The article describes the work of Ukrainian architecture collective Livyj Bereh, which has been awarded the Royal Academy Dorfman Prize for their innovative and community-driven approach to rebuilding and protecting communities in Ukraine. The group’s founder, Oleksandra Kalmus, recounts how she and her team began by repairing homes and organizing a reconstruction project in a village called Khutor Dakh, but were forced to halt their efforts due to renewed Russian shelling.
Kalmus then turned her attention to building drones for local Ukrainian units, which became the foundation of the Klyn Drone Project. This new initiative aimed to provide protection before destruction, using drones as a means of shielding communities from attack.
The article also mentions that Livyj Bereh’s work has been showcased at the Ukrainian Pavilion in Venice, where their efforts have been recognized and celebrated. The collective’s approach is described as an “architectural act of collective care and resistance” that defies the destruction of neighborhoods and provides a powerful example of civic monument.
The article highlights the importance of community-led initiatives like Livyj Bereh, which prioritize the needs and voices of local people over grand, top-down solutions. It also emphasizes the need for creative preservation and vernacular survival in the face of conflict and destruction.
Overall, the article presents a compelling case for the value of grassroots resistance and community-driven approaches to rebuilding and protecting communities in Ukraine.
