Lviv North Test Planning: First Workshop Launches Collaborative Design Phase

On 22–23 November, the City of Lviv and the Swiss Network with Ukraine (SNU), with support of the City and Canton of Zürich held the first workshop of the Lviv North Test Planning process. Five interdisciplinary teams—pairing Western European with Ukrainian offices—gathered in Lviv to explore the 690-hectare district and present initial ideas and questions for its long-term transformation.

Lviv North faces increasing development pressure, fragmented land ownership, and outdated regulatory plans. Yet it also holds extraordinary opportunities: extensive municipal land reserves, significant natural landscapes, and proximity to the UNBROKEN rehabilitation ecosystem.

To address this complexity, the partners have chosen a Swiss-style Test Planning procedure—a collaborative, non-competitive method designed for challenging urban areas where consensus must be built before formal planning begins. Working in parallel, teams compare scenarios, clarify priorities, and refine proposals through continuous feedback, cross-team exchange, and stakeholder engagement. The process is guided by an independent committee co-chaired by Kees Christiaanse and Anton Kolomieitsev.

The second workshop will take place in March 2026, with public participation planned for spring. Concluding recommendations are expected in July 2026