Earlier this week, the Ukraine–Netherlands Business Forum took place in Breda, as the second Lviv Conference, underlining both the urgency of reconstruction and the importance of Ukraine’s European integration.

Orange Architects was present, while Patrick Meijers and Elena Chevtchenko also attended on behalf of Ukraine – the Netherlands Urban Network (UNUN). The presence of Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Taras Kachka, deputy ministers Ilona Havronska and Taras Vysotskyi, and Dutch ministers Sjoerd Wiemer Sjoerdsma and Tom Berendsen reflected the level of the conference.

The conversations during the day made clear how important it is to keep investing in cooperation, exchange of ideas and long-term thinking alongside the work of rebuilding itself. That spirit was tangible throughout the day: urgency, ambition and openness, with a strong sense of momentum and above all a lot of energy from the Ukrainian side itself.

Orange Architects is currently involved in several projects in Ukraine, including PANNO prototype – a 1:1 mockup of a modular building – commissioned by Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) and Nuvo – an innercity development in Kyiv (in collaboration with MVRDV) – commissioned by Kovalska.