What is Urban Hack?
Urban Hack is a two day hackathon that aims to bring people of different backgrounds together around one table to discuss complex urban challenges in an inclusive and democratic way.
What to expect?
2 Days
+ pre-event the day before
5 Teams
participants from different backgrounds
5 Mentors
every team has its international or local mentor
1 Urban Problem
dealing with 1 complex urban challenge
Interesting discussions
socializing during and after workshop
Open Call for UREHERIT Urban Hack in Lviv for participants and team leads
This public open call is for architects, urbanists, urban activists, visual artists, local residents and architecture students or other interested parties like local business owners, community members or municipality representatives that would like to contribute to the urban rejuvenation and heritage protection in Ukraine by participating in a participatory “Urban Hack” in the city of Lviv on 14-15.06.2025 with a site visit pre event on the 13th.
Topic - Holistic Renovation of Modernist Housing
Urban Hack Lviv focuses on the topic of “Holistic Renovation of Modernist Housing” and will have a closer look at a microdistrict in Frankivskyi district in Lviv. The microdistrict is located between Naukova, Knyahyni Ol’hy, Volodymyra Velykoho and Trolebusna Street.
Renovation is a larger topic that almost every country in Europe is currently tackling. With Holistic Renovation of Modernist Housing we are looking for a comprehensive approach to housing renovation that considers various aspects such as spatial quality, social impact, process quality, economic impact, technical quality, and environmental impact, so that amid rushed need, we would not lower the quality of our neighborhoods. With this topic, we aim to look for solutions to create livable, sustainable, and thriving communities.
Holistic Renovation of Modernist Housing aims to meet contemporary standards of comfort, energy efficiency, safety, and social use, while respecting and preserving their architectural integrity. It involves looking beyond just superficial fixes and considering the building as a whole: its design, structure, systems, and its role in the community. This topic is also a research project lead by Architects Association Lithuania in collaboration with Kharkiv School of Architecture that is investigating roadblocks regarding renovation and hoping to offer a toolbox of solutions.
In the neighborhood in focus (https://maps.app.goo.gl/MnMcXC7ZUVfu2UFW7) are a lot of challenges specific to the area that are quite common in typical soviet mass produced housing areas. The main challenge is the lack of feeling of ownership created by the vast area of public open space with no private or semi private zones. So how do we create a feeling of ownership and community in no man's land? Other challenges in the area are lack of activities or meaning given to certain spaces, no universal design and accessibility, poor infrastructure for kids and low feeling of safety.
We believe that if residents, municipal officials, and interdisciplinary teams are involved in modeling the renovation of a modernist mass construction neighborhoods, it is possible to create a realistic foundation for a municipal program to upgrade outdated housing. The hackathon will serve as a lab for developing a first draft framework adaptable to different funding sources and various levels of intervention.
This Urban Hack will, as usual, have 5 teams that will have a look at the renovation process challenges from different angles, next to visual ideas. All teams are dealing with one umbrella task of renovation challenges, but every team can choose a more specific viewpoint. We can view the issues from the perspective of the residents, homeowners association, local municipality, financial means and partnerships with donors. With this Hack we aim to empower everyone to take control over their own environment and think outside the box of restrictions and can’t do’s.
Urban Hack Format
Urban Hack is a tested format for participatory planning and local development using a multi-stakeholder approach. During the Urban Hack, a diverse set of local stakeholders (municipal politicians, architects, developers, entrepreneurs, representatives of state agencies and the local community) come together to discuss local contested spatial issues, build trust between stakeholders, and make concrete joint proposals for improving the common living environment. The results of Urban Hack are always non-binding.
The fast paced nature of the Hack allows for visionary illustrations and rapid prototyping of developing scenarios for a particular territory. The final product may vary – sketches and drawings in presentation format, a brief for an architectural/urban planning competition, a Youtube video recording or a series of radio shows. However, the final result will include visualisation for Lviv City and recommendations for action.
The Urban Hack is organized by the Estonian Association of Architects, NGO Ro3kvit Urban Coalition for Ukraine, in cooperation with Architects Associaton of Lihtuania, Kharkiv School of Architecture and the city of Lviv. The hack is part of a series of 4 Urban Hacks in Ukraine within the scope of the European cultural project “UREHERIT”, funded by the European Union, with additional funding from ESTDEV – Estonian Centre for International Development, Republic of Estonia Ministry of Culture and Swedish Institute.
Who are we looking for?
