ETH with Ukraine—Exchanging Knowledge for a Sustainable and Resilient Future

The exhibition, ETH with Ukraine—Exchanging Knowledge for a Sustainable and Resilient Future, stands as a milestone presentation, marking the inaugural showcase of collaborative projects developed by members of the Swiss Network with Ukraine. These projects are the result of close collaboration with Ukrainian network members based in Switzerland and partner organisations within Ukraine. The exhibition provides direct and first-hand insight into the past, present, and future of reconstruction in Ukraine, as well as its underlying networks of support in the rest of Europe.

The Swiss Network with Ukraine was initiated at ETH Zürich in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. It operates as a dynamic forum of individuals and organisations hosted by ETH Zürich and supported by the Department of Architecture (D-ARCH) and the Department of  Civil, Environmental, and Geomatics Engineering (D-BAUG). The network aims to link the immediate distress of Ukraine’s war realities with prospects of reconstruction in a spirit of solidarity, sustainability and democracy. With a deliberate emphasis on a decentralised reconstruction effort, the network integrates both short-term relief measures and long-term developmental strategies on local and global scales.

ETH with Ukraine serves as the first major manifestation of these collaborative initiatives, delineating the interdisciplinary and transnational projects that are fuelling ongoing and future reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. Organised around seven thematic clusters mirroring the organisational structure of the Swiss Network with Ukraine, the exhibition encompasses Mapping Ukraine, Refurbishment and Material Supply, IBA Ukraine, Housing and Spatial Planning, Agriculture and Energy, Capacity Building and Education, and the Ukrainian Community and Culture Platform.

Each thematic cluster within the exhibition serves as a curated repository for multimedia presentations, integrating text, drawings, models, videos, interactive installations, and building components. These presentations offer comprehensive insight, encompassing documentation and mapping of wartime destruction and the provision of spatial information. They showcase the impactful work of grassroots initiatives operating in Ukraine and present alternative modes of supplying building materials for wartime rebuilding. Additionally, the exhibition sheds light on scientific research, planning, and organisational frameworks shaping postwar recovery and reconstruction visions for Ukraine.

The exhibition transcends its role as a mere showcase; it emerges as a catalysing force, fostering the identification of synergies, exploring avenues for multiplying positive impacts, and provoking discussions on how academic institutions can complement the work of NGOs, companies, and national and international institutions to respond effectively to the challenges posed by massive destruction. Ultimately, ETH with Ukraine is a testament to the power of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and collective determination in shaping Ukraine’s sustainable and resilient future.

Contributors: Swiss Network with Ukraine, Agricultural Economics and Policy Group*, Berner Fachhochschule, Center For Security Studies*, Center for Spatial Technologies, City of Zurich, Collegium Helveticum, Institute for Building Materials*, Institute for Cartography and Geoinformation*, Institute for Computational Science (UZH), Institute for Geodesy and Photogrammetry*, Institute for Spatial and Landscape Development*, Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture*, Institute of Construction & Infrastructure Management*, Institute of Science, Technology, and Policy*, Institute of Technology in Architecture*, Kharkiv School of Architecture, Kyiv National Economic University, Laboratory of Urbanism (EPFL), Lviv Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Lviv Heritage Bureau, Peace Coalition, Planning of Landscape and Urban Systems*, Royal Agricultural University, Sumy National Agrarian University, Vinnytsia Institute of Urban Development, Ukrainian Association of Students and Academics in Zurich (UASAZ)
*ETH Zurich

Curatorial collective: Jonathan Banz, Gyler Mydyti, Anastasiya Ponomaryova, Adam Przywara, Basil Roth
Supporters and media partners: Früh Immobilien, Huber Fenster AG, MIGN, Studio Feixen