The following thesis presents a study developed from my participation in the Norman Foster Foundation Kharkiv Housing Competition, which forms as the basis for the design exploration and theoretical research articulated in this paper. The competition provided an opportunity to investigate the rehabilitation of Soviet-era panel buildings into adaptable, collective living spaces using the methodology of ‘research by design’. This approach, combining design experimentation with theoretical research, facilitates the development of strategies to address the critical challenges such as conflict-driven displacement, socio-demographic shifts, and the urgent need for housing. Guided by this framework, thesis investigates a series of manipulations to Soviet panel buildings, exploring how the rigid remains of an inflexible past can be reconfigured to meet contemporary needs through targeted interventions that foster resilience.