New Zdvyzh Riverside Park for Borodyanka
Project Type: Urban Park | Public Infrastructure
Borodyanka is an ancient and quiet urban settlement, located northwest of Kyiv and at the foot of the Zdvyzh River, and was severely impacted by the Russian advance during the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Following a barrage of missiles and mortar bombs, more than 90% of the city lay in ruins. Once known for its rich textile traditions and tranquil surroundings, it has become one of the most devastated cities in the Kyiv region.
In the context of rebuilding this city, the municipality has reached out to us to develop an important project aimed at providing peace and harmony to the residents of Borodyanka. This project will feature an urban park along the banks of the Zdvyzh River, designed to honor the deep traditions of the settlement and serve as a space for healing and the recovery of the Ukrainian spirit.
Imagen: The Memory Square
Project Fundamentals
Old Cultural Traditions
Borodyanka has traditionally been a farming village, but it has also preserved its rich medieval cultural traditions dating back to 1190. These traditions include unique arts such as weaving and embroidery, which feature distinctive patterns in the colors white, black, and red that are characteristic of most Ukrainian embroidery. Additionally, the craftsmanship of local shoemakers has been an important aspect of the village's heritage.
The reputation of these artisans has spread well beyond the village, becoming an integral part of the national commercial network.
Urban Embroidery
Borodyanka's textile and craft tradition is evident not only in its clothing but also in the urban landscape composition: The pavements, made of bricks of various sizes arranged at different angles and combined with diverse materials, creates paths, define trails, and establish public spaces.
The aim of our project is to enhance this urban sensitivity in terms of textures, to develop a more extensive and amplified form of urban embroidery on the scale of a park.
Architectural Proposal
A New Cultural Landscape
Our proposal aims to integrate the Zdvyzh Riverbank into a new urban-natural program for Borodyanka Village County.
The strategy involves developing the New River Park, an extraordinary public space designed to foster healing for the entire city by facilitating communication between the urban environment, culture, and nature.
In essence, we aim to create a new cultural landscape.
The development of this river park serves as a powerful architectural opportunity to rediscover, reveal, and showcase the resilient and surviving Ukrainian cultural identity. This identity has remained guarded and protected against various forms of domination, particularly within the City of Borodyanka.
Imagen: Scketch of the New Zdvyzh Riverside Park
A Cohesive Cultural Riverside Park
We will focus on creating architectural elements that contribute to a spatial-urban "embroidery." This design will help establish a new connection between the River Park, culture, and the city, forming a cohesive Cultural Landscape.
Our approach involves integrating various urban elements, including a mix of pathways, furniture, lighting, and tree lines. These features will guide the interaction between the urban environment and the natural world in a gradual and intentional manner.
The design and textures of the floors and the new cultural-urban-natural landscape will fully showcase the Borodyanka embroidery pattern through an extensive use of bricks, structural elements, and timber laminated wood.
This approach incorporates a minimalist design strategy and urban-natural integration, carefully respecting the existing spaces and elements while enhancing them with new features.
Imagen: Scketch of the New Zdvyzh Riverside Park
A Woven Park
This 538,279 m2 embroidered urban park is made up of various programs specially dedicated to the needs of the inhabitants of Borodyanka. These programs celebrate the community's fishing tradition, passion for sports, hiking, barbecuing, and the restoration of play areas for children. Each program features unique embroidered brick patterns and diverse ground textures, which together contribute to the overall urban design of the park.
This new urban park seeks to create a genuine natural and architectural space for the healing of the Borodyanka community's residents. By incorporating and intentionally organizing the specific traditions and cultural treasures of the community, the park offers a natural environment that promotes healing and revitalization for its inhabitants.
