The review of the V International Festival of Architecture and Arts “VEZHA” 2025 in Lviv demonstrates a shift in the focus of architectural discussion from the global to the domestic context and interaction of Ukraine’s regions.
The festival will take place on 23-25 May in Lviv, bringing together architects, artists, designers, urbanists and government officials. This year’s theme is “We are 25”, which emphasises the importance of each region of Ukraine in the architectural process. “We have deliberately shifted the focus from representing Ukrainian architects on the international stage to a conversation within the professional community,” explains festival curator Angelina Efimenko. The programme includes lectures, workshops, performances, and discussions that emphasise the need for interregional cooperation.
The first day at the Powder Tower will open with discussions by young architects about the future of the profession and the creation of a sustainable network. Participants will hear lectures on tactical urbanism – short-term, low-cost urban interventions that contribute to long-term change. Architect Yulia Shemchuk and landscape architect Dmytro Verkholyak will create a green installation representing 25 regions. The day will culminate in a public conversation about the creation of war memorials: “What could be the new forms of memorials created during the war?” asks the moderator Anna Kyriy.
The second day will cover five locations and will serve as a platform for viewing contemporary architecture in Lviv and new educational spaces. The Skansen will host a presentation of a mobile stage created by students – a symbol of youth participation in shaping their professional future. Lectures by Italian architects Massimiliano Tita and Damiano Capuzzo will focus on the experience of post-war reconstruction: “Ukraine in Europe / Europe in Ukraine”. The day will end with a festive party where architecture will be combined with culture, music and traditional crafts.
The third day at Svirzh Castle will bring together art, theatre, fashion and reflections on national identity. Expositions of Ukrainian artists, fashion performances and the Skresla performance form a multifaceted story about continuity and memory. The culmination will be The Elements, a mapping project by Polish artist Alec Janicki, which for the first time transforms the castle walls into a dynamic artwork. However, the festival is overshadowed by the legal conflict around the Powder Tower – “We are doing everything we can within the law and expect a fair court decision,” comments Mykola Sheremeta.
The 2025 VEZHA Festival is not only about architecture, but also about restoring horizontal ties in the professional community and searching for forms of memory in times of war.