RECOVERY CONSTRUCTION FORUM UKRAINE

On April 11, 2024, in Kyiv, the RECOVERY CONSTRUCTION FORUM UKRAINE was held, gathering key figures from government circles and the construction industry to exchange views on significant challenges and coordinate efforts for the country’s recovery. The DOMOVA team represented the company at this forum.

The event brought together more than 2000 participants, including government officials, local community representatives, businessmen in construction, architects, construction faculty students, and other interested experts and specialists.

The forum covered three main thematic sessions. The first session focused on state recovery policies, discussing priorities, and international participation in recovery processes. The second session concentrated on community support, including discussions on potential opportunities and planning. The last session involved discussions on technical regulation processes, standards, and innovations in the industry.

Participants of the forum also engaged in numerous discussion panels, particularly discussing government support programs, transparency in recovery processes, and the latest approaches in development and architecture, in line with the challenges and requirements of modern construction, considering the situation.

• Should existing buildings be restored or is it better to demolish them and build new ones?
• How should the construction industry develop in the future?
• What steps should be taken to reduce energy consumption and increase the ecological sustainability of buildings?
• How can urban spaces be freed from reliance on extractive energy sources?

Analyzing the problems posed by outdated residential properties, such as worn-out engineering networks, inaccessibility for people with disabilities, low energy efficiency, and non-compliance with modern norms of insulation and effective space use, experts conclude that to ensure the safety of the population in potential threat conditions and to form new standards in construction and utility services, it is necessary to adopt the best global practices. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, discussions on these relevant issues have continued in the country, especially in the context of the war, when damage to the energy infrastructure indicates the need for new approaches in construction.

In Ukraine, major renovations of old houses were rare, leading to their deterioration. Housing policy development should be participatory, taking into account the needs of all population groups, and comply with the requirements and new standards in the country. The development of effective civil defense systems is becoming increasingly important. A significant step in this direction was the signing of a law by President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 22, 2023, which mandates the provision of bomb shelters in new buildings, as well as norms adopted on August 10, defining requirements for the construction of civil defense structures – DBN V.2.2-5:2023. These norms are aimed at ensuring the safety of the population in potential threat conditions and forming new standards in construction and utility services.

Therefore, successful global practices for energy-efficient sustainable construction should be studied and implemented in the algorithms of new construction, motivating communities to build according to modern needs and societal requirements: safety and environmental sustainability at all levels.