Resound

Project idea

Kharkiv "Resound" Post-War Restoration Project

I. Project Statement
Project Name: Resound
Project Location: Kharkiv, Ukraine (specific site located within the damaged city‑centre building cluster and surrounding public spaces)
Project Nature: Post‑war architectural restoration, public space reconfiguration, and underground mixed‑use development
Scope of Design: Structural repair and façade reconstruction of a landmark building destroyed during the war, along with the comprehensive transformation of the adjacent square – including landscape installations, an underground exhibition hall, and a memorial park – as well as other supporting public amenities.
This project takes Peace as its spiritual core and Sound Wave as its design motif. It aims to transform the scars of war into a contemporary public space that consolidates urban memory and conveys the conviction of peace. The name Resound signifies “echo” and “resonance” – it echoes the physical phenomenon of sound‑wave propagation, while also implying that the voice of peace, once emitted from this place, will reverberate persistently across the world.

II. Project Background
Kharkiv is the largest city in eastern Ukraine and a vital cultural, educational, and industrial centre of the country. Since the outbreak of the Russia‑Ukraine war in 2022, Kharkiv has suffered large‑scale shelling and airstrikes, resulting in severe damage to numerous civilian buildings, historical landmarks, and public facilities. The building addressed by this project is one of them – it lost its original silhouette in the flames of war and was reduced to rubble. Yet its remaining structure still speaks of the city’s former glory and the shared memories of its citizens.
Post‑war reconstruction is not merely a physical restoration of space, but also a spiritual healing process. Therefore, this project is situated on this scarred land, striving through the redesign of architecture and landscape to turn ruins into symbols of hope, allowing the belief in peace to take root here and spread outward.

III. Design Inspiration
The core inspiration comes from the natural physical phenomenon of the Sound Wave. A sound wave radiates evenly from a central point, spreading outward in concentric layers; though its energy diminishes with distance, its will to propagate remains unstoppable. We transplant this imagery into the architectural and site design – taking the centre of the damaged building as the origin, the building mass and square paving unfold in radial layers, resembling sound waves rippling through space. This form metaphorically conveys that the voice of peace, regardless of the obstacles it encounters, will eventually emanate from this war‑torn land of Kharkiv, cross borders, and reach every corner of the world.
At the same time, to intensify the spiritual experience, we draw additional inspiration from the contrast of “light and darkness” in religious architecture: within the ground‑floor lobby and underground spaces, we use highly transparent glass columns to channel natural light vertically downward, creating sacred beams of light in the dark environment, thus fostering a meditative and contemplative atmosphere.

IV. Design Concept
The design concept of this project can be summarised in three dimensions:
1. Form as Declaration – The architectural plan and square composition are structured on a radial sound‑wave framework, with all pathways, greenery, and installations arranged along these radiating lines. This visual language directly proclaims the theme of “spreading peace,” making the space itself a silent monument.
2. Light and Shadow as Emotion – On the ground level, ample sunlight is harnessed; tensile‑structure shading pavilions and mist‑cooling devices are provided for citizens to relax and socialise. In contrast, the underground restaurant, memorial corridors, and other spaces are deliberately left without artificial main lighting, relying solely on roof light‑wells to capture daylight and transmit it downward through ultra‑clear glass columns. The light forms vertical pillars in the darkness, like divine radiance descending, evoking a sense of awe. This stark contrast between light and darkness symbolises the spiritual power of “peace piercing through war,” endowing the space with a religious solemnity and healing quality.
3. Function as Care – Beyond architectural restoration, the square is enhanced with shading installations and a circular memorial park, while the underground level accommodates dining and commemorative spaces. These serve daily community needs while also providing places for reflection on history and the consolidation of shared values.

V. Goals and Objectives
This project pursues the following core objectives:
· Physical Restoration – Strictly adhering to historical preservation principles, repair the structure and façade of the damaged building, restoring its status as an urban landmark and perpetuating Kharkiv’s cultural heritage.
· Spiritual Healing – Through spatial designs such as the “Pillars of Light,” offer citizens a place for quiet contemplation, meditation, and collective mourning, helping traumatised minds find solace and fostering psychosocial recovery.
· Peace Propagation – Using the architectural language of sound‑wave radiation, embody the concept of “peace” in tangible form, making the project an internationally recognised symbol of peace that draws global attention to Ukraine’s reconstruction and calls on all nations to uphold human peace.
· Ecology and Community – Recycle debris from the ruins to create landscape installations, develop an ecological park, and introduce underground retail and public dining facilities to stimulate community vitality and promote sustainable post‑war recovery.
Ultimate Purpose: We firmly believe that architecture is not merely an assembly of bricks and mortar, but a vessel for emotion and conviction. This project, Resound, is dedicated to transforming Kharkiv’s wounds of war into an eternal echo that proclaims peace to the world – may every ray of daylight become hope that pierces darkness, and every ripple of sound wave become a cry that summons peace.

Project description

This project encompasses the following three spatial levels and corresponding design contents:

1. Restoration of the Damaged Landmark Building
The core of the project is a city landmark building severely damaged during the war. Restoration works include: structural safety reinforcement, faithful reconstruction of the historical facade, and functional reorganisation of interior spaces, so that it may once again serve as a venue for urban memory and public activities. The basement level of the building will be remodelled, with reserved connections to the underground exhibition hall beneath the square.

