Mariupol reconstruction project developed by the Big City Lab team with partners was presented at the International Architecture Biennale
At the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, a vision of Mariupol's reconstruction after de-occupation was presented by four architectural teams: Big City Lab, Ro3kvit, Mriya and Zotov & co. The project was created for Mariupol Reborn.
This year, Ukraine is represented at two locations: the national pavilion and the exposition of the French pavilion, particularly through a unified urban vision of the post-war reconstruction of Mariupol. While working on this vision, the teams analysed the city's historical and cultural background to create a common strategy for further reconstruction. For more than six months, each team worked on a separate area of research and design. And all developments were discussed and agreed upon with the Mariupol community.
The main principle of the vision is to rebuild not only walls, but lives.
The key challenges that the project addresses include:
- return of residents;
- setting priorities for recovery;
- healing trauma;
- jobs;
- strategic role of the city;
- abandoned apartments and houses;
- integration of industrial areas into the city fabric;
- environmental situation.
The Big City Lab team focused on the quality of life: rebuilding residential neighbourhoods, educational, sports and cultural infrastructure, and the historic city centre.
This project is an example of how architecture can help rebuild cities after the war, as the vision was created with respect for Ukrainian cultural heritage and with the needs of the city's residents in mind.
Read more about the vision for the reconstruction of Mariupol after de-occupation here.
