This positive news story has been inspired by one of the world’s most tragic situations: the war in Ukraine.

“We in Ukraine are becoming a pilot site for diverse sustainable pilots, experiments and innovations. We have to leapfrog and build a society, buildings and processes that are inclusive, that are beautiful and that are sustainable. That’s our vision.” Roman Pushko

Rebuilding Ukraine safely, sustainably and swiftly – courtesy of S3RoU

A consortium of individuals, universities and entities in Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands has come together to create a solution that will not only help rebuild Ukraine but could be used in other places that have been affected by wars or extreme weather events.

In layperson’s terms, rubble from the war in Ukraine will go through processes so it can be used to rebuild Ukraine swiftly, safely and sustainably. Discover more about the consortium who are involved in this rebuilding Ukraine project.

Rebuilding Uktraine S3 University of Leeds team

The conversation explores the innovative S3 project, which aims at sustainable reconstruction in Ukraine, focusing on the circular economy, community involvement, and the importance of decentralisation.

Experts discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the project, emphasising the need for collaboration and inclusivity in rebuilding efforts. The discussion highlights the potential legacy of the project in shaping future construction practices and addressing the impacts of conflict and disaster.

“Concrete is made up of cement, sand, gravel and water – and we can theoretically get them all back. My vision is to decentralise it, prove it can work, and show people – through real demonstrations – that this is doable.” Professor Theodore Hanein

Rebuilding Ukraine S3RoU consortium

• You’re a civil engineer, architect, urban planner or contractor interested in circular materials and real-world pilots.

• You’re working on post-conflict or post-disaster reconstruction and want scalable, community-centred models.

• You’re engaged in climate, energy or development policy and want to understand how embodied carbon and ci...