Kaunas Interwar Architecture

Over 20 years it has shaped city‘s identity, Interwar architecture of Kaunas is a unique phenomenon in Europe. It mirrors both Bauhaus style tendencies and unique national, Lithuanian stylistics. Kaunas is one of the few cities in the world that has retained many buildings shaping city‘s character. Labeled as European heritage, the works of architects that formed Kaunas image in the interwar seek to be included in UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2015, Kaunas was included in UNESCO Creative Cities Network in design category.
The video is co-financed from the budget of the project “Lietuvos tarpukario (1918-1940 m.) architektūra” (unique code: 05.4.1-LVPA-K-808-01-0015) in the Operational Programme for EU Structural Funds Investments for 2014-2020.
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Per 20 metų miesto identitetą suformavusi gausi Kauno tarpukario architektūra, jos tanki koncentracija mieste, yra unikalus reiškinys visoje Europoje, tarptautiniame architektūros kontekste atspindintis tiek Bauhaus stiliaus tendencijas, tiek išskirtinę tautinę, lietuviškumo stilistiką. Kaunas – vienas iš nedaugelio miestų pasaulyje, kuriame iki šių dienų išliko daugybė pastatų, formavusių miesto charakterį. Europos paveldo ženklu įvertinti tarpukariu Kauno veidą formavusių architektų darbai siekia patekti ir į UNESCO Pasaulio paveldo sąrašą, o 2015-aisiais miestas tapo UNESCO Kūrybinių miestų tinklo nariu dizaino srityje.
Vaizdo įrašas bendrai finansuojamas iš projekto „Lietuvos tarpukario (1918-1940 m.) architektūra“ (unikalus kodas: 05.4.1-LVPA-K-808-01-0015) lėšų, pagal 2014-2020 metų Europos Sąjungos fondų investicijų veiksmų programą.

[danjohnston]

If i had a spare few hundred million Euros (which is about what it'd take) i'd dedicate it to preserving Kaunas' interwar architecture. In the five years since I was here last, huge progress has been made. I see the fire station is getting some love. Some of the great old apartments along the river west of Acropolis are being refaced. But a ton of the beautiful old ladies are rotting away. It starts with the balconies, moves to the bottom of the walls where water gets between the bricks and the cement, and pretty soon she's looking terminal.

My hometown- Edmonton, Canada - tore down every interesting old building in the 1970s and 80s and built characterless glass boxes. Kaunas has, through a combination of wisdom and coincidence, preserved so much of its character. I'm overjoyed to see the progress you've made, and hope it continues. Best of luck, and blessings on you all.