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www.kamane.lt, according to announcement of LAU, Kaunas Branch2008 11 02
Alfredas Paulauskas
Funeral home in Kaunas "Sorrow"
Nida quay. Photo from Archiforma.lt
Trakai house of culture. Photo from Archiforma.lt
The destruction of valuable buildings of architecture of Soviet times continues in Kaunas – their authors have already been evaluated by the title of Knight of Architecture in the years of Lithuania‘s independence already. Merkurijus shopping centre of Algimantas Sprindys has already been doomed.
Now the time has come for the funeral home "Sorrow" designed by the Knight of Architecture Alfredas Paulauskas located at Jonavos Str. 220.
Kaunas Branch of the Lithuanian Architects‘ Union sent letters to state culture heritage institutions asking to stop the unmotivated intention to pull down the complex “Sorrow“.
There is no information about answers yet.
P.S. Nida quay and Trakai house of culture are among tens of buildings designed by A.Paulauskas exceptional by originality in Lithuania.
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Kaunas Branch of the Lithuanian Architects‘ Union states in the letter that it has been informed about plans to pull down buildings at the address Jonavos Str. 220, Kaunas, as they are not in the Register of Cultural Values and are not located in the territory of any culture heritage object.
Kaunas Branch of the Lithuanian Architects‘ Union has recommended several times to Kaunas territorial branch of Culture Heritage Department and the Lithuanian Architects’ Union to evaluate the funeral home designed by the architect A.Paulauskas and to include it into the Register of Immovable Culture Values of Buildings, Complexes and Ensembles of the Soviet Period.
The funeral home designed by Alfredas Paulauskas was constructed in 1978 and is the only building in Kaunas and one of four complexes of such type in Lithuania that has certain aesthetic value (criterion of rarity).
Plastic, sculptural composition of the building is one of the most expressive examples of expression of late Soviet modernism in Kaunas and Lithuania (criteria of uniqueness and distinctiveness). The building has retained architectural authenticity and integrity.
Out of 21 buildings to be included into heritage protection zones, five buildings have already disappeared in two years in Kaunas. Not a single authentic building of another architect, Knight of Architecture, Algimantas Sprindys has survived.
Thus, Kaunas Branch of the Lithuanian Architects’ Union asks to give no permit for the destruction of this building until professionals have evaluated the architectural and stylistic peculiarities of it. It is requested in the letter to solve the question of announcing the complex immovable property and to include it into the Register of Cultural Values quickly. The letter is signed by the Chairman of Kaunas Branch of the Lithuanian Architects’ Union Dalius Šarakauskas.
