On 15-16 May, the Ukrainian Construction Congress was held in Kyiv, with the key topic of rebuilding Ukraine in a barrier-free and inclusive manner. As part of the concept of rebuilding Ukraine, the Steel Dream Bakhmut concept plan was presented. Iryna Nastych summarised the concept in an article prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.
The Metinvest-SMC team, in cooperation with representatives of the Bakhmut City Territorial Community, developed a project to rebuild the Yubileiny district, which is part of the residential part of Bakhmut.
Steel Dream Bakhmut was developed for the destroyed Yubileiny district of 17,000 people, and public discussions are now underway with citizens across Ukraine. The team is currently engaged in a dialogue with international foundations and organizations about their involvement in the project. The presentation of the project will also be presented in Warsaw this fall.
This district of Bakhmut was built in the second half of the twentieth century. 17 thousand people lived here before the full-scale invasion. Residential buildings were mostly five- and nine-story buildings and the entire quarter had two schools, two kindergartens, a cinema, and a general store. Unfortunately, the neighbourhood has suffered devastating destruction and, according to experts, it is impossible to rebuild it in its original form. Therefore, the authors of the project assumed that the remains of the former buildings would be dismantled before the start of new construction.
The concept is based on the principle of Build Back Better, i.e. to rebuild better than before. The authors of the project note that the main goal is not just to rebuild the neighbourhood, but to create conditions to bring residents back to the city, and attract business and tourists. The future quarter should provide all basic needs within 15 minutes of access, and be as safe, autonomous, and inclusive as possible.
Key parameters of the project
- Area of the quarter: 86.93 hectares
- Total building area: 23.27 hectares, of which residential: 16.2 hectares, commercial: 7.07 ha
- Area of greenery: 47.64 hectares
- Population: 17,066 people
- Population density: 196 people/ha
- Number of storeys of buildings: 1-6 floors
- Total number of parking spaces: 3782
- Social infrastructure: 2 schools, 3 kindergartens
- Additional infrastructure: shopping centres, community centre, hotel
- Security infrastructure: 316 vaults, warning system, autonomy measures
- Construction technologies: steel frame, steel platform, steel module
The main square will become the centre of attraction for the neighbourhood. To attract young people, the concept developers propose to place a building for a higher education institution in the district, as well as create a modern library that will be accessible to citizens.
To meet the needs of shopping and entertainment, two symmetrical buildings will be placed in the central part of the district, which will house various shops, grocery supermarkets, showrooms, children's rooms, a cinema, food courts, etc.
An office centre will be located next to the central square, which will include coworking spaces, halls for general meetings, training, forums, and office space for business. Along the alley leading to the main square will be a zone of restaurants and pubs with outdoor summer areas designed to develop and popularize Ukrainian cuisine.
Along the perimeter of the district, at the central square, there will be places for fairs, which will give impetus to the development of trade, crafts, and local agriculture. Outside of the residential development, it is proposed to arrange a skate park for leisure and sports, which can be turned into a slide for winter entertainment in winter. The authors of the concept also included a sports space for all residents: there is fitness equipment for all ages, genders, sports categories, and people with disabilities. The sports complex with a swimming pool, which is planned to be built in the central part of the quarter, will be focused not only on sports development but also on rehabilitation activities.
Part of the general promenade, which will run along the perimeter of the district, will be allocated for quiet recreation. Theme parks for different age groups will be created for children.
The authors of the concept propose to restore the monument to the Liberators of Donbas, which was located on the territory of this district, and to supplement it with an alley in memory of the brigades and units that defended and liberated the city, and a memorial complex. The alley project is being discussed at public hearings held by local authorities with Bakhmut residents who now live in different cities of Ukraine. The memory alley will turn into a park of memories.
After the victory, Bakhmut will become a tourist destination, and people will come here to feel the energy of the fortress city and to remember their brothers and relatives who gave their lives defending Bakhmut. A hotel with a total area of 6,450 square meters will be built for guests of the city.
Special attention is paid to security infrastructure. The project envisages the arrangement of several shelter formats: municipal shelters (separate shelters at schools and kindergartens, external shelters around the perimeter of the neighbourhood, and internal shelters evenly distributed within residential buildings). The shelters will be designed for permanent residence and will have several levels.
Indestructibility points will be set up on the territory of the neighbourhood, and residents will be provided with alternative sources of electricity and water.
The neighbourhood's own management office will allow for effective management, implementation of the development strategy and attraction of investments. It will provide territory maintenance, security, and video surveillance.
The residents will have their own app where they can find news about fairs and events, pay for utilities, submit a request for repairs, etc.
“We want to be ready to cooperate with donors. But if you don't have a project and an estimate, no one will talk to you. We have already done a lot of work - we understand how much time we need for demining, rubble removal and recycling of construction waste, restoration of infrastructure and basic services. We have also been working for a year to develop a project to restore the Yuvileiny neighbourhood. We are currently holding public discussions with the Bakhmut community centres in different cities of Ukraine. We are collecting suggestions from citizens,” said Oleksandr Marchenko, Deputy Mayor of Bakhmut.
