Modernist peripheries: between mass concepts and individual experiences

Modernist peripheries: between mass concepts and individual experiences

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Natalia Mysak

Center for Urban History

February 7, 2019 /  7.00 pm

National Art Museum of Ukraine (6, Mykhaila Hrushevskoho St, Kyiv)

The massive housing construction appeared as the answer to the acute housing issue that arose after the Second World War in Europe and was associated with the industrial restructuring. A large-scale housing units built in the structure of many cities, and mainly in their peripheries, nowadays still remain an important component of housing fund. However, the quantitative resolution of the late twentieth century housing problem turned into a "qualitative" issue in the 21st century, given the new social challenges and changing lifestyles and cohabitation in the city. The transformation scenarios of built on the similar principles modernist housing units often have radically different development vectors and to a great extent depend on the contexts.

Therefore, it would be considered to talk about the transformation processes of the mass Ukrainian housing areas in a wider European context, and to trace the tension between the mass perceptions and individual experiences of living in these areas. The Sykhiv residential district in Lviv would be described as a special case together with its several public spaces projects, illustrating the tension between narratives together with conflicts and cooperation among the stakeholders.

Natalia Mysak

is an architect and researcher. Since 2017 he has been working at the Center for Urban History of Central and Eastern Europe in Lviv, where her scientific focus lies in architecture and urban environment of the 20th century. She defended her PhD in the field of history and theory of architecture at the Lviv Polytechnic (2017), was a guest researcher at the University of Malmo (2015-2016), conducted an internship at the Technical University of Vienna (2013). Natalya participates in the public spaces’ projects design as part of the Initiative Group 109. Visual art and photography combined with the urban research are also among her spheres of interests. 

Lecture is a part of CANactions Public Program.

Image: Sykhiv, Lviv. Photo by Natalia Mysak