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In the publication “Architectural Guide. Palanga ”L. Nekrošius recalled the development of the spa in the post-war period and, among other characteristics, presented the idea of turning Palanga into an urban park, which seemed drowned in the forest.
That is why he is delighted with the “Buildings Speaks” festival of architecture. Palanga ”, during which people will be able to visit 15 different objects with the help of volunteer guides, listen to their stories, learn interesting facts about the buildings and, in some cases, take advantage of the rare opportunity to enter.
According to L. Nekrošius, such an event is important to society not only because of the possibility of satisfying curiosity, but also because of the perception that an ordinary person is as important in the process of creating a city as specialists in this field.
– Why were you interested in the architecture of Palanga?
– My relationship with Palanga is like a multi-stage event.
About 15 years ago I wrote articles about one of the newest objects in Palanga. It was never the resort I wanted to go to on vacation; I chose Neringa for a vacation by the sea. I remember saying this to the then chief architect, Leon Mardos, and he seems to have reacted very personally. He told me to come in winter, when the crowd wouldn’t bother.
I asked. The candid and engaging walk with him around the complex was fatal. We talked a lot, I saw the city differently. Then my opinion changed.
Palanga is a small city with a lot of high quality architecture. I realized that for its size it is an exceptional city in the Lithuanian context.
And some architecture[ekskursijų]A few years later, the foundation began to organize special excursions in different cities, I took the opportunity to negotiate such an event in Palanga – I was researching the architecture of the Soviet era, there was something to do in this city according to my area of interest. Later, at my suggestion, the “Architecture Guide. Palanga ”, although initially it was thought that this city was too small for such a publication.
I am very happy that the “Buildings Speaks” festival has come to Palanga. It deserves so much attention to the architecture of the city.
– What is the uniqueness of the architecture of Palanga? Did you mention that you understood it the first day?
– It is a city created in the second half of the 20th century: at a time when opportunities were limited. Palanga, on the other hand, was like a place where, compared to other cities, there were many more opportunities to experiment. The main architects here not only tolerated such freedom, they also encouraged it.
Basically, three architects: Alfredas Paulauskas, Albinas Čepys and Leonas Mardosas worked with great determination for several decades and were able to create a city that is very interesting from an architectural point of view, welcoming for relaxation, in a way and inspiring.
The difference with other Lithuanian cities of similar size, which are usually quite similar stylistically, also left an impression. And in Palanga, everything is different. I think it was determined by the fact that architects from all over Lithuania and from different institutes worked here. That diversity of opinions, aesthetic-creative diversity and created exclusivity that I found interesting.
By the way, this city is convenient to present the entire history of 20th century architecture, because in a small area you can find different architectural concepts. Perhaps these are not global examples, but examples that can be touched, explored, like an open-air exhibition.
As a result, we once organized a conference with students in Palanga; the city is perfect for that.
– Good material not only for student lectures, but also for public education. What does “The buildings speak” mean?
– The attention of the “Fundación Arquitectura” to the public seems extremely important to me, because a person may think that they have no influence because they are not a specialist in architecture. But really, we are all involved in creating, making decisions about where and how we will live, choosing and choosing the work environment. Therefore, it is very important for a person to understand the quality of architecture.
Naturally, one is always interested in the immediate environment and ongoing processes, but information is not always easy to obtain. Therefore, the public interest call is a positive example. These festivals allow for a broader appearance.
The better a person becomes familiar with it, as an architecture client, the better it will be and the more mature decisions will be made.
It will be a good opportunity for everyone to look at their surroundings from a different angle. Try to understand where it is worth considering preserving authenticity or artistic solutions that reflect a particular era, and where everything can be changed.
– You mentioned that the development of the city was favored by a long period of deliberate planning and how it was affected by the abundance of individual solutions. Have you investigated this aspect or is there a lack of maturity in the process?
– I’m certainly not a supporter of planned economy – I just noticed that at a certain time cities developed according to a certain plan, otherwise it just couldn’t be. Speaking of architectural quality at the time, I wanted to say that the architects who made or participated in the decisions actually achieved very good results under the conditions prevailing at the time.
Now the situation has fundamentally changed, in the last 30 years there have been many and very complex processes not only in Palanga, but also in other cities.
In 1989 the general plan for Palanga was drawn up, and the de facto situation changed even before its approval: the planned economy did not exist, private property appeared, and the laws changed.
The rules of the game have changed. How Palanga has coped with the changes is a separate topic of discussion.
All that is obvious is that at that time Palanga was made up of separate settlements separated by green areas, and now those areas are built. Good or bad: different evaluations.
Palanga’s capacity has always been less than the demand for the number of people who want to live and vacation here. We have a small coastal area and it is possible to consider whether it is currently being exploited in the most valuable way.
In my opinion, not much. At least in a social sense.
– And the city park? Has this idea been implemented or do you think that today we can describe Palanga in this way?
– The central part of the city is certainly possible. Elsewhere, there is an intense fight for strict regulation, a notable commercial interest. This is not a bad thing, after all, businesses come with investments and services that lead to the creation or management of new spaces.
And if we observe that public spaces in Lithuania are managed where the population is decreasing, then the reverse process is taking place in this city: the number of people is growing and the management is not so fast.
However, we must not forget that Palanga must maintain its identity, this is very important. Perhaps that is why some plans are strictly rejected. After all, there were so many that a skyscraper was needed on J. Basanavičius Avenue – its benefits to the city were seriously demonstrated.
Maybe. You just need to know the measure by which to judge. The current Palanga is different, it was created without skyscrapers.
Although it is always possible to discuss the change.
– Palanga Identity – What is it? Is this a city park?
– Palanga – various: from Nemirseta to Būtingė. This description will also fit the identity of certain parties, and you will not call Elijah Quarter that.
– If the future “Language of buildings. Palanga ”to recommend one of the 15 objects to the visitor, what would you advise visiting?
– I would like to see the Palanga Elementary School designed by Gintautas and Irena Likšiai. It is the type of building that often seems strange to a resort guest. But is he.
For me, it is one of the most poetic buildings, despite the poor construction culture of the time (90s), the lack of materials, the lack of funding, when all the energy was used for recreational facilities.
When passing or being in this building, I always remember how the authors of the project describe it, it is Palanga Disneyland, where endless different spaces were conceived: gardens and decorative pools. However, not everything was completed.
There had to be an observatory in the tower, although there is no way to get a telescope, although it is still talked about, the municipality is still looking for ways to finalize the project.
After all, Gintautas Likša had said, perhaps this is the only way for a child to see the Mountains of the Moon.
A school that opens up the vastness of space is a beautiful and inspiring idea. Especially in the context of the Soviet era, when all schools were built according to typical projects. Pragmatism was the only criterion with which the poetry of life was completely incompatible.
For this reason, the Palanga primary school project is very important not only for its originality, but also for its idea. This building has characteristics that we try to implement in modern school buildings: classrooms of different shapes, spaces that promote community, individuality.
