings organized by the Council of European Architects, the 4 Design Days architecture and design festival in Katowice, Poland, the Venice Architecture Biennale (presentation of the "Ukrainian DNA" project), a round table dedicated to the preservation of Ukrainian architectural heritage "Ukrainian architectural heritage: the dangers of losing it & its protection" in Madrid, the World Congress of Architects in Copenhagen (UIA 2023 World Congress Copenhagen), the International Festival of Architecture and Arts "TOWER" (Lviv) and others.
Talk about a future without war
Returning to the teaching of architecture, it is worth telling a little about the educational platform "ARCHIKIDZ!" is an international children's architectural festival, which was started in 1998 in Amsterdam, and later gained more popularity. Currently, it is held in dozens of cities around the world, for example, in Rotterdam, London, Lisbon, Barcelona, and Sydney. Kyiv joined this list in 2017.
The goal of the international educational movement "ARCHIKIDZ!" — to acquaint children with the principles of architecture, creative thinking, develop attention to the urban and natural environment and the skills of presenting ideas, help creative self-expression, teach the ability to work in a team. In free architectural workshops under the guidance of experienced architects, urban planners, designers, artists and students of specialized universities from different countries, children create their own projects, solve tasks on one or another topic. The initiative includes not only an annual festival program, but also educational online and offline lectures, workshops, hackathons, exhibitions, and film screenings throughout the year.
In Ukraine, the festival became part of the extracurricular education program of the National Center "Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine" (MANU). Every year, the bright event gathered many participants from different cities of Ukraine. In 2019, "ARCHIKIDZ!" received a grant from the "Creative Europe" foundation.
Domestic architects and designers work with the children: Kateryna Romanenko, Anton Tselovalnyk, Kostyantyn Yemets, Lisa Valyavska, Anastasia Ordenans, Bohdana Bezchasna, Kateryna Kuzmuk, Kateryna Belova, Iryna Palivoda and others, as well as volunteers.
PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA acts as one of the media partners of the festival.
«I always support those who work and create," — Kateryna Romanenko
After a full-scale invasion, some students and school teachers did not survive, and some were forced to change their place of residence, the architect Anton Tselovalnyk stood up for the country (however, as we know, he continued to teach, we talked about his experience in another article of the column "Architects against war" link).
At the beginning, it was difficult to understand in which format "ARCHIKIDZ!" would continue in wartime conditions, but already in March 2022, MANU published an appeal for the renewal of the educational process in the online format, which continues to this day.
For several years in "ARCHIKIDZ!" Kateryna Romanenko teaches courses of lectures on architecture, after the start of a full-scale war, she headed the team of festival organizers abroad. Photo from the archive of the architect
For several years in "ARCHIKIDZ!" Kateryna Romanenko teaches courses of lectures on architecture, after the start of a full-scale war, she headed the team of festival organizers abroad. Photo from the archive of the architect
For several years in "ARCHIKIDZ!" Kateryna Romanenko teaches courses of lectures on architecture, after the start of a full-scale war, she headed the team of festival organizers abroad. Photo from the archive of the architect
For several years in "ARCHIKIDZ!" Kateryna Romanenko teaches courses of lectures on architecture, after the start of a full-scale war, she headed the team of festival organizers abroad. Photo from the archive of the architect
In its essence, the festival has always been an international event. In 2022, Kateryna Romanenko initiated the cooperation of the Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Technische Universität München to hold the event in Germany, and headed the organizing team.
"The educational program works online and offline abroad. We unexpectedly met the director of the festival Olga Glinina in Munich in the spring of 2022 and were able to hold two festivals. The first one took place with the support of the Technical University of Munich, thanks to Senator Ingeborg Pohl and the president of the university, Thomas Hoffmann, who, after hearing the statistics of the number of refugees from Ukraine in Bavaria, of which 4 thousand are children, kindly opened the doors of the university, provided the team and funding for the festival. Then the German colleagues counted on a small number of participants. When they heard that we were ready to accept 1000 children, they were amazed by the scale and agreed to only two hundred participants. Such a bargain. The second festival was held with the support of another cultural platform, but the theme for both festivals was common: "The city of the future. Life without war". Our organizational goal was to invite German and Ukrainian children to participate and involve them in joint work in the direction of the development of the given theme of the festival, so that children and their parents get to know each other and remember this acquaintance, unite in creative thinking and work. This helped to level the social perception of Ukrainians as new co-users of the space of European cities!
In 2022, with the support of Technische Universität München, two children's festivals "ARCHIKIDZ!" were held in Munich. Photo from the archive of Kateryna Romanenko
In 2022, with the support of Technische Universität München, two children's festivals "ARCHIKIDZ!" were held in Munich. Photo from the archive of Kateryna Romanenko
In 2022, with the support of Technische Universität München, two children's festivals "ARCHIKIDZ!" were held in Munich. Photo from the archive of Kateryna Romanenko
We also cooperate with French colleagues from the Ecole nationale supérieure d'architecture de Strasbourg in the international competition "OSCAR" (competition of architectural models evaluated by specialists of the European House of Architecture Maison européenne de l'architecture — Rhin supérieur. — Ed. note), in in which students of Ukrainian schools continue to participate in the online format. Our children perform tasks and send photos of layouts and texts of ideas, which are carefully studied by jury members and put to a vote for a certain place in the rating. We give lectures and plan festivals in new countries. The next one will take place in Spain."
