Mapping the Emotional Landscape of a Wartime City

This talk examines the reconstruction of place identities in wartime and post-war urban landscapes, focusing on the case of Kyiv. Using a combination of autoethnographic introspection and participatory mapping, the study identifies four types of emotionally charged places that emerge through experiences of war: dangerous places, safe places, places of dignity, and places of trauma. Kyiv’s wartime emotional landscape encompasses both intimate settings—such as the home—and public spaces including streets, squares, metro stations, museums, and monuments. These spaces undergo transformations in appearance, function, emotional meaning, and symbolic resonance during war. The shifting boundaries between personal and public, safe and dangerous, contribute to the dynamic reconstruction of individual and collective place identities.

The talk also reviews how emotional landscape mapping can inform participatory models of post-war reconstruction, including approaches to designing safe, meaningful urban environments and shaping inclusive memory policies. The findings highlight that practices of rebuilding damaged environments and creating new safe spaces during wartime play a crucial role in restoring a sense of place and agency. Such participatory acts not only support emotional resilience but also reinforce citizens’ subjectivity and collective action within the urban community.

Oleksandra Nenko acknowledges her collaboration with Olena Kononenko and Anatolii Melnychuk, associate professors at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, in this ongoing research.

When: Monday, November 24, 2025, 5:00–6:30 PM

Link: https://rwth.zoom-x.de/j/63818881847?pwd=s0uRbZ3QaDrbgvhEHrgaizRUef0Pbo.1
Meeting-ID: 638 1888 1847
Kenncode: 084850