According to research by the sociological group Rating, more than 14,5 million Ukrainians have left Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Of them, 11,7 million went to the countries of the European Union. Indeed, the war has not been going on for the first month, some are returning: yes, as of now, this number reaches about 5,5 million citizens. However, this is only a third of the total number mentioned above, while the rest remain abroad - mostly women and children.
As of now, about 9 million Ukrainians remain abroad — mostly women and children
Of course, one would like to believe that the majority will return. But should we rely in this matter only on faith in someone's patriotism and longing for home? Because, for example, it is important for a mother who has gone abroad to build a future where life will be comfortable for both her and her child. Comfort in this case consists of many pragmatic factors: transport, safety, income level, quality of education, ecology, etc. But it is not worth crossing out from this list such an important component as the aesthetics and well-kept urban environment: its streets, courtyards, parks.
Queues of refugees leaving Ukraine at the start of a full-scale invasion. Photo source — minfin.com.ua. PAP/Vitaliy Hrabar
As we embark on the path of European integration, we are talking about the future adoption of Western standards in many spheres and industries. But if we talk specifically about the standard of living with a focus on the quality of the environment and green areas, this is already a discussion not so much about imitation as about gaining competitiveness. Because in order to return Ukrainians home, the country must show that they have a place to return to. And it should be a place where you can and want to build a future for yourself and your children.
In order to return Ukrainians home, the country must show that they have a place to return to
James Simon Park, Berlin
Background and present
The topic of post-war reconstruction of Ukraine today has worldwide publicity. In the fall of 2023, the second ReBuild Ukraine exhibition-conference will be held in Warsaw. Among the participants are investors, experts, representatives of governments of other countries, as well as construction companies, architects and developers. Undoubtedly, the resonance and dynamics of such events in the global information space cannot but inspire hope. But are we dealing only with rebuilding the destruction caused by the war?
In more than 30 years of its existence, independent Ukraine has still not gotten rid of the tolerance towards neglect that was characteristic of the USSR
In more than 30 years of its existence, independent Ukraine has still not lost its tolerance for neglect, characteristic even in the USSR: we walk past cracked buildings, step over dried weeds sprouting from asphalt older than ourselves, and humbly "tolerate" without looking around , until around the corner there is a patch of landscaped territory - there you can already look up and feel like a person.
Of course, this is not the case everywhere. There are restored districts, new housing estates and cottage towns with neat territory, active public organizations that submit petitions "on the ground". But still there is a striking contrast of the listed examples with the situation in villages, small towns and even urban areas outside the focus of public attention. Meanwhile, in the matter of the standard of living, landscaping plays no less a role than the aesthetics and integrity of urban architecture.
We talked about this topic with Yuriy Korolchuk, CEO of the landscape company TOPIAR, which has been working on the Ukrainian market for 12 years.
"The organization and care of the urban environment in Ukraine is subordinated to a clumsy system that is only now trying to somehow adapt to the challenges of modernity and very selectively demonstrates successful examples of projects of various scales. Currently, society is balancing between the desire for change and the habit of neglect in the everyday environment. Getting out of this state to progress requires a comprehensive approach.
Plasma Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine
"The creation of a complex, functional and aesthetic urban environment is currently no less important priority for Ukraine than the restoration of destroyed buildings and the resuscitation of the economy" - Yuriy Korolchuk
Yuriy Korolchuk, CEO of TOPIAR landscape company
Most of the Ukrainians who left live in Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. In the cities of these countries, landscaping is literally a calling card. So, if in the future we want to attract the attention of our own citizens and encourage them to return home, we must realize that improvement projects are investments in our future. The creation of a complex, functional and aesthetic urban environment is currently no less a significant priority for Ukraine than the restoration of destroyed buildings and the resuscitation of the economy. At the same time, for some reason, we always separate landscaping from beautification, while these processes should occur in parallel and are equally important. Updated residential areas, green streets, inclusive well-kept parks are what Ukrainian cities currently lack. Something that can and must be created," Yuriy is convinced.