Are you an architect, urbanist, urban activist, visual artist, Lviv local, IDP living in Lviv, architecture student or just interested in inclusive methods for urban planning? Then we are looking for you! This call is open for potential participants as well as team leaders. In addition, for every team, we are looking for someone with visualization skills that can do magic with pen and paper, computer renderings or even digital collage.
Participation in the Urban Hack is voluntary, and participants’ possible expenses are not reimbursed, but there are options to find funding for participating. All participants will get 3 days full of great discussions, new professional contacts, additions to their personal portfolio and a say in the future of the city and its neighborhoods.
The application must be submitted by 13.05.2025 at 23.59 Ukrainian time. The application must contain a few sentences on your motivation explaining why you want to participate in the Urban Hack in Lviv. Participants and Team Leads will be selected and assigned to their teams by the organizers.
Location context
Lviv City Territorial Commune
Lviv is a historic city in western Ukraine with a rich and long history that has created a multi-layered urban landscape unique to Ukraine and the region. The city has retained many characteristic features of different eras, which can be clearly read in the urban fabric and illustrate different urban planning approaches and stages. Due to its location, Lviv has always been an important logistical point and a center of cultural and political life.
Now, in the context of the war, the city has once again become an important hub for the country, responding quickly to changes and challenges, entering the next stage of its development.
Urban Hack Site –
Perhshyi Microdistrict
The Pershyi microdistrict is located within the territory of the Frankivskyi district in Lviv, bounded by Naukova, Kniahynia Olhy, Volodymyra Velyky, and Trolleybusna streets. This microdistrict was built between the second half of the 1960s and the first half of the 1970s, with the participation of Lviv architect Vasyl Kamenshchyk. It was designed according to the principles of Soviet spatial planning, which is reflected in its spatial organization and functional composition. Residential development makes up 86.7% of the area, while educational and commercial spaces account for much smaller proportions—4.8% and 4.5%, respectively.
The microdistrict offers limited options for spending time in public spaces. Public infrastructure primarily supports children's leisure, with all recreational areas designed for children's activities. The district is most active in its center, where a modest amount of commercial activity takes place. This central area serves as the main hub for resident circulation.
Spatially, the district feels labyrinthine due to the uniformity of its development. However, it benefits from a well-developed green infrastructure that promotes biodiversity, provides comfortable acoustic conditions, and positively impacts air quality. Despite these advantages, the neighborhood primarily consumes resources without producing any. The buildings do not meet sustainable development standards, suffering from low energy efficiency and high heat loss. The outdated water supply system is unsuitable for drinking, and natural precipitation is not utilized in any way.
Have a look at the area: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KqXgKnu9Ah92wgh26
Roles at Urban Hack
Participant
Participants are taking part in group work throughout the two-day hack. They are involved in the investigation of the site, discussion of possible proposals and producing presentational material. Each team has at least one participant responsible for producing visual content. But that skill is not necessary for everyone, since every participant can make their own input in group work depending on their background: participants might give valuable inputs about local context, technical and economical aspects, environmental impact etc.
The organizing team will choose participants and assign them to the teams after the deadline.
Team lead
Team leads are expected to prepare in advance and to be dedicated to leading group work throughout the two-day hack. The responsibility of a team lead includes delivering the outcome of the hack group work in the form of a visual proposal as a PDF. We do not expect group leaders to create drawings themselves but rather to prepear the teamwork, lead discussions, direct topics, and assign tasks. A team lead should have a clear idea at the start of the hackathon on how to navigate their group and a vision of the final outcome. The groups will be assembled by the organizers to ensure that different skills, including visualization, are covered. Before the Urban Hack there will be a small information online meeting for all the team leads where participation is mandatory. Since the role of a group leader is demanding it is a paid position.
Team lead is expected to have previous experience connected with the topic Holistic Renovation of Modernist Housing. Teaching or previous Urban Hack /Urban Forum experience will be valued. Please note that on the registration form.
The organizing team will choose 2 team leads from Ukraine, 2 from Estonia and 1 will be an Lithuanian expert as the current Urban Hack is a collaboration between Ukraine, Estonia and Lithuania.
Registration for Participants
Urban Hack in Lviv, 14-15 June 2025
Participants will be selected by organizers after the deadline
Deadline for participants: 13.05.2025
Registration for Team leads
Urban Hack in Lviv, 14-15 June 2025
Team leads will be hand picked and there will be 2 leads coming from Estonia, 2 leads from Ukraine and 1 from Lithuania. Team lead position is paid.
Deadline for team leads: 13.05.2025
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