Subproject 3: Urban Spatial Transformations Subproject 3 focuses on residential areas in the Baltics, the Caucasus, and Ukraine, examining how migration, housing demand, and climate adaptation influence urban resilience in Soviet-era neighborhoods. Building on the first phase's analysis of 19th- and 20th-century housing transformations, this phase examines key risks and opportunities for sustainable development.
The subproject aims to advance understanding of resilience in post-Soviet housing, equip experts and researchers with actionable insights, and collaborate with academic and practical partners to propose concrete solutions. Findings will be shared widely through exhibitions, teaching programs, lectures, and podcasts, making the research accessible and impactful.
Lead: Prof. Barbara Engel (urban development and planning, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), together with Dr. Anastasia Malko, Ekaterina Gladkova M.A. and Marina Sapunova M.A. (all Karlsruhe Institute of Technology).
Detailed Information
The research project focuses on understanding architectural, functional, and social transformations in selected residential neighborhoods of the 20th century in Armenia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. The goal is to analyze patterns of urban change, assess strategies for sustainable development, and evaluate approaches to resilience in post-Soviet housing. The findings aim to provide transferable insights for cities facing similar challenges, bridging gaps between academic research, urban planning, and public engagement.
Key Questions:
- How have post-Soviet transformations like densification, demolition, and privatization affected the resilience of Soviet-era neighborhoods?
- Do these changes strengthen urban robustness or create new vulnerabilities?
- What measures are needed for adaptive and sustainable urban growth?
The first phase involves baseline assessments and preparatory work for the urban analyses. International literature and best practices will be reviewed to identify relevant approaches for analyzing housing transformations. Analytical matrices will be developed to structure field research, and the research design will be refined through discussions with the Research Network.
The core phase focuses on urban-spatial, functional, and social transformations in selected neighborhoods of Odesa (Ukraine), Vanadzor (Armenia), and Vilnius (Lithuania). These neighborhoods will be documented through photography, drawings, and written analyses, emphasizing processes such as densification, reconstruction, repurposing, and climate adaptation.
Interviews and focus group discussions will be conducted with stakeholders, including city officials, NGOs, residents, local architects, and business owners. Interim findings will be presented at expert workshops in each city, fostering dialogue with professionals from academia, government, private businesses, and civil society to align insights with current social and legal frameworks.
Collaborating with university partners, this phase incorporates findings from the urban analyses into scenario development. Through international research seminars and design studios, sustainable development strategies will be proposed. These scenarios will form the foundation for a practical pilot study.
The final phase includes a verbal and graphic evaluation of findings, concluding with the publication of results in academic journals and a book. A traveling exhibition and podcast will present the insights to a wider audience, ensuring broad dissemination among urban planners, policymakers, and the public.