May 2024 - December 2024
Situated in the heart of Kyiv, Zhytniy Market Hall is Europe’s largest indoor market. This ambitious project aims to transform the space into a vibrant hub of commerce, culture, and hospitality, even amidst the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical challenges.
Scope of Work
• Collaborated with Colliers’ Ukraine office and local architects to develop the outline concept for the revitalization.
• Created financial projections to support the business case for redevelopment.
• Ensured the plans were forward-thinking, incorporating elements designed to thrive in a post-conflict environment.
Challenges and Inspirations
This project was uniquely inspirational, as it was planned in the context of Ukraine’s ongoing challenges stemming from the Russian invasion. Despite adversity, the resilience and vision of the local team underscored the transformative power of thoughtful urban redevelopment.
Outcomes
• Delivered a robust conceptual framework and financial plan to guide the project’s next phases.
• Contributed to a redevelopment vision that balances historical significance, community impact, and commercial viability.
This to confirm that Ben Rafferty has been working with me on an assignment to consider how the Zhytniy Market in Kyiv can be revitalised. The works started in July 2024 and is almost complete.
The client is Ukraine’s only real estate investment trust (REIT). We were brought in by Colliers Ukraine at their request. The market is a huge Soviet style building, on the site of a market that has existed since Medieval times. It is an impressive building but has had very little investment. It is operational but has high vacancy and is tired.
We have been working with the assistance of local architects called AVR. We have also used the services of UK architects, DV8, who Ben recommended. We have been exploring options for how the market could be laid out and how it could be use and working towards a plan. The strategy is to reposition it as a modern food hall on the ground floor and a modern produce hall on the first floor. Ben has given advice on all elements and done indicative layouts to help the architects. His contribution has been very useful to both myself and the team in Ukraine.
David Geddes - Principal Associate