2. Square Spaces and the Cross‑Road Connecting Installation
The square in front of the building is naturally divided by an urban road into two plots – east and west – creating a spatial rupture. This project will design a landscape installation resembling a “bridge” that spans above the road, visually and physically reconnecting the two halves of the square. The installation serves both as a resting place and a sculptural landmark, becoming a unique visual focal point of the site while symbolising connection and healing.

3. Square Landscape Design and Underground Exhibition Hall
Within the two square areas, we will install landscape greenery, resting facilities, shading devices, and water features to enrich public life at ground level. Meanwhile, a new underground exhibition hall will be constructed beneath the square, intended for art exhibitions, historical document displays, and community events. This hall is directly linked to the building’s basement via an underground passageway, forming an integrated circulation system that connects above‑ground and below‑ground spaces, as well as the building and the square. This interconnection enhances convenience and strengthens the overall sense of place.

The above scope collectively defines the complete design boundary of the project, encompassing four major components: architectural restoration, site connection, landscape creation, and underground space development.

Technical information

I. Main Building Restoration Technology
1. Wall Repair and Reinforcement
The exterior walls of the damaged building are repaired and reinforced using light‑yellow fired bricks. The material selection is based on the following considerations:
Colour and Texture: The light‑yellow bricks harmonise with the building’s original historical facade, maintaining visual integrity and historical continuity after restoration.
Structural Performance: The bricks, being high‑temperature fired, offer high compressive strength and good durability, effectively filling damaged wall areas and restoring the integrity of the envelope structure.
Lightweight Treatment: To minimise additional load on the existing load‑bearing system, lightweight perforated bricks (with a porosity of 25%–30%) are used. These are approximately 20% lighter than solid bricks, thereby reinforcing the wall without significantly increasing foundation loads.
Construction method: After cleaning and chiselling the damaged areas, new bricks are laid with polymer cement mortar and connected to the original wall via embedded reinforcement bars to ensure composite action between the old and new sections.
2. Staircase System
New internal staircases are designed as lightweight steel structures, with the following key technical features:
The load‑bearing frame consists of Q235B steel beams, and the treads are made of perforated steel plates or lightweight composite materials, making the overall self‑weight far less than that of concrete staircases.
The steel staircases are connected to the main structure via hinged joints, transmitting only vertical loads without generating additional bending moments, thus avoiding adverse effects on the damaged old building’s frame.
The stair surfaces are slip‑resistant and coated with fire‑retardant paint to meet safety evacuation requirements.
3. Roof Reconstruction and Cantilevered Walkway
The original roof was completely destroyed during the war. The reconstruction adopts a lightweight steel roof truss system as the primary support structure, with the following details:
The main roof trusses use high‑frequency welded H‑shaped steel, with spans arranged according to the original building axes. Connections are made with high‑strength bolted joints to facilitate on‑site installation and reduce welding stresses.
The roof covering is composed of profiled steel sheet composite insulation panels, which are lightweight, waterproof, and provide adequate thermal insulation.
A suspended annular walkway is attached to the roof edge: the walkway is hung from the lower chords of the main roof trusses via steel tension rods, so that all suspended loads are carried by the new steel roof structure and not transferred to the original walls. The walkway is equipped with safety glass railings at its base, offering both viewing functions and a distinctive element of the building’s fifth facade.
Structural calculations for the suspended walkway have considered wind loads, live loads, and temperature effects to ensure adequate safety margins.

II. Square Cross‑Road Connection Installation Technology
To connect the eastern and western halves of the square – which are divided by a road – a bridge‑like landscape installation is designed. The technical features include:
The deck is paved with lightweight steel grilles, serving as both a pedestrian passage and a resting platform. The clearance beneath the installation is maintained at 8 metres to meet urban traffic requirements.
The exterior of the bridge is clad with perforated metal panels, with LED lighting lines concealed internally. At night, the installation emits a soft light strip, combining functionality with sculptural aesthetics.

III. Square Installation Column Technology
Several groups of landmark installation columns are placed across the square. Their construction is divided into three parts from top to bottom:
1. Upper Metal Column Section
Made of stainless steel round tubes with a fluorocarbon spray coating for enhanced weather resistance.
The column interior is hollow, accommodating utility lines and equipment.
A metal canopy is installed at the top of each column, consisting of a steel skeleton clad with aluminium panels, providing shading and decorative functions. The canopy is rigidly connected to the column via steel brackets through welded joints.
2. Middle Glass Column Section
Below the metal column, a section of ultra‑clear tempered laminated glass is connected. The glass is fixed to the metal via stainless steel clamps and structural adhesive.
The glass section is hollow, allowing natural light to penetrate and be transmitted downward to the underground spaces.
3. Lower Glass Section Extending Underground
The glass column continues downward, passing through the ground level of the square and extending to the base of the underground exhibition hall.
In the underground portion, the glass columns work in conjunction with light‑guiding fibre bundles to channel natural daylight collected from the surface into the dark subterranean spaces, creating a “pillar of light” visual effect.
All vertical loads are carried by the upper metal column and the lower concrete foundation; the glass serves only as enclosure and light‑transmitting elements, bearing no compressive load, thus ensuring safety.
4. Foundations and Structure
All columns are supported on reinforced concrete isolated footings, with embedment depths sufficient to meet frost‑line requirements.
The columns are connected to the footings via embedded anchor bolts, with levelling plates at the top of each footing to ensure vertical alignment.
The metal canopy and the column form an integral frame; overall structural calculations account for wind and snow loads (where applicable) and comply with local seismic and wind resistance standards.