The Patchwork | Kostiantyn Rusiev

Kharkiv is the second most populated city in Ukraine. The main
typology of its residential areas is the so-called micro-districts,
which consist of typical panel houses of the Soviet era. One of these
areas, Northern Saltivka has been suffering significantly this spring
during the massive shelling. Our design solution makes it possible to
quickly restore the residential fabric of the city, create new and
better conditions for those who return to their new-old home. Given
the fact that the entire territory of Ukraine since the mid-1950s has
been built up with residential multi-storey panel houses of the same
series, this experience can be extended to other territories of
Ukraine that have suffered of Russian's aggression.

The idea is to dismantle the damaged parts of the panel structure
after inspection, reinforce it with a metal frame and make an
architectural "patch" of residential modules that will be printed by a
3D printer. The residential module, with a total area of 31.3 m2,
consists of two levels: "adult" and "children's". The "adult" level
includes common areas such as: kitchen, living room, bathroom and work
area. "Children's" area provides 2 working and sleeping places and a
small play area - a secret place. Special attention was paid to
storage systems and furniture transformers.
In the Basement floor, containers for storing large items such as
skis, snowboards, strollers, etc. are designed for each apartment.
Also, we have provided areas for parking and recharging electric
scooters and bicycles.
The roof of the building can be made partially (or completely)
operated by placing compact areas for recreation and sports there.

Why the 3D technology was chosen:
1.Rapidity. It will take days, not weeks, to print the volume. This is
important in a situation where it is necessary to restore the housing
stock destroyed by military operations as quickly as possible.

2.Create complex, diverse architecture. The post-war mass panel
construction of the middle of the last century proved to be
ineffective in creating a sustainable, positive architecture for life.

3.Savings on building materials and logistics. For the construction of
walls and partitions, ready mix is used. The walls erected in this way
outside and inside do not require additional finishing.

4.Save human resource. Lack of labor force caused by the migration
crisis. Many of those who belong to the category of the able-bodied
population will no longer return and continue their lives in a new
place.

5.The opportunity to discover and explore the potential of a 3D
printer in the construction (reconstruction) of multi-storey
buildings.
3D printed houses are popping up all around the globe! Every new
innovation comes to the market with a price that tends to go down over
time. Large concrete 3D printers are no exception. Just as with most
technologies, the prices are dropping as new, better, and more
affordable products are being developed.

6.With the help of a 3D printer, you can create interesting, plastic
volumes that are easily adapted to a specific situation. Filling
randomly, the destroyed areas of typical panel building, this concept
will improve the visual image and aesthetics of the gray monotonous
micro districts of the Soviet era.