There is a desire to stop writing about the war and start thinking about the future. Everyone must speak of this loudly and clearly so that even the enemy hears. Of visions and projects that will come true if we succeed in completely defeating fascist Russia, wresting from it all levers of influence and creating a completely new geopolitical situation in the world. It is in everyone’s interest to end the war as soon as possible, without allowing any compromises with the aggressor. A new, restored Ukraine; a new, different Russia; perhaps new other countries; new alliances; new champions of economic development and public image; a new, different UN. A fiery conflict is the worst of all possible scenarios that would surely ignite into another catastrophe at some point. The fears of a return of Russian terror that have taken root in neighboring countries, the worries about the rising cost of living that prevail in the West, will subside when gas, oil and everything else can be purchased from normal Russia and the other new countries. Everyone will benefit. Hopefully, a plan for Ukraine or a new “Marshall Plan” (European Reconstruction Program), which breathed new life into many countries after World War II, will be developed. Unfortunately, not in the countries that remained under the USSR’s thumb or were left behind and lagged in their further development. The knout must therefore be consigned to the dustbin of history. And then the imagination conjures up not only a very lively Ukraine, where everyone is vying to play a more active role in rebuilding the country, but also the rest of Europe. And not only in Europe.
British architect Norman Foster intends to hire a team of world-leading experts to immediately start working out a master plan for the reconstruction of the city of Kharkiv and its region. A good start.
THE KHARKIV MANIFESTO
I undertake to assemble the best minds with the best planning, architectural, design, and engineering skills in the world to bear on the rebirth of the city of Kharkiv. In the spirit of combining a planetary awareness with local action, I would seek to bring together the top Ukrainian talents with worldwide expertise and advice.
The first step would be a city masterplan linked to the region, with the ambition to combine the most loved and revered heritage from the past with the most desirable and greenest elements of infrastructure and buildings – in other words, to deliver the city of the future now and to plan for its life decades ahead.
At the height of the pandemic, London updated a masterplan, the roots of which was a plan commissioned in the darkest days of World War II. A masterplan is an act of confidence in the future for generations still to come. – Norman Foster, 18th April 2022.
Parādījusies vēlme izbeigt rakstīt par karu, bet domāt par nākotni. Par to jārunā skaļi un visiem, lai dzird arī ienaidnieks. Par vīzijām un projektiem, kas piepildīsies, kad izdosies pilnībā sakaut fašistisko Krieviju, atņemt tai jebkādas ietekmes sviras un radot pasaulē pilnīgi jaunu ģeopolitisko situāciju. Izbeigt karu pēc iespējas ātrāk, nepieļaujot nekādus kompromisus ar agresoru, ir pilnīgi visu interesēs. Jauna, atjaunota Ukraina; jauna, citāda Krievija; varbūt jaunas citas valstis; jaunas alianses; jauni ekonomiskās attīstības un sabiedriskā tēla čempioni; jauns, citāds ANO. Gruzdošs konflikts ir sliktākais scenārijs no visiem iespējamajiem, kas noteikti kaut kad uzliesmotu kārtējā katastrofā. Bailes no Krievijas terora atgriešanās, kas iesakņojušās tās kaimiņvalstīs, bažas par dzīves dārdzības pieaugumu, kas valda rietumos, izplēnēs tad, kad gan gāzi, gan naftu, gan visu pārējo varēs pirkt no normālās Krievijas un citām jaunajām valstīm. Visiem būs izdevīgi. Cerams, ka tiek izstrādāts plāns Ukrainai jeb jaunais “Māršala plāns” (Eiropas atgūšanās programma), kas pēc 2. pasaules kara daudzās valstīs iepūta jaunu dzīvību. Diemžēl ne tajās, kuras palika vai tika atstātas zem PSRS zābaka un strauji atpalika savā attīstībā. Tāpēc zābaks jāizsviež vēstures mēslainē. Un tad iztēle uzbur ne tikai ļoti rosīgu Ukrainu, kurā visi sacenšas par to, lai aktīvāk piedalītos tās atjaunošanā, bet arī visu pārējo Eiropu. Un ne tikai Eiropu.
Britu arhitekts Normans Fosters gatavojas noalgot pasaules vadošo ekspertu komandu, kas nekavējoties sāks izstrādāt Harkivas pilsētas un reģiona rekonstrukcijas ģenerālplānu. Sākumam labi.
THE KHARKIV MANIFESTO
I undertake to assemble the best minds with the best planning, architectural, design, and engineering skills in the world to bear on the rebirth of the city of Kharkiv. In the spirit of combining a planetary awareness with local action, I would seek to bring together the top Ukrainian talents with worldwide expertise and advice.
The first step would be a city masterplan linked to the region, with the ambition to combine the most loved and revered heritage from the past with the most desirable and greenest elements of infrastructure and buildings – in other words, to deliver the city of the future now and to plan for its life decades ahead.
At the height of the pandemic, London updated a masterplan, the roots of which was a plan commissioned in the darkest days of World War II. A masterplan is an act of confidence in the future for generations still to come. – Norman Foster, 18th April 2022.
