Oksana Bespalova and Vitalina Hlukhodid, students in the Faculty of Construction and Transportation at Sumy National Agrarian University, won the All-Ukrainian Architecture Competition, taking first place. The top prize was awarded to the students, who are enrolled in the “Architecture and Urban Planning” program, for their bold and thought-provoking competition entry, “Museum of the Nation.”
The All-Ukrainian Architecture Competition was established in response to one of the most high-profile cultural challenges facing modern Ukraine—the preservation of a unique archaeological find on Poshtova Square in Kyiv. During excavations there, entire streets, estates, workshops, and port structures from the era of Kievan Rus’ (11th–13th centuries) were uncovered.
The main goal of the competition is to find the best spatial and conceptual solution that will not only preserve the artifacts but also transform them into a vibrant, interactive, and modern cultural and educational center of national significance. The organizers sought to involve young and progressive architects capable of offering a fresh perspective on the memorialization of our history.
Leading Ukrainian architects, urban planners, historians, and representatives of institutions responsible for preserving this area participated in evaluating the projects. Participants had to reconcile complex engineering constraints, the fragility of the archaeological finds, and the demands of Podil’s modern urban environment.
In their project, the SNAU students proposed a concept in which archaeological finds are not separated from the city but become part of its urban space. The historical layer is incorporated into the city tour and remains open to visitors.
“We tried to create a space where history does not exist separately from the city, but becomes an organic part of it and remains accessible to people,” noted Oksana Bespalova.
This victory proves an important point: even while still students, SNAU students are capable of generating brilliant, world-class creative ideas. They do not limit themselves to local tasks but boldly participate in large-scale, nationwide projects aimed at reviving and preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage, establishing themselves as the future elite of Ukrainian architecture.
We sincerely congratulate Oksana, Vitalina, and their academic advisors—Dmytro Boroday, Ph.D. in Architecture and Associate Professor, and Artem Boroday, Ph.D. in Architecture and Associate Professor—on this outstanding achievement! We are proud of them and wish them continued success in new, large-scale projects!
