The plan for rebuilding Ukraine, initiated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and confirmed by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at various meetings held in both Italy and Kiev, is entering the implementation stage.
On January 12, during a meeting with Mayor Trukhanov in Odessa, UNESCO Director-General in Kyiv Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi announced a tranche of 500,000 euros provided by the Italian government for the restoration of the Orthodox Transfiguration Cathedral. . This is the first allocation of funds to a program that envisages the reconstruction of many historical buildings in the Black Sea port city.
In order to better understand the planning guidelines of the Italian government, we invited architect Stefano Boeri, President of the Milan Triennale, who organized the conference “Institute for the Reconstruction of Ukraine” on October 31, 2023. I interviewed him.
What are the main steps of this Institute of Reconstruction of Ukraine? What role will the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Culture, the Triennale and the MAXXI Foundation play?
The Italian government developed the idea that Italy could play a real patronage role in the rebuilding of Odessa, a special city that embraces cultures and religions from all over the world (133 countries and peoples of all faiths). I let it happen. The proposal has already received a positive response from Kiev authorities. The Italian government has therefore collaborated with the Milan Triennale and the MAXXI Foundation to bring together the best expertise in the field of restoration and renovation of buildings of immense historical and architectural value, such as the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odessa. .
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This led to my first visit to Odessa on September 6th and 7th, which I attended together with Alessandro Giulli, President of MAXXI. Davide La Cecilia, Special Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. Ambassador Pier Francesco Zazo. Chiara Detzi Baldeski, Liaison Officer of the Kyiv UNESCO Secretariat. We had the opportunity to meet with local authorities and survey the damage site with local and UNESCO technicians. The reconstruction project will begin with restoration work on the cathedral, followed by restoration work on more than 50 buildings of significant architectural value that were damaged by Russian bombing.
On October 31, 2023, the Triennale and MAXXI will hold the first public meeting of the Institute for the Reconstruction of Ukraine at the Triennale, with the participation of representatives of the Italian and Ukrainian political circles (such as Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Affairs Antonio Tajani) was held. Cooperation; Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italian Minister of Culture, Rostislav Karandyev, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, etc.), designers, architectural studios and organizations, especially UNESCO and UNECE, are already involved in the rebuilding of the country. Masu.
The second public meeting of the Institute for Reconstruction of Ukraine will be held at MAXXI in May 2024, where discussions will continue among all parties involved in contributing to the reconstruction. Finally, the first cycle of the Institute’s activities will conclude with a conference in Kiev. There, the foundations are laid for a more advanced stage of cooperation and the effectiveness of the plans and developed cooperation hypotheses are verified.
During your conference in Milan, you quoted Churchill’s words, “We give form to our homes as they can give form to our lives,” and you emphasized that buildings can be used in social contexts. We emphasized the role they play. How does this concept correspond to Italy’s efforts to revive Ukrainian cities?
Today, as the war continues, it is very important to think about how to rebuild Ukrainian cities. Winston Churchill, speaking in the House of Lords during the difficult weeks of the Nazi bombing of London, was able to sum up in a few words the hopes and aspirations of an entire nation. Then they shape us… We give shape to our homes, and our homes give shape to our lives. ” In these words, we can still today find the courage and strength of social, spatial, spiritual and environmental recovery. Regenerative reconstruction for Ukraine’s post-war revitalization. Odessa, Kiev, Lviv and other cities reborn after the war are not only the same cities we knew before the Russian invasion, but even better cities in a better country, even more special and welcoming. It has the potential to become an open and cosmopolitan city. , is very rich in its tradition and architecture. It is because of this vision, this reconstruction project, the idea of a city that embodies in stone the values of openness and freedom to the world, that we have initiated precise actions to support the regeneration of the city of Odesa.
Milan Conference (from left to right): Alessandro Giuli (President of MAXXI), Davide La Cecilia (Ambassador), Elena Buscemi (President of Milan City Council), Antonio Tajani (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Gennaro Sangiuliano (Minister of Culture) ), Attilio Fontana (President of Lombardy), Carla Morogallo (General Director of the Triennale), Stefano Boeri (President of the Triennale).Photo: Ugo Poletti
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ communiqué mentions both the Italian Patronage of Odesa and the European Hub for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. Are these concepts connected or are they two separate paths?
Italian patronage of Odesa and the European hub for the reconstruction of Ukraine are two closely related aspects. The Italian government expressed the idea that Italy could play a real patronage role in the rebuilding of Odessa, considering that historically Italy has played a leading role in the protection and protection of cultural heritage around the world. developed. Additionally, the city of Odesa was founded primarily by Italians in the late 1700s, not to mention the presence of a highly influential Italian community in the city.
In doing so, all key actors in this initiative will need to build bridges through international cooperation. This whole project requires a cultural foreign policy. Networking with other European and international organizations supporting the rebuilding of Ukrainian cities is a fundamental part of this daunting effort, and Italian expertise in the field of restoration and architecture can be integrated into processes such as UNESCO and UNECE. Connect with all the international stakeholders involved to have a broader and more effective impact.
When we talk about the reconstruction of Ukraine, do you feel some kind of coldness on the part of the Italian operators, given the ongoing situation? Why is it so important to start working in Ukraine now, rather than waiting for the end of the war?
How can we discuss rebuilding cities, public spaces, historic monuments, architecture, and buildings damaged or destroyed by constant bombing while a dramatic war continues? I’ve been asked several times if this is possible. Our answer, the answer given by the world’s liberal democracies and their political and cultural institutions, is very simple. Designing the rebuilding of urban and community spaces is more than just another way to continue championing a cause. and hope for a country that is unjustly attacked. It is more than just a way to imagine a new future for the thousands of people today forced into armed resistance to Russian aggression. It’s not just about trying to carry on with a normal life under the threat of bombs.
Today, as the war continues, thinking about how to rebuild Ukraine’s cities has far greater implications. As I said before, we are driving the courage and strength of our social, spatial, spiritual and environmental recovery. A regenerative rebuilding so that Odessa, Kiev, Lviv and other cities emerge once again as even better cities than before, even more special, welcoming, open and cosmopolitan, rich in tradition and architecture. will be done.