The prestigious Vilnius district also has its drawbacks: settlers will have to decide

Took revitalizing an abandoned area

The Paupis district is developed by the real estate company Darnu Group. According to its general director Sigita Survilaitė-Mekionienė, the current location of Paupis was known 4 years ago as an urban-industrial territory, which became an abandoned part of the city after the closure of the factory. The area was owned by private companies, from which it was bought by the current Darnu Group.

“We buy lots, buildings, premises in buildings. These transactions took place in 2016. We bought a 5 ha area of ​​Panevėžys Roads, bought another couple of hectares from other companies and abandoned the storage facilities there. Immediately after purchasing the property, we sat down to raise the concept of the project, then the design, and at the end of 2017 the construction of the first three residential neighborhoods began ”, recalls the interlocutor.

A plan was drawn up for what should be on an abandoned industrial site before new hosts are found. The Vilnius City Municipality had prepared a detailed local plan, which foresaw that this area should be attractive for life.

“After our acquisition, a detailed plan has already been prepared, which foresees the purpose of the buildings that will be located here. Our main idea, the main wish was to have a city here in the city. For this area to be alive, it would be bustling from morning to night, and that requires different functions. As a result, we’ve done a lot of work on the features, the facilities, and their purpose. Therefore, a cinema has appeared here, enough commercial premises and services, and soon a market will appear, ”says S. Survilaitė-Mekionienė about the idea.

Today the construction works of 3 houses in the Paupis district have been completed, the installation of the last office space already built is being completed and a market will open its doors soon. It is true that, according to S. Survilaitė-Mekionienė, the works in this new district have not yet finished.

“This fall, we will finish the fourth residential block and focus on the last two remaining blocks, which we plan to complete in the fall of 2022,” says the interviewee.

Vilnius is a protected and important place

However, the development of this settlement also presents certain challenges. Paupys is a conversion project taking place in a particularly sensitive place: Vilnius Old Town, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Therefore, all new architectural solutions must be very thoughtful.

“Vilnius Old Town is protected by UNESCO and therefore, while the detailed plan and conceptual proposals were being prepared, foreign experts were invited to evaluate the planned solutions, whether it would be suitable in Old Town. As for the individual buildings, we have several protected objects in the same Paupis, which have survived, we are starting the renovation works of a building now, its facade is protected. On the other hand, we did not choose that path to restore the old, because we live today and build for future generations, ”says S. Survilaitė-Mekionienė.

According to the interlocutor, the part of Paupis that used to have a factory and is now committed to new projects already belongs to the territory of the Architecture Park. This is the state of those areas of the city that were abandoned, forgotten, formerly industrial sites, but are now being revived and returned to the townspeople. According to S. Survilaitė-Mekionienė, in order to implement the high expectations of the territory, the Paupis neighborhood was designed by 7 architecture studios: That is why we see different solutions “.

Apart from apartment blocks, office buildings and commercial premises, there is no shortage of public spaces in the Paupis district. According to S. Survilaitė-Mekionienė, they are intended for all residents of Vilnius. The playgrounds and other spaces in the courtyards of the apartment buildings are reserved only for residents of the neighborhood, they are locked and only locals have access to them.

Do not forget that the river bank runs along the left bank of the Vilnius. Here a new bicycle lane has been built, sidewalks have been repaired and a bridge has recently been built over the Vilnius River. According to S. Survilaitė-Mekionienė, the public spaces within the neighborhood were built by the property developer, and the bike path that runs along the river was built by the Vilnius municipality.

“It is likely that in the future it will connect the Old Town with Belmont, there is already a municipal project here,” added the interlocutor.

There is a lack of educational institutions

Although the Paupis district can be considered unique, its shortcomings should not be forgotten. One of them: the settlement is located in the center of the city, where the municipality limits the number of parking spaces by installing apartment buildings. S. Survilaitė-Mekionienė ensures that this problem has been resolved.

“In developing this project, we chose a different path: to create more underground parking spaces than required by law, because we wanted the area to be for people, not for cars. We see many new neighborhoods where, saving on parking costs, we see a situation where all the beautiful new architecture is drowned in cars. <...> We did it so that the people who live, work and come here have the opportunity to leave their car ”, says the interlocutor.

Another relevant issue in the new settlements is schools and kindergartens. There is no state school or kindergarten in the Paupis settlement, as well as no state lands in this area to develop public social infrastructure. S. Survilaitė-Mekionienė says that for the time being, Paupis residents can take their children to a private kindergarten, which is at the beginning of the term. Discussions are also taking place with several other nursery operators. However, in any case, the pre-school educational institutions in this settlement will be private. According to S. Survilaitė-Mekionienė, the construction of a school on the territory of Paupis will not be possible due to certain specific requirements for the educational institution.
Mindaugas Pakalnis, the chief architect of the Vilnius City Municipality, says that the municipality did not and does not have an area in Paupis where a public school or kindergarten can be located. However, according to him, there are many educational institutions around the district that parents can take their children to.

“When we plan in the district, we estimate the distances to the nearest educational institutions, and they are sufficient for the districts to live normally. It is not necessary to have a school and not necessarily a kindergarten in the district itself, everything is within the accessibility rays that are perceived and accessible ”, points out M. Pakalnis.

In the Paupis district, in addition to the building protected by the architect’s restored architectural heritage, there is another building that he has been remembering for many years. It is the building of a fur company, the facade of which seems considerably worn. According to Mindaugas Pakalnis, this is a private territory, the Vilnius City Municipality has already approved the aforementioned building conversion project, but so far the works are not ongoing and the Vilnius City Municipality cannot take drastic measures.

“The municipality has already approved the project proposals for the conversion of this building, there were offices and residential buildings, but now there is a delay or lack of funds from the owners themselves. The municipality has enough influence here to force a private individual to manage ”, emphasizes the chief architect of the city.

The Paupis conversion project, which has received worldwide attention, truly adds value to the capital. On the other hand, a young resident who has moved to the area and is planning a family must carefully consider whether he is satisfied with the existing social infrastructure and whether he is willing and able to be part of this architectural park.