Planning in Wartime. A Blueprint for the Mykolaiv Masterplan

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has brought into sharp focus the human tragedy and profound disruption caused by a protracted war. Among the cities affected, Mykolaiv—located in southwestern Ukraine—has undergone significant and dramatic transformations, resulting in conditions radically different from those of the pre-conflict period. In this context, reflections on future scenarios by local actors and civil society offer a sense of hope, envisioning the city’s reconstruction and devel-opment as a cathartic process. This book presents the approaches developed during the pioneering co-design process for the Mykolaiv Concept Masterplan, established under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) through the UN4UkrainianCities programme. By proposing forward-looking visions that tran-scend the conflict and imagining a “different” future in which Mykolaiv becomes even more livable and dynamic than before, the Blueprint Masterplan addresses the uncertainties of post-conflict reconstruction. It employs scenario-based plan-ning and pilot projects to navigate the complex temporal and spatial legacies of war. Drawing on demographic projections, urban ecosystem analysis, accessibility assessments, cultural heritage protection, stakeholder engagement strategies, and urban policy design, this experimental approach offers valuable insights into the future of war-affected urban environments.