Land Art Symposium “Mohrytsia. Borderline Space” is held annually in the village of Mohrytsia, Ukraine. This event is crucial for the development of land art in Ukraine and was initiated by the artist Ana Gidora.
Every summer, Mohrytsia attracts a diverse group of artists, including painters, poets, musicians, dancers, and other creative individuals. Participants come to disconnect from modern life and immerse themselves in creativity, producing art installations, sculptures, and other artworks using environmentally friendly materials that integrate with or extend the natural surroundings.
Mohrytsia is a historic village that has preserved its authenticity, remaining largely unaffected by technological and urban changes. The natural landscape is pristine, especially in the area where festival participants stay. The village is set among forests, hills, and valleys on the banks of the Psel River. Nearby, an abandoned chalk quarry adds a "cosmic" quality to the area.
The festival's future development is guided by two concepts. The first concept resembles the Burning Man model, where participants bring their own supplies (food, camping gear, etc.), which is the current approach. The second concept envisions creating a more comfortable environment for participants and establishing a year-round local art community. To achieve this, a new project is proposed, including: a hostel with work studios for artists, an art gallery, a multi-use center, a meditation center.
Instead of developing a single building for these functions, the project proposes integrating these elements throughout the village, creating a master plan that interacts with both Mogritsa and its natural environment. Rather than constructing a standalone building, the project disperses these functions across the village. This approach transforms the "one-building" concept into a comprehensive master plan where village streets act as "corridors" and the new facilities function as "rooms" within the existing village life.
The project includes the following components:
(1) Art Gallery
(2) Multi-Use Center
(3) Meditation Sphere
(4) Residential Modules
(5) The Way
(1) Art Gallery
(2) Multi-Use Center
(3) Meditation Sphere
(4) Residential Modules
(5) The Way
The Way is a central element of the project, serving as a connective thread between various points. By distributing the buildings throughout the village, participants must traverse distances to move from one point to another. This design encourages walking and exploration, allowing individuals to discover new experiences, people, and places. As they move between locations, participants engage with their surroundings—through sounds, smells, and interactions—enriching their experience and connecting more deeply with the environment.
General plan of the Mohrytsya village.
(1) Art gallery. A new art gallery is situated in a renovated one-story building on the main street, surrounded by rural private houses.
(2) Mixed Use Center. Not far from the abandoned chalk quarry, a new multi-use center has been established in a restored hangar. The center includes a library, classrooms, a conference hall, and a small cafeteria. Part of the building remains open for various artistic events.
(3) Sphere for meditation. A new meditation sphere is situated near the ancient church, in a particularly quiet and tranquil part of the village. The sphere is simple in design, featuring a small aperture at the top that allows sunlight to illuminate the interior, similar to the Pantheon. It provides a space where people can reflect, meditate, or simply enjoy moments of silence.
(4) Modules-residence. The new modules have been constructed a short distance from the village, among the trees near the Psel River. Each module is divided into two sections: an upper, transparent portion and a lower, underground area that houses the main functions, including a small bedroom, a kitchen, a shower and toilet, and a work studio.
(5) The Way is a central element of the project, serving as a connective thread between various points. By distributing the buildings throughout the village, participants must traverse distances to move from one point to another. This design encourages walking and exploration, allowing individuals to discover new experiences, people, and places. As they move between locations, participants engage with their surroundings—through sounds, smells, and interactions—enriching their experience and connecting more deeply with the environment.
This scheme illustrates how the new functions are integrated into the existing village life.
During the development of the project, I established the following architectural principles:
(1) Act Delicately
(2) Respect History
(3) Utilize Available Resources
(4) Protect the Environment
(1) Act Delicately
(2) Respect History
(3) Utilize Available Resources
(4) Protect the Environment
