It The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a humanitarian catastrophe like none seen in Europe since World War II. Russian forces have targeted civilians in Ukraine, deliberately destroying cities and dislocating large numbers. At the time of writing, it’s not clear how long the fighting will continue, but what is certain is that the Ukrainian national government and city mayors are already planning to rebuild their cities in 2023. Prioritizing cultural heritage restoration and preservation will be the key to successful reconstruction.
There are many examples around the globe of successful cities that have rebuilt their physical infrastructure after war. The 1995 rebuilding of a iconic bridge from the 16th century that linked communities with different cultural heritage and identities was an example of this. As a symbol of reconciliation, they chose to rebuild the bridge over their homes. Restoration was a lengthy and difficult process that required divers to retrieve the riverbed stones. In 2004, the bridge finally was open. This is nearly nine years after the conflict ended. Today, it remains an iconic symbol for reconciliation.
Timbuktu in Mali was devastated by a conflict that broke out in 2012. Its reconstruction efforts a year later focused on rebuilding the destroyed mausoleums and the restoration of damaged manuscripts, both symbols of the city’s ancient culture and key to its identity. The decision-making was influenced by local communities, with the workers being trained in traditional building methods in order to protect the city’s heritage.
Medellin was once the capital city of Colombia. It is also known for being one of the most violent cities in the world. The process included the creation of libraries, cultural amenities and safe public spaces and cultural open places in marginalized areas. It also involved investments in public art such as murals and sculptures. The Urban Land Institute, an international nonprofit, named it the most innovative global city in 2013. It was judged on the basis of human capital, technology and culture.
In 2023, cities like Sana’a and Aden in Yemen, and Mosul in Iraq, will also continue to rebuild after years of protracted conflict. Restoration projects are already ongoing, centered around the reconstruction of historical sites which are central to the identity of its diverse religious communities. In Mosul, for example, early rebuilding efforts under the UNESCO-led Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative prioritized the reconstruction of the Al-Nuri mosque and its iconic Al-Hadba minaret, followed by the reconstruction of the Al Tahera and Al Saa’a churches. Although these projects involve international organizations and architectural competitions, they also focus around community engagement, as reflected in the winning design for the Al-Hadba Minaret, titled “Courtyards Dialogue,” which will integrate a series of open public courtyards with its restored historical architecture.
Although it may seem counterintuitive that restoration of cultural heritage sites should be prioritized over urban infrastructure and housing, it is crucial to place culture and identity at the heart of rebuilding planning in order to revive communities devastated by long-term wars. We will witness plans being developed by communities and cities in Ukraine to achieve this goal by 2023.
