A client asked us to propose a residential neighborhood on a site on the northeastern border of the village of Podgortsy, located on the Kyiv periphery. The area is popular with residents of Kyiv as a location for a second home. In addition, it has rich natural qualities: various reclamation canals and recreational ponds trendy during summer. However, lowlands soil is challenging for construction. Moreover, the site is isolated by a highway and railroad. Thus, connecting to an existing street network is only possible at very few points that dictate the neighborhood’s design.

We proposed several concepts in our masterplan to address these challenges. Firstly, the diverse functional program was arranged around the central pond to serve as a core for the new neighborhood communality. Second, the commercial infrastructure in our project is supported with areas for temporary events and allows adjustment of the program according to the season. Third, open urban block typology was used for multifamily housing units to mark the boundaries of the communal courtyards while maintaining a direct connection with the surrounding rural landscape. Fourth, motorized traffic is separated from the pedestrian routes. On a local level, active commuting is prioritized, linking places for education, remote work, recreation, and sports. Finally, various building typologies mixing townhouse typologies with apartments address the housing preferences of a broader range of families. Altogether Obriy neighborhood aimed to create an active, closely knitted, diverse community living in nature, having at the same time urban comfort just in front of their doorsteps.