MVRDV and Orange Architects have announced a new master plan for a mixed-used district in Kyiv, Ukraine, that's meant to spark a revitalization of the capital’s downtown commercial area.

The design for the NUVO complex calls for a five-building mix of new structures united by a central shared infrastructure and connecting to a planned high-speed rail extension. The plan will increase pedestrianism in the area while tying its development to core principles of sustainable building and green design, the architects say. The project features a palette of local materials to “showcase” the architectural products of manufacturer (and the property's developer) Kovalska and expands on a pre-Russian-invasion master plan from APA Wojcehowski Architects. 

MVRDV’s portion calls for a pair of new buildings to be designed around potential future adaptations. The larger, L-shaped 18-story tower uses flexible floor plans to offer its office tenants maximum configurability, while its smaller, 11-story counterpart can be used for residential, hotel, or commercial purposes. A series of cascading terraces define both structures, which will boast a total of 452,084 square feet of Grade-A office space overall.

“We are humbled and proud to be able to contribute to a project that will play a significant role in Kyiv’s daily life,” MVRDV founding partner Jacob van Rijs says in a project description. “In creating flexible and demountable spaces, we have designed spaces that can more easily respond to society’s changing needs and help ameliorate uncertainty brought on by the ongoing conflict. Workers of all types will have access to high-quality offices, while communal areas including green rooftops enable new connections to be forged while providing new perspectives of this vital city.”

Orange’s contribution entails a stepped-volume building once again beset with outdoor terraces that enhance the biodiversity of the site. The program is divided into two portions, with the uppermost segment offering a hotel and residential component. A network of outdoor verandas adds another layer to the building envelope. The building will be realized at 387,500 square feet using pre-fabricated elements that work to streamline the construction process into two grids.

“We believe in Ukraine, its recovery, and the future of our country in the European Union. We aimed to bring modern European architecture to Ukraine so we could enjoy this aesthetic. [...] NUVO will be the place for those who will join us in recovery who can see the opportunities of the Ukrainian economy as we do,” Kovalska Executive Director Olga Pylypenko said finally.

No construction timelines are available at press time. This is the first project for either firm in the country. MVRDV has previously halted work in Russia over the full-scale February 2022 invasion. The firm’s statement in solidarity with Ukraine can be found here.