Episode 1. Heritage damage assessment

The first episode opens the series with a question that cannot wait: how do we assess damage to cultural heritage while the war is still ongoing? 
Starting from the scale of destruction in Ukraine, the conversation shows why damage assessment is not a neutral technical task, but a moment where critical decisions are made — about safety, priorities, and what can still be saved.
Italian and Ukrainian experts share how different systems respond to emergencies and what happens when methods developed for earthquakes are applied to wartime damage. The episode moves between practice and context: from standardized assessment forms and coordinated response structures to the very real challenges of blast waves, hidden structural failures, and working in unsafe environments.
Throughout the discussion, heritage appears not as a static object, but as something fragile and living, requiring careful documentation, early conservation, and collaboration across disciplines. This episode sets the tone for the series by showing that the way we assess damage today directly shapes the future of heritage recovery tomorrow.
The results and the work developed by the teams can be explored in more detail via the link: https://www.architektusajunga.lt/ureherit/thematic-activities/ 

Episode 2. Holistic renovation of soviet housing

This episode looks at Soviet-era housing as both a pressing social issue and a challenging form of heritage. In a context of war, displacement, and housing shortages, these neighborhoods remain home to millions of people — yet their physical condition, urban quality, and symbolic meaning are widely debated. The episode asks how renovation can improve living conditions while also rethinking the legacy of Soviet housing in today’s cities.
Through the perspectives of Ruta Leitanaite, Martynas Marozas, and Mykhailo Shevchenko, the discussion explores a holistic approach that connects buildings, public space, infrastructure, and community life. Rather than offering universal solutions, the episode reflects on how renovation strategies need to respond to different urban contexts, and why understanding Soviet-era housing as living heritage matters for sustainable and inclusive recovery.
Explore the teams’ work on the theme of Holistic renovation of soviet housing in Ukraine at the link: https://www.architektusajunga.lt/ureherit/thematic-activities/holistic-renovation-of-soviet-housing-in-ukraine/

Episode 3. Heritage value assessment

What counts as heritage today — and who decides?
This episode looks at heritage value as a process shaped by history, ideology, everyday life, and collective memory. In the context of war and reconstruction, these choices become particularly sensitive, affecting not only what is protected, but also how cities change over time. The focus moves beyond individual monuments to entire urban environments and cultural landscapes understood as living heritage.
Bringing together international research, Ukrainian practice, and architectural education, the discussion addresses the challenges of assessing modernist, Soviet, and industrial heritage. Drawing on Scandinavian assessment approaches and local experience, Henriette Ejstrup, Olena Oliynyk, and Daria Ozhyhanova reflect on intangible values, public perception, and participatory methods — showing how heritage value assessment can inform more grounded and future-oriented recovery.
Further information on the teams’ work within the theme of Heritage Value Assessment is available at the link: https://www.architektusajunga.lt/ureherit/thematic-activities/heritage-value-assessment/

Episode 4. Participatory process: Urban Hacks

Urban Hacks are hands-on, fast-paced events where people come together to rethink places that matter — from abandoned buildings to entire neighborhoods. This episode looks at how the Urban Hack format turns complex and often conflicting urban issues into shared conversations. Using simple tools like maps, sketches, and on-site discussions, participants imagine realistic futures for real places, even in the context of war and displacement.
The episode brings together perspectives from those who design, lead, and host Urban Hacks in Ukraine. Ülar Mark reflects on the format as a neutral space for open dialogue, Mae Köömnemägi explains how Urban Hacks are structured and adapted to local contexts, and Iryna Yakovchuk shares insights from community-led work on the ground. Together, they show how participatory processes can give communities a voice, surface shared priorities, and turn discussion into concrete spatial ideas.
More detailed insights into the teams’ work and developed activities within the theme of Participatory Processes in Heritage Protection: Urban Forums are available at the links: https://www.architektusajunga.lt/ureherit/thematic-activities/participatory-process-in-heritage-protection-urban-forums/ https://www.urbanhack.eu/