ISSN 2786-4561 (printed)
ISSN 2786-457X (online)

Vol.6.2 (2025). рр. 4-15

Housing regeneration in Ukraine in the light of international experience: a case study of old housing stock in Boyarka

Tsykanov V.

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4174-0522

Gnatiuk O.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1818-2415

Taras Shevchenko National University, Kyiv, Ukraine

https://doi.org/10.17721/2786-4561.2025.6.2.-1/15

Annotation.The article examines the challenges and prospects of regenerating outdated residential areas in Ukraine through the case study of a Soviet-era housing block in Boyarka, a satellite town of Kyiv. The study contextualises the need for housing renewal within broader European post-socialist transformations and classifies international regeneration strategies into four scenarios: do-nothing, downsize, demolish-and-replace, and renovate. Drawing on field research and spatial analysis, the authors identify the physical deterioration, social functions, and informal interventions within the studied neighbourhood. The findings reveal spatial heterogeneity: while the western part of the quarter shows minimal informal changes and stable planning structures, the central and eastern zones exhibit chaotic spatial modifications and greater resident intervention. The paper emphasises the multifunctional role of courtyards, used for transit, recreation, and social interaction, and identifies infrastructural wear, parking shortages, and unmanaged transformations as critical challenges. The proposed regeneration concept is based on the “renovate” strategy, integrating thermal modernisation, ecological enhancement, improved pedestrian and transport infrastructure, and participatory governance. The plan includes zoning by priority intervention, tactical urbanism, and the creation of localized community hubs. The study concludes that sustainable regeneration requires a complex, strategic approach that balances technical, social, ecological, and institutional dimensions, and that Boyarka case may serve as a scalable model for other Ukrainian cities.

Keywords: housing regeneration, post-socialist city, outdated housing development, international experience, tactical urbanism, Boyarka.

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Declaration of the Conflict of Interest