Sydney-based architect Jansen Che has been selected as one of three joint winners of the Norman Foster Foundation Kharkiv Freedom Square Revival international architecture competition. Che was the only Australian architect shortlisted for the top prize in the global competition.

Above: Kharkiv Freedom Square (Source: https://architecturecompetitions.com/kharkivfreedomsquare/brief)

Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv has been considerably affected by the ongoing conflict due to its proximity to the border with Russia. The design competition is part of the larger Kharkiv concept masterplan project led by the Kharkiv City Council, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) within the framework of the UN4UkrainianCities initiative, the Norman Foster Foundation, and Arup among others.

With a view to creating a new landmark for the city, the ideas competition was organised to inspire local and international experts to propose design solutions for the Regional Administration Building as well as the public realm of the adjacent Freedom Square. With a prize pool of €10,000 sponsored by Buildner (€3,000 for each prize winner and €1,000 for the Student Award), the competition sought proposals that would offer a holistic intervention that envisioned a prosperous future while enhancing the historical significance and identity of Kharkiv.

Announced in September 2024, the Kharkiv Freedom Square Revival competition received a total of 84 submissions from architects, designers, and urban planners worldwide, including 21 from Ukraine.

Kharkiv Freedom Square

Jansen Che’s entry ‘Memory’ - Kharkiv Freedom Square

Following an evaluation by a jury of 10 local and global experts led by the Kharkiv mayor and Lord Norman Foster, president of the Norman Foster Foundation, three outstanding projects were selected as joint winners, sharing equal recognition and prize money. According to the jury, no single entry addressed in a balanced and adequate manner, the diverse needs of the key building and the public space. The winner of the separate category for students was one of the most outstanding entries, the jury says.

The winners included Jansen Che from Australia, Daniel Mintz from Israel, and Nischal Ba from India. The Student Award was won by Qiqi Wu of the United Kingdom. Che intends to use his prize money to make donations to various organisations working to help Ukraine.

Regional Administration Building

Jansen Che’s entry ‘Memory’ - Regional Administration Building

The winning ideas will now contribute to a second stage competition, open to new entrants as well as those who had competed in the present competition.

Main image: Sydney-based architect Jansen Che. / Supplied.

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Branko Miletic

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