ŽALGIRIS NATIONAL STADIUM “From the past, following the present going to the future”
Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam
study year 2015-2016 architecture Marije Brans august 2016
committee mentor Gloria Font Landscape - and Architect gloriaun@hotmail.com www.atelierfont.com committee members Dingeman Deijs Architect info@dingemandeijs.nl www.dingemandeijs.nl Micha de Haas Architect micha@michadehaas.nl www.michadehaas.nl
ŽALGIRIS NATIONAL STADIUM Graduation project
‘Then knight attacked knight, armor crushed under the pressure of armor, and swords hit faces. And when the ranks dosed, it was impossible to tell the coward from the brave, the bold from the slow, because all of them were pressed together, as if in some tangle. They changed places or advanced only when the victor took the place of the defeated by throwing down or killing the enemy.�
Jan DĹ‚ugosz, 1470
BITWA POD GRUNWALDEM Battle of Grunwald by Jan Matejko 1878
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Foreword Project discription
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Fasination
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Žalgiris in Memoria Analyses of the master piece History “the Battle of Žalgiris” Definition of Žalgiris
Location area
History of Lithuania Vilnius City aspects Cultural values Cultural haratage Land use Transport systems
Seskinė district Development Architecture Esker Tourist attraction
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The world of Sports World of Sports Olympic Sports Vilnius - Sports Facilitys Generations of stadiums National Stadium - The enturnal construction Veltekta’s Stadium Rules of requirements
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The Project - Žalgiris National Stadium Historical element Landscape element Vitality element Redelevopment Žalgiris National Stadium
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CONTENTS
Redevelopment Šeškinė Kalvos Intergral Habitat | Redevelopment of Akropolis Marathon route Vilnius Quays revive the Naris
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FOREWORD The project
The history of Lithuania got a strong grip on people’s daily lives. Lithuanians of nowadays are very proud of the events from early time of Lithuania, but everyday they are also confronted with the heritage of occupation of the country, which lasted for over 200 years. Nowadays, 25 years after Baltic states became independent, you feel that Lithuania is still in a struggle to find its identity. There are a lot of ways, how Lithuania could get back or re-establish national spirit. One of them goes through sports. Sport was always a place, where Lithuanians kept their freedom, pride and strength, especially during the hard moments in life. Unfortunately, this uniting place, such a national sport center could be, is not existing yet. Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is trying to build a main stadium of the country for the last 30 years. The last attempt to build a multi-use stadium failed in 2010, the same as the first one in 1987, due to economical crisis and corruption. The abandoned skeleton of reinforced concrete structure and wild vegetation are the only things that are left from a dream of a national stadium. Without a doubt, one of the
longest lasting projects in Lithuania’s history is a scar on the hearts of the Lithuanian people. After spending, or more correct, losing ₏78 million, any discussion about the national stadium is like putting salt in an open wound. I believe, that to become independent from unpleasant past and be proud of the glory days, Lithuania needs to realize the dream and finalize the home of national sport. The national stadium will help the country and its people to find the national spirit, to fight for the goals, to unite for better results, to inspire next generations. The new stadium could be not only the symbol of what Lithuanians stand up and fight for. The building could solve a lot of local problems of its surrounding, of Seskine district, as well as become an important connecting part of landscape and urban tissue of Vilnius.
Marije Brans
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2006-2010
IN MEMORIA Stained glass by Artūras Šlipavičius
FASINATION
The artist and musician Artūras Šlipavičius crossed my path a few years ago. I had the privilege to get to know him a little bit better during my trip through Lithuania and he got me inspired by one of his great master pieces out of his live. For his collection, named “In Memoria”, he made an art piece about the 600 year anniversary of the battle of Žalgiris. As later on explained, what the battle is about, the battle has great historical meaning for Lithuania. This glass stained painting is very large and he has trouble exposing it to the public. It came to my understanding that Šlipas creativity expresses itself in many forms and that he is a great artist. Going further into the artwork and what it is about, I found myself intrigued by this story. This historical battle of over 600 years ago is a fascinating topic. I find it strange that there is little done to tell this story. Somehow it did survive by the paintings and artworks that were created based on the battle. By exploring the meaning of Žalgiris even further, it came to my understanding that the name is also used in multiple ways. Nowadays it is more of a symbolic word for concurring the enemy when you ‘go to battle’ or ‘put up a fight’ like in the sports world for instant. Žalgiris, has a meaning for Lithuania that unites the country by its single word.
