Rebuilding and restoring historical architecture (Part II) 2016-10-07
The continuation of the article series on rebuilding and restoring historical architecture. Trakai Castle restoration was not limited to the rebuilding of the brick walls - the research on the surviving frescoes required a more intense supervision. The sources indicate that Trakai Castle interior was a combination of different styles that were prevalent in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Rebuilding and restoring historical architecture (Part I) 2016-09-05
The Venice Charter that supervises the protection of historical monuments defines restoration as a specific operation which aims to preserve and reveal the monument’s aesthetic and historic value; it has to be based on natural material and authentic documents. However, in reality, the work faces many obstacles. In the series of three articles, focusing on royal residences' restoration in Lithuania and the world, we will analyze not only the problems that arise in restoring heritage, but will also discuss the positive examples.
About the orchestration in architecture 2016-08-26
Rūta Barisaitė is a young architect based in Kaunas. After graduating from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, for several years R. Barisaitė worked at the firm of architects G. Natkevičius and Partners and currently she is developing homes for people individually. She describes her generation as the "youngest of those who used to record favorite songs on cassettes and the oldest of those who no longer know Russian language." We talk about memories, contemporary architecture and the ledges of the hometown.
Kaunas Central bookstore is waiting for changes 2016-08-01
Heated debates sparked this spring on the future of the long-existing Kaunas Central bookstore. The concerned part of society was frightened that the bookstore will be destroyed after the planned privatization, just like other public places. While this story is full of political issues, I will try to distance myself from them and to look at the problem from the cultural heritage point of view.
The importance of identity for the city of Kaunas 2016-02-09
Kaunas does not have a strong face. The general public, not the residents of Kaunas or representatives of cultural heritage, often associate Kaunas with Žalgiris basketball team. However, this is not the true identity of the city, which should consist of history, culture and social areas. In recent years, the actions carried out by both Kaunas City Municipality and Architecture and Urban Research Center in respect to Kaunas interwar period modernism contributes to the shaping of the somewhat different image of Kaunas.
Kaunas interwar modernist architecture shone bright in the sky of cultural heritage 2015-08-12
In April of this year, Kaunas was ceremoniously awarded the European Heritage Label after assessment of the application submitted by municipality named "Kaunas of 1919 - 1940." Lithuania has a lot of valuable material cultural heritage but let us see why specifically Kaunas interwar modernist architecture deserves the recognition and what obligations this assessment brings.
The builders of Modern Kaunas 2015-07-30
Kaunas - the provisional capital of the first Republic of Lithuania in the memoirs of contemporaries is full of picturesque epithets, for example, "little Paris", or "little Brussels." This paper will review the people who created the "New Kaunas" because of their work the interwar period architecture today is awarded the Western European Heritage Label. Since it is impossible to write about everyone, I will focus on a several biographies.
Forts "protecting" Kaunas: present and future 2015-05-20
After visiting Kaunas forts, it becomes obvious that Kaunas has a great treasure of heritage. Although Fort was not beneficial during the First World War, if fully arranged now, Kaunas could boldly appear next to European heritage. Not only famous for great interwar architecture, but also as a unique example of military history with its intriguing legends.
Lithuanian Interior - depth, heights and reflections of life 2015-05-05
Interior architect Lina Preišegalavičienė defended her doctoral thesis in 2014 on "The interior of the interwar Lithuania: factors, forms, trends (1918-1940)." Looking at the twenty-fifth anniversary of Lithuanian independence through the point of view of interior design art historian touches upon the lifestyle characteristics - marking the turning points and drawing the curves of the change.
