On the outskirts of Lviv, where until recently there was an empty field, a building has risen that is changing ideas about what modern medical infrastructure should be like. The lightweight wooden structure of the Unbroken prosthetics workshop does not just provide services to veterans and affected civilians – it shows how architecture can simultaneously support people and protect the environment. In its courtyard, snow melts without external energy, rainwater is accumulated on the roof, and 27 trees create shade where nothing grew before. This is a story of how, in a single year, a space can be created that responds to the challenges of today – from the traumas of war to extreme heat.
How new solutions are born
The full-scale invasion of 2022 confronted Ukraine with countless challenges, and one of the most painful was the acute need for prosthetics for veterans and affected civilians. The capacity of St Panteleimon’s Hospital proved insufficient, and so, within the Unbroken ecosystem, the idea of a separate prosthetics workshop was born.
The initiator was Lviv City Council. The city’s chief architect, Anton Kolomieitsev, saw the workshop from the very start as something more than a functional structure. It was to be built with the lightest possible constructions and wooden elements, to fit into the environment as much as possible.
A well-coordinated interdisciplinary team worked on the realisation: architects from Delta Ukraine designed the building, designers from the Municipal Enterprise “Institute of Spatial Development” developed landscape solutions for the site, Ukrainian prosthetics specialists advised on the technological processes, and the construction company 7CI Group brought it all to life.
The architectural part of the project was carried out by DELTA Ukraine, the landscaping by the Municipal Enterprise “Institute of Spatial Development”. The project was implemented with the support of the special EU4ResilientRegions support programme for Ukraine, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, co-financed by the European Union, and thanks to cooperation with GIZ Ukraine. The construction, equipment of the centre and training of prosthetics specialists were valued at €2.4 million – these funds were provided by the German government. The city, for its part, took on the installation of networks and part of the landscaping. In total, the cost of the project was about €2.7 million.
«These were quite tight deadlines for implementing this project, and everything happened very quickly. But thanks to the large interdisciplinary team that worked from all possible sides, it was possible to realise it», — says the project’s chief architect Khrystyna Chornous.
Everything happened very quickly, since the project’s deadlines were limited. But thanks to teamwork, about 90% of what was planned was realised in practically the single year of 2024.
Innovations gathered in one place
Technically, the prosthetics centre is a demonstration of how modern ecological technologies can work as a complex.
Key solutions:
- A lightweight structure of metal frames and CLT panels
- A green roof to accumulate rainwater
- Heat pumps and solar panels for energy independence
- A snow-melting system in the inner courtyard
- 27 trees to shade and cool the area
- A fully barrier-free environment
- Training grounds and recreation areas
The building was erected from metal frames and CLT panels – this made it possible to quickly assemble the structure and preserve its ecological character. A rain garden and a green space with 27 trees and flowering perennials were arranged here, which retain rainwater, cool the area and make the air fresher.
A ZinCo green roof was installed on the roof, which does not just decorate the building – it accumulates rainwater and reduces the load on the city’s storm sewer system. Energy-saving heating is provided by LG heat pumps and EFFI radiant ceiling panels. The inner courtyard is equipped with a snow-melting system that works without additional energy resources.
The whole space was made as green and shaded as possible, so as not to create heat pockets, since this was once a field. Most of the trees were planted on the parking area to create a shaded space and prevent the asphalt from overheating, and the car park itself was integrated into the overall system.
Of course, great attention was paid to the landscaping of the prosthetics centre – the whole area is designed with barrier-free access in mind – there are no obstacles here for people in wheelchairs. In addition to the prosthetics workshop itself, training grounds and recreation areas were arranged on the site – places where veterans can not only receive services but simply be in a comfortable environment.
Climate challenges
The prosthetics centre is designed with the key climate challenges facing Lviv in mind: extreme heat, intense precipitation and the risk of flooding. Every technical solution works to adapt to these threats.
The green roof not only reduces the load on the storm sewer during rain – it also cools the building in summer, reducing the “heat island” effect. The trees on the parking area create natural shade and prevent the heating of the asphalt, which would otherwise accumulate heat and raise the temperature around it.
The building’s energy autonomy – heat pumps and solar panels – makes it resilient to power supply interruptions, which is especially critical in wartime conditions.
«The fact that this building is as self-sufficient as possible and does not require additional external energy resources already makes it more climate-resilient», — the developers emphasise.
A space that inspires
The impact of the prosthetics centre extends far beyond technical indicators. For veterans and those affected by the war, it is not just a place where services are provided – it is an environment that supports rehabilitation on all levels.
The centre has become part of the larger Unbroken ecosystem, which includes St Panteleimon’s Hospital, a children’s hospital and municipal housing. A pedestrian route is now being developed that will connect all these facilities, and the prosthetics workshop will be its final point.
Although the centre is on the outskirts of the city, where there is no residential development, after the pedestrian route is created the area will become more accessible to the community. The barrier-free environment, green landscape and recreation areas make this place attractive not only to patients but to everyone looking for a comfortable space in the fresh air.
Experience worth adopting
The team advises other communities planning similar solutions to look at such projects comprehensively. The key point is interdisciplinarity. Architects, landscape designers, engineers, medical specialists – all must work together from the very start – helping to create these solutions and implement them correctly.
It is also important to understand the economics of the matter.
«Perhaps at the construction stage these are slightly more expensive solutions, but in the long term they will give a better result», — says Khrystyna Chornous.
The Unbroken prosthetics centre has become an example of how Ukraine, even in wartime conditions, is able to create innovative solutions that meet the most modern global standards. It is a building that not only heals bodies – it shows the way to a climate-resilient future for the whole country.