In Vilnius I came across an abandoned building that was supposed to be a stadium. I was told that this construction was still not completed after many years. The building plans where there from the ’80 but it was never completed. The site location is surrounded by contradictions. On one side there is untouched natural environment and on the other a big unarchitectonical square box for a shopping mall. The site looks disturbed by the shopping mall and the ruin stadium. Also the living district where the location is situated, Seskine, could really use an upgrade. Then again the side has also a lot of potential in becoming a lively new district.
Artūras Šlipavičius
In my graduation year I want to change this district into a nice lively environment for Vilnius. Also I would like to make an integrated plan for the district and renew the old stadium with the power that was shown on the battlefield in Žalgiris.
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Art piece – It is a synthesis of three main kinds of techniques. A painting, sculpture and stained glass in one. This art piece is called “Žalgiris in Memoria” and is part of a bigger collection called In Memoria. This work of art has a shape of a cross, but it is not a religious art-piece. It is not fitting to any church canons and it does not represent any biblical theme.
Battle of Žalgiris In 1410, one of the most important Middle-age battles between Lithuanian-Polish and current Germany took place. Lithuanian-Polish army won the battle. With this battle a long-lasting invasion of Germans to Baltic tribes, as well as Slavic and other Eastern lands was stopped. In the world literature, this battle is called the most important Middleage Europe war battle, which determined the further development (of Europe). It is also called – Battle of Grunwald. LDK (In English LGD) - Lithuanian Grand Duchy - territory was ranged from the Baltic sea till the Black sea at the time. This victory has stopped the German invasion to the East. This is a very important victory for the whole Baltic region.
ŽALGIRIS IN MEMORIA
Explaination by the artist Artūras Šlipavičius
Present
Past
Stained ruby colored glass and mirrors. People will see themselves in the mirrors and be confronted with their own present.
Symbolizes the beheaded. The soldiers that fought and died for the sake of Lithuania.
All work combines overflowing Lithuanian flag colors. The image is 6.50m high by 3.75m wide, in a crossshape. The cross-shape represents the path that soldiers were taking and the choice or outcome that it could have.
Future
Three dimentions of the master piece
Painting the crown. These two human figures are close to each other - the eternal gratitude and love for our past.
The cross Divided into four parts. It is a crossroad, a moment of choice. It is a crossroad of destiny. Destiny of human being is also made of choices. We are traveling as from one crossroad to another. It contains a special meaning of the human heart, it is the crossing of all blood-vessels. There is everything interconnected and sewed together in the world. Threading the needle, unity of the world. The Cross – crossroad – an opportunity to choose – to draw close or move away from happiness… That is why the cross shape was chosen to commemorate this battle for 600 years anniversary.
The cross
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Vytautas, styled “the Great” from the 15th century onwards (c. 1350 – October 27, 1430) was one of the most famous rulers of medieval Lithuania. Vytautas was the ruler (1392–1430) of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which chiefly encompassed the Lithuanians and Ruthenians. He was also the Prince of Hrodna (1370–1382) and the Prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), postulated king of Hussites. In modern Lithuania, Vytautas is revered as a national hero and was an important figure in the national rebirth in the 19th century. The crown painted on the head of Vytautas was what he wore during the battle in 1410. The artist wants to expose “Žalgiris in Memoria” like the crown seen from the top.
Vytautas Didysis
The image of Lithuanian general/military-leader Vytautas painted in the art-work.
