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Kanishka Naresh Singh

Block-Z-Hata

Theme: Resilience · Tradition · Modularity · Energy Efficiency

Bloky-Z-Hata was developed as part of the Norman Foster Foundation’s Kharkiv Housing Challenge 2024, focusing on reimagining housing solutions for North Saltivka one of the most heavily affected residential districts in Kharkiv. The project bridges Ukrainian vernacular tradition with modern modular construction, honouring cultural memory while responding to urgent post-war reconstruction needs.

Group Members: Devakshi Jaggi & Kanishka Naresh Singh

(04)
Kharkiv, Ukraine
Research on Space Planning and Design
2024

The site analysis focused on understanding the built fabric of North Saltivka, where most residential structures are prefabricated concrete panel buildings with load-bearing concrete walls spanning 3–6 metres, prefabricated floor panels, welded steel joints, and basements set on 10-metre piles used as plant rooms.

Fire resistance standards follow REI-120 for nine-storey blocks and REI-150 for sixteen-storey ones. A key part of the study centred on Block 86, a Soviet-era Khrushchyovka with reinforced concrete walls and slabs but poor thermal performance; research showed that with proper insulation upgrades, heating demand could be reduced by nearly 80%, establishing energy efficiency as a core direction for the proposal. The climatic context of Saltivka, a cold-temperate Dfa climate with an annual average temperature of 8.8°C, around 610 mm of rainfall, and warm summers from late June to September further guided the thermal and material strategies of the system.

The site analysis focused on understanding the built fabric of North Saltivka, where most residential structures are prefabricated concrete panel buildings with load-bearing concrete walls spanning 3–6 metres, prefabricated floor panels, welded steel joints, and basements set on 10-metre piles used as plant rooms. Fire resistance standards follow REI-120 for nine-storey blocks and REI-150 for sixteen-storey ones. A key part of the study centred on Block 86, a Soviet-era Khrushchyovka with reinforced concrete walls and slabs but poor thermal performance; research showed that with proper insulation upgrades, heating demand could be reduced by nearly 80%, establishing energy efficiency as a core direction for the proposal. The climatic context of Saltivka, a cold-temperate Dfa climate with an annual average temperature of 8.8°C, around 610 mm of rainfall, and warm summers from late June to September further guided the thermal and material strategies of the system.

“A home is not walls it is the courage to keep beginning again.”
— Oksana Zabuzhko

“A home is not walls it is the courage to keep beginning again.” — Oksana Zabuzhko

Symbol of Resilience
Ukrainians have shown resilience throughout history, preserving their identity despite invasions and oppression. Hata, meaning house, built with local materials, symbolizes this spirit, offering comfort and continuity. The design draws inspiration from the Ukranian hata, incorporating traditional elements to honor Ukraine's enduring culture and resourcefulness.

Symbol of Resilience Ukrainians have shown resilience throughout history, preserving their identity despite invasions and oppression. Hata, meaning house, built with local materials, symbolizes this spirit, offering comfort and continuity. The design draws inspiration from the Ukranian hata, incorporating traditional elements to honor Ukraine's enduring culture and resourcefulness.

Inspired by traditional Ukrainian Hata joinery, the modular system combines compactness, adaptability, and sustainability. It can reinforce or replace damaged structures, supports diverse architectural forms, and allows easy transport and quick assembly. Merging craftsmanship with modern technology, it offers a versatile, eco-friendly solution for resilient and efficient construction.

To enhance energy efficiency, we propose incorporating thermal breaks using polyurethane or aerogel inserts at all joint connections and vacuum-sealing insulation during manufacturing. The window design features a timber or highquality PVC frame with multi-chamber thermal breaks, triple glazing with low-E coatings, krypton or argon gas fill, warm-edge spacers, and multi-layer silicone gaskets for airtightness. These measures will reduce U-values to 0.12– 0.25 for floor slabs and 0.144–0.22 for external walls, optimizing insulation and minimizing heating demands.

Bloky Z Hata ultimately emerges as a fusion of heritage and innovation, an adaptive modular housing system that honours tradition while offering future-ready resilience, serving not only as a technical solution but as an emotional commitment to rebuilding lives, identity and community.

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