The details are even from Italy
“The renovation of the town hall took about 3 months. But this is completely normal – a representative city building requires precise care. As soon as we started the work, we saw that the basements of the building are much more humid. A new drainage project was immediately prepared.
As the work progressed, we discovered unexpected discoveries – an old cornice of the facade wall. Architects and heritage conservationists discussed it for a longer time. Basically, finishing works remain. If there are no unforeseen problems and weather conditions do not hinder, we expect the finish at the end of this year”, said Tadas Metelionis, director of Kaunas City Municipality Administration, in a press release of the Kaunas City Municipality.
Kaunas town hall will be decorated with details brought even from Italy. Handmade tiles were ordered for the ground floor and basement rooms. The first shipment is currently in production and is expected to arrive in November, with the rest arriving at the end of the year.
“The most time-consuming repair work has already been completed. Contractors installed heating, ventilation, electrical and fire protection systems. A shaft for the elevator has been built, which will connect all floors of the building and the basement”, added Artūras Andriuška, head of the General Affairs Department of the Kaunas Municipality.
The renovation of the facade of the town hall and the installation of decorative lighting are also underway here as a separate project. These works are planned to be completed according to the finish of the interior repairs.
It will change beyond recognition
After the major renovation, the building named “white swan” will not only preserve its authenticity, but will also become much more versatile.
The renovation works aim to bring the shed, basement and other spaces previously inaccessible to visitors into use. They will be complexly combined for different functions – museum exposition, city representation, marriage ceremonies, tourist information center and even a cozy cafe.
“We challenged the architects to propose a project in which new solutions and elements, together with the future exposition, would form a coherent and modern whole, highlighting the authentic qualities of the building. We want the town hall to become a space where Kaunas residents and city guests will not only be inspired to think about Kaunas, but also want to get to know, experience and create this city more closely,” says Gabrielius Suziedėlis, director of the Kaunas City Museum.
Both the building and the future exhibition of the museum will be adapted to visitors with various needs, ensuring as accessible and comfortable a visit to the town hall as possible.
One of the most important changes is the possibility of convenient access to the building for people with mobility disabilities, moving between floors with the newly installed elevator.
Photo of Kaunas City Municipality/Reviving Kaunas Town Hall
Spaces for a cafe, exhibitions and conferences
According to the project of the architect studio “Processoffice”, a modern exposition of the Kaunas City Museum will be installed in the basement, second floor and tower spaces.
On the first floor, there will be a common information center of the museum and “Kaunas IN” as well as a souvenir shop, a cafe, and a multifunctional space for museum education and conferences.
As usual, marriage registration ceremonies and representative events of the city and the museum will take place in the White Hall on the second floor.
On the second floor, attention is paid to the renovation of rooms and representative halls, the restoration of details and colors, and the removal of insignificant decor elements. It is also equipped with a convenient staircase to the attic.
A completely new pavilion will be located in the attic – a space for changing exhibitions. The solutions of transparent glass and light constructions will allow not only to exhibit works, but at the same time will open to visitors the authentic roof structures of the building erected 480 years ago.
Marriages in the “white swan” – next year
Last February, when the renovation of the town hall began, the civil registration office temporarily moved from the old town to one of the sections of the Kaunas City Museum in Žaliakalni – the house of the brothers Miko and Kipros Petrauskas (31 K.Petrausko str.).
In the 14th century, it became an alternative place for solemn marriage ceremonies on summer Saturdays. Kaunas Castle in the middle.
If everything goes according to plan, both weddings and visitors will return to the “white swan” as early as next year.
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2024-09-26 19:23:22