Kateryna Romanenko and Italian architect Benedetta Tagliabue. Photo from the archive of Kateryna Romanenko
Making Ukraine's voice louder
In the summer of 2023, after a break of almost a decade, Ukraine presented its own pavilion "Before the Future" ("Before the Future") at the Venice Architecture Biennale. This became a great opportunity to declare yourself and talk about the life of a modern European country that is resisting armed aggression in the XNUMXst century. The development and implementation of the concept for the National Pavilion was carried out in a very tight time frame and was supervised by the Ministry of Culture.
Working rendering of the Ukrainian DNA 2023 exhibition. Image courtesy of Kateryna Romanenko
"In addition to the National Pavilion, colleagues also presented the "Ukrainian DNA" project at a separate exhibition. "Ukrainian DNA" is the idea of my long-time Italian friend Roberto Bianconi, who is a great admirer of Ukrainian architectural heritage and especially Sophia of Kyiv. The idea of "Ukrainian DNA" became a reality thanks to the union of two professional communities: the Architectural Chamber of NSAU and the Design4Ukraine association. The exposition consisted of unique author's carvings, a collection of "Rizoma" art objects created from wheat rhizomes, and a part where a film-video presentation of Ukrainian architects from different regions of the country who joined the army was broadcast. While working, I realized for myself how strong and important my roots and my origin are. Such things are more special and understandable when you are outside the country, unfortunately. But better late than never. Therefore, I am grateful to Roberto and the Ukrainian colleagues with whom we worked together. In my opinion, the project is successful, it strengthened the National Pavilion, which, fortunately, also took place."
The head of the "Ukrainian DNA" project was the Italian architect Roberto Bianconi, curators — design researcher, Design4Ukraine ambassador in Switzerland Anastasia Biletska, designer, Design4Ukraine ambassador in Italy Anna Manako, deputy head of AP NSAU Anna Kyriy and doctor of philosophy in the field of architecture Olga Neshta.
In a separate location of the "Ukrainian DNA" project at the Biennale Architettura, a video tape of Ukrainian architects who became military was broadcast. Photo source: Facebook of Anna Kyriy, Deputy Head of AP NSAU
About Ukrainian architecture and some aspects of communication with the European community in direct language.
An event at the National School of Architecture in Strasbourg as part of the "OSCAR" international competition of architectural models for children. Photo from the archive of Kateryna Romanenko
PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA: Has the war changed your opinion about the role of an architect? How do you see it for yourself?
Kateryna Romanenko: My idea has not changed, I have always been more than an architect! It even had to be announced at one of the meetings of the Architectural Council of Europe (Council of European architects. — Ed.), with which the president of ACE Ruth Schagemann fully agreed, who was present and supported this message addressed to European architects, who also need as a professional upgrade, as well as personal, mental.
Architect Kateryna Romanenko, President of the European Council of Architects Ruth Schagemann and member of NSAU, spatial planning expert Lidia Chizhevska during a meeting in Brussels. Photo from the archive of Kateryna Romanenko
PM: You are the head of the disciplinary commission of the Architectural Chamber of NSAU. What issues does the commission take care of now, in other words, how much work do you have in this field?
K.R.: The disciplinary commission is not work, because work must be paid, therefore, rather, it is a public activity. Since the end of 2023, I have not taken an active part in disciplining, because I had to change the vector of my activity.
PM: Don't you have the feeling that more sad things happen "quietly" during the war, from which Ukrainian architecture and Ukrainian cities lose: dubious draft laws are advanced, monuments are destroyed, and not because of shelling, but because of someone's interests? Is it just what it seems?
K.R.: Being outside of Ukraine, I constantly move between countries, meet new people, collaborate, survive culturally and professionally, so I don't have time for suspicions and paranoia about something "on the quiet". I always support those who work and create. Yes, there are doubtful draft laws, and they should be weakened in the possibility of success of approval and new ones should be written. Otherwise, the mess is the same as always. But the mess is not only at home. Chaos is also order. I remind myself of this, and emotions do not prevent me from acting (smiles).
To see the future and be an optimist
When asked about priorities and immediate plans, the architect answers that an important task in Ukraine and abroad is the task of survival — physical, business and cultural: "The work of the office "S. Babushkin" on projects in Ukraine with state institutions and abroad with new partners and in new contexts. On the agenda is participation in international forums and events dedicated to the topic of Ukraine and its post-war reconstruction with the support of the Architectural Council of Europe, International Union of Architects. Also, teaching children at the Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, organization and participation in children's architectural festivals, which we continue to create together with "ARCHIKIDZ!".
Near the NSAU stand "Building the Future" during the World Congress of Architects in Copenhagen, 2023. Photo from the archive of Kateryna Romanenko
Kateryna Romanenko is currently acting as an expert in an international scientific architectural project on a grant basis, and has also received an invitation to cooperate with one of the municipalities of the Netherlands and with several Spanish companies. "However, all my creativity, legal literacy, erudition and love for development, consensus, communication, publicity, filming, beauty, as well as the advice of friends whom I love and am very grateful to, led me to a super class team in the field of Real Estate" — she shares. So, obviously, we will hear about news in this area soon.
It is not always easy to work so that the world not only listens, but also hears Ukrainian speakers, the voice of Ukraine. Despite solidarity and support from many governments and individual experts, their attention and understanding are not automatically guaranteed. We often have different views and certainly different experiences.
There are no closed doors for brave people, and the most difficult ones open easily!
