Urban voids of the city of Kharkiv

Abstract

The problem of degradation and revitalization of the city's fabric is one of the constant issues faced by specialists in architecture, urban planning, economics, public administration, etc. This problem is becoming especially urgent against the backdrop of hostilities and the current difficult economic situation. For several decades, international and domestic authors (scientists, researchers, architects, and various institutions) have been devoting considerable attention to this problem, addressing the restoration of industry, transportation facilities, housing, and recreational areas. The article proposes to consider degrading and poorly integrated territories from the perspective of a concept that is not widespread in domestic theoretical thought - the concept of urban voids. The article reviews the works of international authors and offers an interpretation of the concept of “urban voids” based on domestic material.

The use of the Urban Voids concession makes it possible to consider the degrading territories that are not integrated into the city's active zones more broadly: by considering the semantic aspect, the peculiarities of their formation, and the activities within them. Kharkiv's “urban voids” form a parallel structure of spaces that exist parallel to the city's active zones. The study mapped the “voids” on the example of Kharkiv, classified them, highlighted the features of each type, and provided examples. Among the territories that can be classified as “voids” of the city are places where plots with urban landscape and architectural monuments have been preserved. Unfortunately, the existing methods of working with these areas have mixed results: the example of the Levada historical district demonstrates that despite the dense multi-storey buildings, the features of the “void” have been preserved. In addition to the study, the article suggests a number of areas of work with this type of site related to participatory, temporary use and soft urbanism. In the future, it is possible to deepen the concept and study the material and intangible heritage of the city.