Names and Senses in the City Space. Hackathon on Naming the Space in Rivne

We invite you to take part in a hackathon on naming and revitalizing a historic public space in Rivne.

Every city has spaces whose names exist in several dimensions. Some appear officially, by decision of the community or city authorities. They are recorded in documents, maps, plaques, and memorials. Others are born spontaneously — in conversations, memories, legends, and everyday use of residents. Some retain their original meanings, while others change with people and time. Some names disappear, while others remain, reminding us of the past and making it visible in the modern city. 

How are urban names born? Who creates them, who preserves them, who rethinks them, and how? How do they shape memory and influence our perception of places and the city? These questions will be the starting point for a joint reflection on the naming of the so-called "Yevreyka" space.

The space on Lytovska Street was once the territory of three cemeteries, and later remained empty for a long time, more like a grove than a well-maintained park area in the city. It is a place where the past, present, and future of the city become visible and collide in one space, full of different emotions and meanings. The REHERIT 2.0 project is revitalizing it, and it is not only about physical renovation, but also about a process of joint reflection on how to preserve the memory of the past while remaining in dialogue with the present and future. 

The hackathon will be an open platform for a joint discussion of possible names for the space on Lytovska Street, known among Rivne residents as "Yevreyka". We will be looking for ways in which the name of this place can both reflect its history associated with different communities of the city and open up space for modern meanings and understanding. Together, we will talk about how names are formed and consolidated in urban landscapes, how they can evoke associations or contradictions-but also become a point of dialogue. How names help to transmit the memory and experience of places, create connections between the past, present, and future, and build community through the understanding of urban space.

When: November 29, 2025, Rivne.

Format: two sessions – discussion and practical work in groups, with a coffee break.

To participate, please register here by November 14.

Please note that the number of seats is limited. Selected participants will receive confirmation by November 21.

The event will take place as part of the public program of the "REHERIT 2.0: Common Responsibility for Shared Heritage" project — "Weaving the Heritage". "REHERIT 2.0" is implemented by the Center for Urban History and the Regional Development Center of the PPV Economic Development Agency with the financial support of the European Union.

This publication was created with the financial assistance of the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the partners of the "REHERIT 2.0" project and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.