LOVE meilė Since 2006, the artist’s oeuvre is dominated by the theme of love - love of woman, love of friend, love of family, love of homeland. Looking to the future means, start seeing and feeling the love.
Analysis of experience
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Analysis of masses
light
life = solid Inside the painting is life, consisting out of good and bad moments. Outside the painting is dead, nothing then emptiness and hollow
ANALYSES OF THE MASTER PIECE
Without darkness you cannot experience the light.
dark dead = hollow
Analysis of color
Color of the painting are the same colors that we find in the lithuanian flag.
yellow = golden fields, sun, light and goodness green = forest, nature, freedom and hope red = courage and the blood spilled in defense od the homeland
Analysis of explanation
Analysis of shape future
future undefined element
past
present changeable element
future - top past - middle present - bottom
future - top past - middle present - bottom
present
past defined element
018 waves = future
victory there is no victory without fighting and losing love
broken pieces = past
2 types of victory 1. You experience victory from losing. You learn and improve.
FOLLOWING FORM, COLOR and SYMBOLS
2. You experience victory from fight. You struggle and win (conquer). to win the fight with yourself. 1+2 = diagram
grid = present
yellow
red and green
lose lesson and inspiration even if you lose you still experience victory
fight anything can happen win or lose hope, passion
black or shadow
Analysis of masses
victory
fight
Without darkness you cannot experience the light.
5. you get victory (the goal)
4. you fight harder (path that leads you there - or process) more passion, more reason triple the effort than before
end
process 3. first lose became real and the feeling doubled or tripled
lose 2. if you do not put enough effort in the fight you lose
fight lose
1. you want to change, you agreed with losing ( the reason)
start
1. lose = to fight for - reason Mirror that confronting you. You agree with losing or losing is a possibility / acceptance Fighting because of the grid contrast / light and dark
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3. lose = wish to fight Losing became reality and the losing feeling is tripled. You saw the way of inspiration for fight you still want to change. The reason and feeling of winning is trippeld. More intense, denst and more contrast. The cross in de grid.
2. fight = without resources Predictable loss factor You did not put enough effort in it. In a way wanting to lose Shattered and broken pieces
5. victory The end goal is reached, the gold. No end, waves are going everywhere and flowing out the lines. Waves of enthousiasme, share the inspiration and happiness
THEORETICAL LEVEL 4. fight = with goal
EMOTIONAL LEVEL
There is no chance of losing, no option to lose. Reality shows that you need to sacrifice, bet everything.
PHYSICAL LEVEL
With strength and tension also heaviness. Contrast of all colors all possible options appear.
Three dimensions of the masterpiece go further. 1. It symbolizes the past, future and present of life and the country. 2. The colors used in the painting tells us about Lithuanian people. The Lithuanian flag colors are based on the country’s traditions. 3. The history of Lithuania. The battles that they have fought on their way to independence. That are now used to inspire people, to stand up and fight by unifying them. Display These sketches are the first thoughts of Artūras Šlipavičius to display his master piece. The master piece seen from the top, creates the crown of Vytautas what he wore during the battle in 1410.
