Transformation of cultural landscapes of the Kharkiv urban geosystem under war impact: constructive-geographical approach to assessment and recovery
Abstract
Purpose. To substantiate a constructive-geographical approach to assessing the transformation of cultural landscapes of the Kharkiv urban geosystem under war impact and to define directions for their preservation, optimization and integration into the system of post-war environmentally balanced urban recovery.
Methods. The study uses systemic, comparative-geographical, cartographic, geoinformation, typological and expert-assessment methods.
Results. Cultural landscapes are considered as components of the natural-economic territorial system of the city combining natural basis, anthropogenic development, territorial functions, historical memory, visual-landscape characteristics and safety parameters. It is shown that war impact caused not only physical damage to cultural objects and urban spaces, but also transformation of functions, symbolic meanings, visual integrity, recreational potential and perception of the urban environment. The category “visual-landscape comfort of the urban environment” is proposed as a broader methodological alternative to the narrow term “videoecology”. A system of criteria for assessing the current state of cultural landscapes is developed, including spatial, ecological, cultural, functional, war-transformation, visual-landscape and managerial blocks.
Conclusions. The cultural landscapes of Kharkiv should be considered as a resource of urban resilience, environmental safety, spatial continuity, local identity and post-war recovery. Their assessment should be integrated into GIS monitoring, green infrastructure, heritage protection programmes, memorialization and spatial planning.
Downloads
References
http://luddovk.univer.kharkov.ua/sites/default/files/Papers/Mirishnih.pdf (in Ukrainian)
Miroshnychenko, V. V. (2012). Comfort of the video-ecological environment of the urban geosystem of Kharkiv city: video-ecological aspect. Man and Environment. Issues of Neoecology, (1–2), 92–99. Re-trieved from http://luddovk.univer.kharkov.ua/sites/default/files/Papers/15-12-17.pd (in Ukrainian)
Swanwick, C. (2002). Landscape Character Assessment: Guidance for England and Scotland. The Coun-tryside Agency; Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved from https://digital.nls.uk/pubs/e-monographs/2020/216649977.23.pdf
Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (2013). (3rd ed.). Landscape Institute, & Insti-tute of Environmental Management and Assessment. Routledge. Retrieved from https://www.torbay.gov.uk/media/15326/68-guidelinesforlandscapeandvisualimpactassessment-_3rd-edition_2013.pdf
Lynch, K. (1960). The Image of the City. MIT Press. Retrieved from https://cus.ubt-uni.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kevin-Lynch-The-Image-of-the-City.pdf
Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://www.hse.ru/data/2019/03/04/1196348207/%5BRachel_Kaplan,_Stephen_Kaplan%5D_The_Experience_of_(b-ok.xyz).pdf
Ulrich, R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224(4647), 420–421. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.6143402
Hartig, T., Mitchell, R., de Vries, S., & Frumkin, H. (2014). Nature and health. Annual Review of Public Health, 35, 207–228. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182443
Haase, D., Larondelle, N., Andersson, E., et al. (2014). A quantitative review of urban ecosystem ser-vice assessments: concepts, models, and implementation. Ambio, 43(4), 413–433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-014-0504-0
Ahern, J. (2011). From fail-safe to safe-to-fail: Sustainability and resilience in the new urban world. Landscape and Urban Planning, 100(4), 341–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2011.02.021
Meerow, S., Newell, J. P., & Stults, M. (2016). Defining urban resilience: A review. Landscape and Urban Planning, 147, 38–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.11.011
UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (2023). Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. Retrieved from https://whc.unesco.org/en/guidelines/
UNESCO. (2026). Damaged cultural sites in Ukraine verified by UNESCO. Retrieved from https://www.unesco.org/en/ukraine-war/damaged-cultural-sites
Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine. (2025). Due to russian aggression, 1,419 cultural heritage sites and 2,233 cultural infrastructure facilities damaged in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://mincult.gov.ua/en/news/due-to-russian-aggression-1419-cultural-heritage-sites-and-2233-cultural-infrastructure-facilities-damaged-in-ukraine/
World Bank. (2025). Updated Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Needs Assessment Released. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/02/25/updated-ukraine-recovery-and-reconstruction-needs-assessment-released
Norman Foster Foundation. (2024–2025). Kharkiv Masterplan – Ukraine. Retrieved from https://normanfosterfoundation.org/project/kharkiv-masterplan-housing-pilot-project-kharkiv-ukraine-2024-2025/
European Commission. (2021). New European Bauhaus: Beautiful, Sustainable, Together. COM(2021) 573 final. Retrieved from https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/system/files/2021-09/COM%282021%29_573_EN_ACT.pdf
IPCC. (2022). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/
Eurocities. (2024). Sustainable rebuilding of Ukrainian cities: Toolkit. Retrieved from https://monitor.eurocities.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Eurocities_Toolkit_Ukraine_final.pdf
ICOMOS. (2022). Recommendations of the ICOMOS Europe Group on the damage and loss of cultural heritage in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.icomos.org/images/DOCUMENTS/Secretariat/2022/Ukraine/ICOMOS_Europe_Group_recommendations_Ukraine.pdf
UNESCO. (2024). Action Plan for Culture in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://articles.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/fichiers/2024/09/UNESCO%20Action%20Plan%20Culture%20for%20Ukraine%20Recovery%202024.pdf
Oldham, M. (2021). Urban landscapes and climate change: the contribution of Landscape Architects to improve the quality of life. Council of Europe. Retrieved from https://www.iflaeurope.eu/assets/docs/CEP-CDCPP_%282021%29_7E_-_Report_Landscape_Architects.docx%282%29_.pdf
UNDRR. (2024). UNDRR engages with Ukrainian cities at European Urban Resilience Forum. Re-trieved from https://mcr2030.undrr.org/news/undrr-engages-ukrainian-cities-european-urban-resilience-forum
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). (2023). Supporting resilient cities and reconstruction in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.giz.de/en/projects/strengthening-urban-resilience-areas-supply-infrastructure-and-housing-ukraine
Human Rights Watch. (2024). Destroying Cultural Heritage: Explosive Weapons’ Effects in Armed Conflict and Measures to Improve Protection. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/report/2024/04/18/destroying-cultural-heritage/explosive-weapons-effects-armed-conflict-and
Copyright (c) 2026 А. Н. Некос, В. В. Мірошниченко
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors reserve the right of attribution for the submitted manuscript, while transferring to the Journal the right to publish the article under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). This license allows free distribution of the published work under the condition of proper attribution of the original authors and the initial publication source (i.e. the Journal)
Authors have the right to enter into separate agreements for additional non-exclusive distribution of the work in the form it was published in the Journal (such as publishing the article on the institutional website or as a part of a monograph), provided the original publication in this Journal is properly referenced
The Journal allows and encourages online publication of the manuscripts (such as on personal web pages), even when such a manuscript is still under editorial consideration, since it allows for a productive scientific discussion and better citation dynamics (see The Effect of Open Access).
