The Ukrainian Revolution, also known as the Revolution of Dignity, took place when a series of violent events led one after another to overthrow the Ukrainian Government. To mark this nationwide protest, the Revolution of Dignity Museum International Competition was launched with an objective to build a multifunctional space for cultural, educational, and methodological activities, as a symbol for civic sense, democracy, and an active center for the tolerant societies of Europe.
The Architect
Lina Ghotmeh, a humanist architect, who believes “Architecture has this ability to open up questions” has a practice of in-depth historical and materially sensitive design. Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture is a critically acclaimed, ecological, and sustainable design firm that draws inspiration from concerns of the past with a vision of the future.
Her designs are infused with innovations and developed by thorough historical research to turn into an exquisite intervention that evokes your memory and senses. She calls it the “Archeology of The Future” where every new move is drawn from the traces of one’s past.
Lina wanted this museum to be a symbolic representation of the civil society emerging from the fire of the revolution, drawn as a prolongation of the streets of Ukraine that embraced the people during their revolution. The museum is conceived as a mountain scape that continuously unfolds the various public spaces along with their height. It is a metal volume that rises from the ashes.
Even though this concept was highly appreciated, it was considerately given the third position in the competition due to the lack of an Iconic character and a strong image when seen from afar.
Design Considerations – Concept
Also referred to as the Maidan, the revolution of dignity constituted a worldview shift in the perception of Ukrainian society. During the revolution, protestors, coming up from Maidan square, stormed the hill. This museum building, situated on top of the hill symbolizes the crucial moment of the storm, it creates a concept of the walkable building. Several ramps of varied widths wrap around the building forming a path to reach the terrace which provides a view of the Maidan square.
Apart from the reflective view back to the maidan square, the terrace also provides a great view over the city center and green hills in the east. After reaching the terrace, the visitors can continue their walk into the building, led through a diverse range of exhibition spaces laid beautifully one above another, complementing and contrasting the built form on their way back to the street level.
This idea was highly appreciated, that the museum looks and works like a mountain, it invites visitors onto a spiraling path that takes you to the very top of the building offering a continuation of various views, it allowed visitors to take possession of the building, provides an outdoor space for installations and also acts as an interactive space for before and after the museum visit.
A Vertical and Porous Micro-City?
A micro-city is an unusually small city-like environment. It is an innovative concept which offers a mix of complementary functions, reduces mobility needs, and contributes strongly to being sustainable. Since Lina’s firm works and believes very firmly in creating environmental and sustainable designs, this project derives its aesthetics from its close relationship to nature. The structure being multifunctional for various activities whilst meeting the needs of a museum makes it check all points to be called a microcity.
Vertical and Porous are adjectives that define the character of the building, its attempt to look and behave like a mountain, allows it to superpose public spaces vertically at multiple levels while making sure that the exhibition spaces are porous, unfolding like a thread drawn from the ground. Standing tall at a height of 23.5 meters, it lifts the ground providing the citizens a moment to relive and dominate back their city, Kiev.
The museum acts as a reminder of the strength the people of Kiev had, it is a memorial of all lost and the wars fought. This museum marks the existence of the Revolution of Dignity and fulfills its objective of being a symbol of civic sense, democracy, and tolerant society.
Lina successfully delivered to this project with an active take on the concerns of the past with a vision of the future. The structure is designed to create a sense of belongingness, to leave a mark and at the end of the day, it does.
References
- Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture (2017-2018). Museum of Revolution of Dignity in Kiev. [Online]. Available at: https://www.linaghotmeh.com/en/museum-of-revolution-of-dignity-in-kiev.html [Accessed 5 Sept 2021].
- Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture (2021). Biography. [Online]. Available at: https://www.linaghotmeh.com/en/about/ [Accessed 5 Sept 2021].
- Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture (2021). Archaeology of the Future. [Online]. Available at: https://www.linaghotmeh.com/en/archeologie-du-futur.html [Accessed 5 Sept 2021].
- Bustler. Top three entries of the revolution of dignity museum competition in Kiev [Online]. Available at: https://bustler.net/news/6669/the-top-three-entries-of-the-revolution-of-dignity-museum-competition-in-kiev [Accessed 5 Sept 2021].
- By Shivani Chaudhary (2021). Architects of Developing Nations: Lina Ghotmeh – Archaeologist of the Future. [Online]. Available at: https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/know-your-architects/a656-architects-of-developing-nations-lina-ghotmeh-archeologist-of-the-future/.[Accessed 5 Sept 2021].