The territory of the residential complex Park Avenue, Kyiv, Ukraine. Landscape project — TOPIAR
Not new, but new
It is not enough to simply "paint and water" abandoned areas and certain parts of cities. We are dealing with the need to improve them: to create accessible and aesthetic public spaces, to integrate new approaches, taking the experience of European cities as an example.
Rudolf Bednar Park in Vienna, Austria. Photo: Peter Gugerel
So, let's say, Vienna can be taken as a model of the global transformation of the urban environment. The authorities of the Austrian capital have set themselves the goal of creating an inclusive, accessible urban environment that will be comfortable for all population groups. Vienna's parks reflect these same principles. The playing areas were reorganized: instead of large football fields, complexes with several zones suitable for both boys and girls were created; such zones are distributed equally and do not displace each other.
For safety reasons, instead of thick bushes along the walking paths in Vienna, trees are planted and lawns are sown
It is not enough to simply "paint and water" abandoned areas and certain parts of cities. We are dealing with the need to improve them
With attention to women, their comfort and safety, a barrier-free system of movement in parks and streets was arranged in Vienna, and all paths are well lit. Also, for safety reasons, in Vienna, landscaping solutions have been reviewed: here you can rarely find thick bushes along the walking paths - instead, trees and a sown lawn have been planted.
These are examples of simple solutions that can be integrated into the environment of Ukrainian cities. It is such "imperceptible" little things, implemented with care for certain groups of the population, that make their representatives feel more comfortable in the city. And if these people are far from home, such solutions complement the image of the city to which you want to return.
A pocket park built on the site of the ruined church of St Dunstan in the East. London, Great Britain. Image source: citydays.com
But not all solutions should be large-scale and cover the entire city. A vivid example of modest but effective changes in the urban environment are London's pocket parks. Like small oases scattered throughout the metropolis, they harmoniously complement the streets and serve as miniature centers of freshness for people. If this concept is transferred to Ukrainian realities, in the long run it is able to influence not only the landscape portrait of Ukrainian cities. Pocket parks could also "stir up" the above-mentioned stagnant and outdated system to which landscape projects are subject, according to the principle "from partial to general".
Floating Pocket Park designed by landscape designer Tony Woods. London, Great Britain
The first examples of such "chamber" squares with aesthetic landscaping already exist in Ukraine, and they vividly demonstrate how even small landscape accents can transform a street. One of these projects is a green square near the building of the "Energoatom" enterprise, located in Kyiv on the street Gogolivska. The project was implemented by the TOPIAR team.
The square near the building of the "Energoatom" enterprise on the street Gogolivska, Kyiv, Ukraine. The authors of the landscape project are TOPIAR
"We set ourselves the goal of creating a bright and multi-level composition that will become a green island in the heart of a bustling metropolis. We had to choose landscaping in such a way as to create the longest flowering period of various types of plants, as well as to fit blue Christmas trees and junipers into the future landscape. In the project, a fairly wide range of plants was used, under which different types and proportions of the soil were separately mixed, in order to provide the necessary environment for each plantation," says Yurii Korolchuk.
The square has an area of only 14 acres. The terracing made it possible to use the maximum of a small area with a competent mutual composition of elements: the plants complement each other and give the opportunity to see the full spectrum and exuberance of colors of the entire square from one vantage point.
The square near the building of the "Energoatom" enterprise on the street Gogolivska, Kyiv, Ukraine. The authors of the landscape project are TOPIAR
"This is a unique square that changes almost every month, because all the plants bloom one after the other. In summer, for example, the flower beds are filled with an incredible variety of colors and smells - hydrangea plays a central role in this period. Stones are an aesthetic element. In addition, they are functional, because they additionally strengthen places of height difference. The supporting walls near the entrance group are equipped with places to sit. They terrace the square and are a place of rest for the company's employees and city residents," comments Yuriy.
