The undiscovered modernist periphery of Kaunas: the exhibition “Nationwide and Trendy” opens | Tradition

The buildings constructed between the wars, aptly named “structure of optimism” by architectural historian Marija Drėmaitė, mirror the prevailing temper at the moment. These world processes is also seen in Kudirka Naumiescie, particularly within the twentieth century. within the 4th decade.

“We wished to take a look at how completely different concepts, completely different actors and their initiatives have been realized in, as an instance, a periphery like Naumiestis. The exhibition will reveal how completely this border city responds to the context of what occurred elsewhere in Lithuania. Right here, by the structure and sure symbols, you possibly can see the good processes,” says Aurimas Kanapkis, educator of the Lithuanian Nationwide Museum, who curated the exhibition.

The city is situated on the border of the previous German Empire, so the intense cultural alternate that occurred on this place for a number of hundred years was mirrored not solely within the social or financial fields, but in addition within the structure. The turning level was the interwar Lithuanian college of structure. With the assistance of contemporary types of structure, the initiative of the Lithuanian intelligentsia in Kudirka Naumiestis aimed to assemble a nationwide narrative, and a seek for a nationwide fashion occurred.

Essentially the most expressive buildings

The massive adjustments in Kudirkas Naumiescie began with the first college of Vincos Kudirkas. It has turn into a shiny city accent of Kudirka Naumieštis, marking a brand new course of structure – modernism.

“In 1932, when the varsity was constructed, it was one of the crucial trendy buildings in Suvalki. It’s attention-grabbing that the trail of the varsity constructing went by a big visible transformation from the primary drawings to the commencement. The varsity was deliberate to be in-built brick, which was already trendy, however the architectural particulars of the constructing within the unique drawings nonetheless present the standard historic stylistics utilized to consultant buildings. Later, the clear, strict types attribute of modernist structure can already be seen within the drawings,” says A. Kanapkis.

The structure of the varsity displays the attribute options of that interval: the nationwide symbolism is represented by Vytis on the pediment, the phrases of the Nationwide Anthem inside, and tulips painted on the partitions. The inner premises are tailored for twin functions – the corridor with a built-in sliding partition can be utilized for lessons, occasions and sports activities.

“The varsity had a variety of superior amenities for that interval: central heating, water provide, sewerage and a neighborhood sewage remedy system. For this goal, sedimentation wells have been used for the primary time. Through the college’s opening ceremony, the engineer who designed the system, with a view to present how nicely the varsity’s sewage discharged into the river is cleaned, took water from the ultimate sedimentation nicely to the attending minister of schooling and different contributors of the ceremony, drank it himself and instructed that others strive it…” – reveals A. Kanapkis .

One other necessary spotlight of modernist structure is round 1938. the brick home of the German academics Artūrs and Lidija Gelmboldas was constructed, its kind is much like the villas of Žaliakalnis in Kaunas.

“It was essentially the most trendy residential home in Kudirka Naumieście – spacious, shiny, conveniently deliberate. On its first ground, there was a pharmacy and a laboratory, and on the second ground, the academics Gelmboldas lived. On the second ground, subsequent to the kitchen, there was a specifically designed room for a maid,” says A. Kanapkis.

The surviving buildings from the Forties in Kudirka Naumiestis not solely have their very own historical past, but in addition bear witness to main adjustments within the society of that point. Not solely structure was modernized, but in addition individuals’s lives. Modernity is completely mirrored by parts similar to masonry, bolstered concrete and electrical energy.

In response to the curator, the modernity is complemented by the bolstered concrete bridge over Šešupė: within the composition of its railings, makes an attempt to create a nationwide fashion with tulip motifs will also be seen. After the Šešupė dam, Naumieście and its environment started to obtain a steady provide of electrical energy, so the city grew to become not solely a brick city, but in addition electrified.

Unrealized tasks: huge plans, restricted alternatives

twentieth century The imaginative and prescient of the city deliberate for Kudirka’s Naumiestis within the 4th decade mirrored the notion of modernity at the moment – a clear, hygienic, inexperienced and nationwide metropolis. Streets have been planted with bushes, consultant areas have been created available in the market sq. to form and strengthen nationalism.

Because the curator of the exhibition notes, there was lots of enthusiasm, however because of the lack of funds, not all of the deliberate tasks have been carried out, and a number of the carried out ones didn’t survive – they have been destroyed throughout the Second World Battle and the Soviet period.

An important and undoubtedly essentially the most putting modernist constructing of the twentieth century. On the finish of the Forties, it was to turn into the Home of the Nation. This constructing would have been essentially the most distinguished practical, ideological and architectural component representing the interwar cultural coverage. The undertaking of the Home of the Nation clearly exhibits the prevailing architectural developments – pure geometric shapes, notably reasonable decor, hidden roof; all this was to offer the constructing a contemporary look.

“This home of tradition, trendy not solely in its look, but in addition in its goal, with a cinema, lodge, vacationer middle, museum, needed to turn into a counterweight and a consultant pearl for vacationers coming from Germany, satisfied that Lithuania is a cultural land. Nevertheless, because of the lack of funds and the Second World Battle, this undertaking remained solely within the exhibited drawings”, reveals A. Kanapkis.

Modernism within the areas – (un)found?

When finding out the structure of modernism, it turns into apparent that a big a part of such buildings, particularly within the areas, have misplaced their architectural worth resulting from completely different causes that existed in numerous durations. With out realizing their worth, they have been typically rebuilt and even demolished.

Through the Soviet period, efforts have been made to adapt them to completely different functions than initially deliberate, to alter the volumes and decor. The Second World Battle additionally contributed to this, throughout which a variety of buildings, particularly on the border, have been broken by bombings or explosions. After the battle, efforts have been made to easily rebuild them, typically with out taking note of the preservation of the structure, however in an effort to adapt it to the strictly prescribed communist ideology.

“The period of Eurorepairs that handed not so way back additionally left its mark. In all probability few individuals have been and possibly did not actually perceive the lasting worth of sure particulars. This resulted in some architectural or ornamental parts being destroyed and hidden. Once more, on this case, the small particulars and home windows, which give the constructing lots of character, have been essentially the most affected,” says A. Kanapkis. In his opinion, the financial scenario of Lithuania contributed to this to a big extent, which didn’t at all times enable to dedicate sufficient consideration and funds, that are value primarily saving and researching objects of very excessive architectural and inventive worth.

Director Normal of the Lithuanian Nationwide Museum dr. Rūta Kačkutė, talking concerning the relevance of the exhibition, factors out that city and architectural options inform concerning the imaginative and prescient of earlier generations for the longer term: “The surviving buildings of this era within the cities of the areas give a particular allure to the general city image, if solely we all know methods to learn them. They have been designed and constructed with the hope of a brand new, long-lived and, above all, trendy state. We want the wave of curiosity in modernism that arose in Kaunas to flood smaller cities as nicely, thereby serving to communities to turn into conscious of and nurture their uniqueness, develop tourism and current themselves within the broader context of Lithuania. The case of Kudirka Naumiestis offered within the exhibition completely reveals this and units an instance”.

The exhibition “Nationwide and Trendy: Manifestations of Modernism in Kudirkos Naumiestis” within the department of the Lithuanian Nationwide Museum within the Vincos Kudirkas Museum (V. Kudirkos str. 29, Kudirkos Naumiestis, Šakių district) opens in 2024. on June 29.