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The first works in the preparation of the necessary documents for the inclusion of the modernist architecture of Kaunas in the UNESCO World Heritage List began in 2016. Such an application can only be submitted by the state and must be signed by the Minister of Culture of the country.
“I am sincerely glad that today we have in our hands this solid application, which we can already call the victory of our entire country.
The process that took several years allowed us to take a look at the unique architecture of Kaunas modernism, to highlight it as a particularly significant value, to stimulate a greater public interest not only in Kaunas, but also throughout Lithuania.
This result would not have been possible without the leadership of the Kaunas city municipality, without constant dialogue with the local community and cultural organizations. I believe that these efforts will be crowned by a favorable decision and the modernist architecture of Kaunas will become part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, ”said Culture Minister Simonas Kairys.
Photo by Liudo Masio Simonas Kairys
Professor Marija Drėmaitė, head of the Vilnius University Faculty of History, who prepared the application, says that its evaluation may take until 2023, as the pandemic limits the possibility of traveling: “It will depend on how quickly the international experts can evaluate application. They must come to the place, meet with professionals, communities, authorities. It’s not just about evaluating the venue, it’s also about interacting with people. “
Urban heritage consists of two parts
The nomination file “Modern Kaunas: Architecture of Optism, 1919-1939” is a complete 500-page publication.
“The process itself has of course been very long and therefore beneficial, as each country that is a member of the UNESCO Convention applying for the World Heritage List has enough time to self-assess what it has and what it has. offers.
This is a responsible decision, as the party must commit to preserving the outstanding universal value that the site and the site are worth when requested ”. 15 minutes M.Drėmaitė said.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Marija Drėmaitė
According to M.Drėmaitė, the preparation of the application started in 2016, the application to the preliminary list was prepared in 2017, and then the full application was an important moment for researchers, organizers, city officials, heritage conservationists: “ to understand what is through an object, what process, what is a nomination, an object. Because both the limits and the concepts of whether there is only one list of buildings have changed. Now the so-called urban landscape is presented. The urban heritage area consists of two parts: Naujamiestis and Žaliakalnis. The process is long, but very useful – for the self-assessment itself – what is the modernism of Kaunas ”.
The territory of value consists of Naujamiestis (three thematic zones: central (administrative), residential and industrial) and Žaliakalnis (five thematic zones: garden city (Circle of thought), Kaukas district, Perkūnas district, Ąžuolynas park with infrastructure Sports and Weapons Board of the Research Laboratory of the Ministry of National Defense (current Kaunas University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry).
The nomination provided covers construction in 1919-1939
M.Drėmaitė emphasized that we are not talking about individual objects or buildings, but the whole, but the whole is the strong side of Kaunas modernism.
The nomination includes buildings from the period 1919-1939, when Kaunas was the temporary capital.
“And that temporary capital status was sudden, unexpected, because no one planned for Kaunas to be the capital. When the government had to suddenly move to Kaunas in January 1919, everyone thought they would stay for a short time, which took 20 years. During that time, a European city suitable for a new nation-state had to be approached and built. This is the main idea of the application: that it is a European modernist city that has undergone an extremely rapid and abundant transformation of the layer modernist.
And after the First World War, when the great empires collapsed, many new states arose in Europe, which had to create new capitals, and all chose modernism as their architectural language. This allowed us to get rid of the imperial experiences, creating a modern image so as not to look like more provincial imperial cities, ”said the historian.
Does the city have a chance?
Does Kaunas have a chance? This is probably the most common question for applicants. According to M.Drėmaitė, the answer to this question also depends on the desire of Kaunas residents to preserve the modernist layer of the city.
“How much do you want to preserve, emphasize, highlight? When many cities were modernized in the interwar period, this layer of Kaunas remained authentic and is probably the best in Kaunas. In such a compact area there is a high concentration of modernist buildings.
As much as city residents, government, heritage specialists, investors, businesses, want to preserve, highlight, nurture this layer, there will be an opportunity. Upon arrival, UNESCO experts will analyze both the degree of survival and the desire to preserve. Even, I would say, a commitment to preservation, ”said M. Drėmaitė.
According to the historian, the preparation of the application and the path that has been taken during this time in terms of publicity, understanding, knowledge of history, the urban stratum of the past is in itself very useful.
“The research and papers that are included in the 500-page archive can be a very good inventory of the city, done in 2020,” said M. Drėmaitė.
Kaunas Modernism: The Most Impressive Examples of Interwar Architecture
Not just a privilege, but a great responsibility
Viltė Migonytė-Petrulienė, curator of the Kaunas – European Capital of Culture 2022 program, says that if Kaunas received recognition from UNESCO, it would be a great opportunity to strengthen the awareness of the city and the country and become an inspiring 21st century. example of heritage protection.
“On the one hand, the interwar period left an exceptional mark on the city, which gives Kaunas a unique character and spirit, but on the other hand, we are not the only city in the world that can be called modernist.
This means that, if successful, Kaunas would have the opportunity to represent the modernist city as a unique cultural, social and, of course, architectural phenomenon of the 20th century on an international scale. This is not only a great privilege, but also a responsibility.
By nurturing a modernist city as a heritage of buildings, streets, natural features, and ultimately functions inherited from the past, the community will have to discover a recipe for maintaining physical authenticity while being a 21st century city.
The legacy will have to be perceived not only as a historical value, but also as an inspiration to build a quality, sustainable and socially sensitive future for the city. “Kaunas 2022 strongly supports the aspiration to receive a nomination, we wish him success and we have no doubt that he will contribute to the overall goals of the Kaunas 2022” Modernism for the future “program, said V. Migonytė-Petrulienė.
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