The PRANA team attended the 5th Architectural and Construction Forum of Zakarpattia — ArchForum, held on June 4 in Uzhhorod.

This year’s theme — “Architecture of Zakarpattia’s Value: Resilient, Energy-Efficient and Human-Centred Spaces of the Future”.

The event brought together architects, designers, developers, builders, business representatives and local authorities to discuss the future of architecture, energy efficiency, regional development and modern approaches to creating comfortable living environments.

Forum speakers included:

Maria Bobryk — Architect, entrepreneur and specialist with years of experience in design. During her presentation, Maria shared practical case studies from her work, project implementation experience and her vision of modern approaches to architecture. Her portfolio includes public catering establishments, individual residential homes, townhouses, low-rise apartment buildings, libraries, shopping centres and other facilities of various types.

Slava Semen — architect, head of The One Architects Lab. He offered an insightful perspective on how not only the people around us shape who we are, but also the physical environment we live in. Spaces are capable of changing us, influencing our mood, habits and daily life.

Dmytro Antoniuk — architect, candidate of architecture, associate professor at the Department of Architectural Design, NAOMA. During his presentation, Dmytro shared his vision for the strategic development of Ukrainian regions and large-scale projects that could significantly transform certain parts of the country in the coming years. Examples included new recreational complexes in Yaremche and an ambitious project to create a new meso-city near Kyiv. Particularly resonant was the idea that people have started dreaming again today — and that big dreams and bold ideas are what drive the emergence of new cities, spaces and architectural solutions.

Oleh Borshovsky — Chief Architect of Uzhhorod — spoke about how the city collaborates with architects to preserve its authenticity while moving in step with contemporary trends.

Roman Antonov — lead design engineer, CEO of Ankon Project Group. During his presentation, Roman shared a practical case study of the full reconstruction of the Old Continent hotel in Uzhhorod — the very venue where the forum took place.

He paid particular attention to the building’s energy efficiency, modern engineering solutions and the challenges the team faced when integrating ventilation systems into an already existing structure. He also spoke about the specifics of designing and implementing engineering networks in hotel properties, where guest comfort and the performance of all systems must work as a single unified mechanism.

It was fascinating to see a real-world example of how modern engineering solutions and quality design can breathe new life into historic buildings and adapt them to contemporary standards of comfort and energy efficiency.

Mykhailo Habrel — Director of the Research and Design Centre for Geo-Urbanism and Planning. In his presentation titled “The Tourism That Doesn’t Appear on the Master Plan: How Cities Plan Objects, Not Experiences”, Mykhailo highlighted a key challenge in modern urban planning — communities often focus on creating individual facilities while paying insufficient attention to shaping a holistic experience for residents and visitors.

The talk addressed the idea that the tourist appeal of a territory depends not only on the availability of hotels, restaurants or individual architectural landmarks. Far more important are well-planned routes, public spaces, landscapes, logistics and interaction between communities.

Special emphasis was placed on the role of spatial planning as a tool for regional development — one capable of shaping not just the built environment, but also the impressions, emotions and experiences of people who visit the area.

Natalia Mashkarinets — Chief Architect of Baranynska community. Natalia shared her experience in community development and approaches to creating a modern, comfortable and harmonious environment for residents to live, work and rest. Particularly resonant was the idea that architecture is, above all, about people and the quality of their lives — which is why projects that prioritise comfort, functionality and the long-term development of communities are becoming increasingly important today.

Halyna Syma — co-founder of architectural bureau Mytusko Syma. During the forum, Halyna shared her vision of contemporary architecture and the role of the architect in creating spaces that not only serve functional purposes but also shape the quality of people’s lives.

She highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach to design — one that considers not only architectural solutions, but also the context of the place, the needs of future users and the long-term value of the project.

Forum moderator:

Bohdan Hoi — founder of architectural bureau A7 Architect.

We thank the organisers NSAU and DHC Media for the partnership and invitation.