In conversation with… Ukrainian architect Slava Balbek
07/11/2024
We caught up with architect Slava Balbek to chat about how he got into architecture, his installation in Antarctica and his latest project, a temporary housing system for displaced people.
Slava Balbek is a Ukrainian architect and humanitarian, founder and CEO of Balbek Bureau. The bureau's portfolio features a church-turned-event venue in San Franciso, an award-winning food market in a repurposed military arsenal and an office for Grammarly in Kyiv.
In February 2022, Slava was planning a trip to Antarctica to complete his most remote work, an art installation for the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Base on Galindez Island near Base F, Wordie House, on neighbouring Winter Island.
Unfortunately, the project was put on hold due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but a year later, in 2023, Slava and Dmytro Zinoviev travelled to Galindez island and completed the installation.
We caught up with Slava Balbek to chat about how he got into architecture, his installation in Antarctica and his latest project, a temporary housing system for displaced people.
How did you get into architecture? What was your inspiration?
To be honest, I never intended to become an architect. My elder sister decided to apply to the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, and I just jumped on the bandwagon. Later, though, I realized this really was my calling, so here I am, twenty years later, talking to you about my endeavours in architecture.
Tell us about Home Memories.
Home. Memories is an art installation we designed at the request of Ukraine's National Antarctic Research Center. The project was implemented with the support of the Silpo retail chain and handled by our bureau and the Wonder Workshop.
The installation, intended as a visual treat for the station staff and tourists, had to be easily assembled, resistant to severe weather conditions, and safe for more than 3,500 penguins living on Galindez island.
The Home. Memories installation on on Galindez Island (Slava Balbek)
Envisioning the station as a home away from home for the polar researchers, our team based the project on a composite image of a traditional Ukrainian house. A thin frame around the tank resembles a pencil sketch, as if someone, reminiscing, draws their childhood home.
The installation is accompanied by a mini exposition with souvenirs from Ukraine, including a sample of the UNESCO-listed Kosiv painted ceramics and a lump of coal from the Donetsk region embedded in resin.
Have you visited Antarctica? How did you do your research?
I was lucky to visit Antarctica in February 2023. Since Galindez Island is a whopping 15,000km (9,300mi) away from Kyiv and Ukrainian airspace has been closed to civilian flights, the trip took us over a week.
Dmytro (the Wonder Workshop's head) and I spent two weeks at the Vernadsky research base setting up the installation under strict penguin supervision. Ukrainian polar researchers welcomed our team of two at the station and even allowed us to accompany them on field research expeditions. Who would have thought I would ever get to see the remains of a 700-year-old whale?
Slava and Dmytro in front of their work (Slava Balbek)
How has the war in Ukraine impacted your life and Balbek Bureau?
The war has taken a toll on us all. Some of our teammates have joined the Armed Forces, switching from architecture to artillery and sniping; others have fled the country to protect their families. Each of us has either lost someone to Russian aggression or at least knows the people who did.
Still, Ukraine continues its resistance, and everyone from our community tries to contribute. My bureau now juggles social and commercial projects, and I serve in a volunteer aerial reconnaissance unit.
What project are you proudest of?
RE:Ukraine System is undoubtedly the one I'd like to be remembered for. In March 2022, mere days after Russia had launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, our team started working on a temporary housing system for displaced people. RE:Ukraine Housing sparked a conversation about dignified temporary accommodation for IDPs and became the first project in our series of social initiatives.
RE:Ukraine is a temporary housing system for displaced people (RE:Ukraine)
Please tell us more about RE:Ukraine Villages.
The Russian invasion has already damaged or destroyed more than 200,000 private residential houses in Ukraine. To preserve, at least digitally, Ukrainian rural architecture in all its diversity, our bureau created an online database of regional styles.
RE:Ukraine Villages tool allows users to generate a virtual house in 9 to 12 steps, each presenting a predefined set of components characteristic of a specific region. In the final step, the tool offers a PDF manual with construction, planning, and decoration guidelines.
To identify architectural patterns, our teammates go on expeditions and do open-source research. As of August 2024, the project covers nine Ukrainian regions.
Do you still have a dream destination you haven't visited?
Climbing Mount Everest is still on my bucket list. Hopefully, one day…
What's next for you?
Our team is about to release a movie about the Home. Memories project. The documentary Shipping Memories: to Antarctica and back will be available online with English subtitles. Other than that, we are working on expanding the RE:Ukraine Villages project to more regions and doing our utmost to help Ukraine win.
What luxury item would you take if you were working at Port Lockroy for the season?
I guess I could join Port Lockroy's carpenters to help you with maintenance and conservation, so a hand grip exerciser to train my dexterity could come in handy.
Finally, what’s your favourite species of penguin?
My favourite species of penguin has to be the Adélie. They own this place – and they know it!
If you’d like to stay up to date with Slava and his latest work, please give Balbek Bureau a follow on social media:
- Instagram: @balbekbureau and @balbekus
- Facebook: balbek bureau
- LinkedIn: balbek bureau
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