Currently, similar projects are not sufficiently widespread in Ukraine and are mainly commercial. In order to put such initiatives "on the state rails", it is necessary to at least revise the system of distribution of orders between companies during tenders from the state.
"In a civilized society, it is profitable and honorable to fulfill state or communal orders. However, in Ukraine, state orders are still carried out by non-name companies, one-day private enterprises or local utilities" — Yuriy Korolchuk
The landscape project of the park by TOPIAR in Horishni Plavni, Poltava region, Ukraine
"In a civilized society, it is profitable and honorable to fulfill state or communal orders. However, in Ukraine, state orders are still carried out by non-name companies, one-day private equity firms, or local utility companies — zelenbudi. It is also not a rare situation when a landscape project is carried out by a private company, and after implementation it is handed over to local utilities, and without proper care, the territory literally dries up. Even the best projects can be destroyed by poor implementation and careless follow-up. And as of now, it is often the case, because landscaping, as we have already mentioned, is perceived as something secondary, connected to the standard of living selectively and not urgently, as they say, "out of time." However, the approach to landscaping and greening based on the residual principle is a dead end. Those who won are not here," Yuriy Korolchuk is convinced.
The landscape project of the park by TOPIAR in Horishni Plavni, Poltava region, Ukraine
"That is why it is so important to let private companies into the landscape renewal of cities. In contrast to utilities, which occupied almost the entire space of this niche, entrepreneurs create lively competition. It is this lively market competition, in the conditions of which they exist, that prompts companies to develop, research demand and modern trends.
"The landscape niche in Ukraine would have an impetus for development and expansion, if the beautification of the urban environment itself was done at the expense of the state, but its maintenance and care of the territories were carried out at the expense of entrepreneurs" - Yurii Korolchuk
The landscape project of the park by TOPIAR in Horishni Plavni, Poltava region, Ukraine
At the same time, the realities in which the landscape monopoly is secured by utility companies demonstrate a complete lack of motivation to perform work qualitatively and "keep up" with modern challenges. Because, let's say, if such an enterprise is attached to some city park by the decision of the state, then it will remain in this position, no matter how poorly the work is done, - Yuriy shares. — I see the solution to this situation as follows: the landscape niche in Ukraine would have an impetus for development and expansion, and the projects themselves would have a higher quality and "live" longer, if the improvement of the urban environment itself, let's say, was done with state funds, and its maintenance and care of the territories were carried out at the expense of entrepreneurs. With such a distribution, we have a chance that keeping the green areas of Ukrainian cities in proper condition will be really important and interesting for those who are assigned this duty, because conditions will be created where the factor of market competition is present. And this is quite a motivation to do your work better.
The landscape project of the park by TOPIAR in Horishni Plavni, Poltava region, Ukraine
It is from small, but effective initiatives that a city that you want to return to can begin
In my opinion, changing the approach and, as a result, improving the environment for citizens is our "recipe" for the return of Ukrainians from abroad. Landscaping is what makes a city attractive in the eyes of residents and visitors. People want to go where they feel comfortable. Creating a beautification strategy means creating a comfortable environment that would emphasize the local context, the authenticity of the city. By creating a well-organized country, inclusive, green and attractive to people, we are solving the issues of ecology, economy and demography," concludes Yuriy Korolchuk.
The residential area of Obolon Residences, Kyiv, Ukraine. Landscape project — TOPIAR
Many stages of transformation and adaptation to European living standards await Ukraine. Undoubtedly, it will be a long and arduous path. It will definitely be worth it. It is impossible to change the opaque and market-inhibiting system in one day, however, this is the only way we will eventually be able to transform Ukrainian cities and raise the standard of living of Ukrainians. It is from small, but effective initiatives that a city that you want to return to from Europe can begin. And stay here. Because it's good. Because it's convenient. Because it's green.
