Formation of the visual image of the city (Kharkiv) Under wartime conditions

Abstract

The study addresses the issue of a comprehensive and systematic approach to the
formation and restoration of the visual image of post-war cities in Ukraine. It emphasizes that this
process extends far beyond architectural and construction tasks, functioning instead as a strategic,
multi-layered project of socio-psychological rehabilitation, cultural identification, and informational
resilience. The visual environment of a post-war city is interpreted as an active communicative
medium that influences collective memory, emotional well-being, and social cohesion, particularly
in societies affected by prolonged military conflict.
Special attention is paid to participatory practices as a key foundation for legitimacy,
inclusivity, and trust in post-war urban transformation. The research examines contemporary
methods of active public engagement, including co-design processes, community-based decisionmaking,
and the application of innovative digital tools such as virtual reality (VR). VR technologies
are analyzed as instruments for project visualization, inclusivity testing, risk mitigation, and the
achievement of social consensus prior to implementation, thereby democratizing the design process
and reducing conflict between stakeholders.
The paper proposes a comprehensive, multi-phase program that integrates long-term strategic
planning instruments, such as the development of urban master plans, municipal design codes, and
visual regulation frameworks, with tactical and operational solutions. These include localized
design interventions in specific urban areas (streets, squares, small public spaces, courtyards), rapid
urban improvement measures, and the creation of exemplary “postcard” views and selfie zones.
Such interventions are considered not merely as aesthetic enhancements, but as tools for shaping a
positive visual narrative, strengthening urban branding, and supporting psychological recovery
during and after the conflict.
Using Kharkiv as a case study, the research analyzes practical strategies for maintaining and
preserving a positive visual image of the city under conditions of active hostilities. These strategies
include the organization of safe festive, cultural, and memorial events, as well as temporary and
adaptive spatial interventions, which function as mechanisms for sustaining community morale,
reinforcing collective identity, and counteracting narratives of destruction.
The study concludes that post-war recovery presents a unique opportunity not only to rebuild
damaged infrastructure, but to achieve a qualitative transformation of the urban environment. This
transformation aims to produce cities that are more humane, resilient, visually coherent, and
socially inclusive, grounded in European values, cultural continuity, and active civic participation.
The findings contribute to the interdisciplinary discourse on post-conflict urbanism and may serve
as a methodological framework for policymakers, urban planners, architects, and local communities
involved in the reconstruction of war-affected cities.