Vlasne Misto is an autonomous city for 47,000 residents in the suburbs of Kyiv. The construction began in 2021. KUDIN architects is a co-author of this ambitious project. The first completed building is the Information Center — a space where visitors can learn more about the concept and future appearance of the city.
Located on the edge of the future development, the site is separated from the main territory by a small ravine. The building is positioned on a slope so that the primary interior space opens onto views of the emerging city. According to the brief, it must accommodate office premises and a compact exhibition center designed to present the concept and development of the future city.
The main mission of the project is to reveal and communicate the idea of the new city as fully as possible. However, being located on the perimeter of the development and at a considerable distance from the main construction zone, it offers limited direct visibility of the building process. Therefore, we proposed an open staircase leading to an accessible rooftop, as well as a viewing platform elevated above the roof level. From there, visitors can overlook almost the entire construction area. In addition, the rooftop was intended to feature a map of the entire future city. The interior layout includes a large hall, two small offices and service rooms. The models of future buildings were installed along the glazed façade in the shared space, so they could be seen against their real locations in the city.
Construction was initially planned to be completed in the shortest possible timeframe, as public interest in the project turned out to be very high. A steel frame and CLT panels were chosen as the main structural elements — a combination that made it possible to meet the ambitious schedule. Construction began in 2021, but later was halted by the full-scale Russian invasion. By that time, the foundations had already been laid and the steel frame had been installed. It survived both active combat and occupation. Only in 2024 the decision was made to resume and complete the project. Due to disrupted logistics, the CLT panels had to be replaced with SIP panels. The façade finishes use exclusively natural materials: glass, wood, and slate.