The Department of Architecture and Urban Development of the Lviv Regional State Administration is a full partner in the international NEURO-REBUILD project, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe program. For the Lviv region, this exemplifies how European integration occurs in the daily work of specialized departments: through participation in joint research, adherence to EU standards, and the exchange of experience with European partners.

NEURO-REBUILD is being implemented within the framework of the New European Bauhaus initiative. The project brings together 10 partners from Spain, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Belgium, and is coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Madrid. From the Ukrainian side, in addition to the Department, the consortium includes the National Union of Architects of Ukraine and the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture. The project will run for three years, from September 2026 to August 2029.

The aim of the project is to ensure that urban recovery following crises and destruction takes into account people's needs, their psychological state, and their experiences. To achieve this, the partners are combining neuroscience, virtual reality, and digital technologies. Kyiv, the island of La Palma in Spain, and Belfast have been selected as pilot areas. Digital twins will be created for these locations, allowing residents to virtually "walk through" various design solutions while researchers assess their reactions. The outcomes will include a digital platform, recommendations for architects and urban planners, as well as public policy proposals.

Last week, a kick-off meeting for the participants took place at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Representatives of the Department discussed the project's core objectives, research methodology, and the specifics of collecting and analyzing data on people's emotional states, particularly in the context of traumatic experiences and changes in the urban environment. Special attention was given to applying these findings to the recovery of Ukrainian cities.

"Participation in NEURO-REBUILD provides the Lviv region with the opportunity not only to join European research but also to apply its findings in practice. It also provides experience in managing an EU grant according to European financial management and reporting rules, which strengthens our readiness to work with European funds. Crucially, we will be able to implement the principles of the New European Bauhaus-sustainability, quality, and inclusivity of the urban environment into regional urban planning practices, while also developing professional ties with European universities and research institutions. All of this will help develop modern approaches to the recovery of Ukrainian cities, keeping people's needs at the forefront," noted Olena Vasylko, Director of the Department of Architecture and Urban Development of the Lviv Regional State Administration.