WITHIN THE PAINTING
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Pleace read some of the words of President D. Grybauskaitė at Special Parliamentary Sitting Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way. “Today, as we are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Baltic Way, we cannot forget the road that brought us there, the path that we traversed and how we were then, the things that gave us strength in a struggle which seemed at first glance to be unequal, the values that encouraged and inspired us. The Baltic Way reflects the history of our freedom fights: the battles of Žalgiris and Saulė, the fights at Giedraičiai, the partisan war for independence, the Chronicle of the Catholic Church, the Helsinki Group, the Freedom League, Sąjūdis, the dissident movement, and the silent resistance of everyday freedom-loving people. They gave us strength and confidence to join hands in the Baltic Way. They inspired us - people of many nationalities - to stand up to the brutal and well-armed regime regardless of our religious, social and ethnic belonging. Let us not forget that that that was a time of high political tension when rumors were spread to create fear and threats were circulated to intimidate our aspirations for freedom and independence. But we stood brave and strong. We joined hands in a human chain that linked Vilnius to Tallinn. The world was stunned by our civic courage and by our determination to resist a military power peacefully and democratically. And the power swayed and did not dare to use violence against children,
elderly, and common men and women whose hearts were beating in unison for the same ideals. The Baltic Way brought us strong support from the Western States and Eastern European democracies and eventually it led to the official recognition of the Baltic States. The Baltic Way set an inspiring example for other subjugated nations. Its meaning and significance cannot be over emphasized. It was the victory of freedom over fear, mistrust and aloneness The Baltic Way signifies our past, present and future. For us, it is a moral and spiritual standard of our relationship with the world and ourselves, teaching us never to degrade to petty party, sectional or religious quarrels, particularly in times of difficulty when unity is of supreme importance. The Baltic Way has never been easy. There were and there will be many hindrances on our path. But if we follow it closely and fearlessly, hand in hand and heart to heart, we will emerge victorious. I thank all whose efforts and sacrifice brought us independence and whose commitment defended it and gave it true meaning. I thank all whose work and endeavors have nurtured and continue to nurture freedom. I extend my sincere congratulations to each and every one of you and I wish that you perpetuate the Baltic Way in your hearts a as a symbol of social maturity and consciousness. Let the bond of hearts forged in the Baltic Way be with us forever.”
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Germany
Poland
HISTORY “THE BATTLE OF ŽALGIRIS 1410”
Lithuania
The Battle of Grunwald, fought on July 15th 1410, has a kind of mythical status in the history of not only Poland, but Lithuania and Germany. Called the Battle of Tannenberg by the Germans and the Battle of Žalgiris by the Lithuanians, this clash was decisive moment in the history of the Eastern Europe.
They led their armies into the field and met up with the Teutonic forces under the command of Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen. Each side had tens of thousands of soldiers, when they fought on the plains close to the villages on Grunwald (Grünfelde) and Stębark (Tannenberg) in what is now northern Poland.
The origins of the battle start with the emergence of the Teutonic Knights, a military order made up predominantly of Germans. Although they began in the Holy Land, the order’s activities soon focused on the Baltic region, where they fought crusades against pagan peoples. Throughout the 13th century they campaigned bitterly against the Lithuanians, the last remaining pagan-people in Europe.
The battle lasted about ten hours and early on the Lithuanians were routed. The Teutonic Knights then concentrated their attack on the Polish troops, and almost reached King Jagiello, but the Lithuanian forces returned, perhaps as a result of a deliberate ploy. The Teutonic Knights were trapped and Grand Master von Jungingen and most of their leaders were killed in the battle.
The marriage between the Polish queen Jadwiga and the Lithuanian Grand Duke Jagiello in 1386 created a Polish-Lithuanian Union, and brought about the conversion of the Lithuanians to Christianity. But the Teutonic Order refused to accept the conversion of the Lithuanians and continued the wars – perhaps because they truly believed that their enemies were still pagans, or maybe because they wanted to continue expanding their state on the Baltic coast, centered on the imposing castle of Malbork. Over the next two decades the region would see warfare, truces, diplomacy and intrigue, which would involve many rulers throughout Eastern Europe. By 1409 King Jagiello and his cousin he Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautus decided to undertake a major campaign against the Teutonic Order in hopes of capturing Malbork.
Battle of Žalgiris by Diebold Schilling the Younger 1515
The result was a major victory for the Poles and Lithuanians. Although they were not able to capture Malbork during that campaign, the battle marked a turning point in Eastern European politics. The Teutonic Order gradually declined while the Polish-Lithuanian Union became a major European power in the Later Middle-age and early modern period.
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Grunwald (LT: Žalgiris)
Poland - Lithuania 1400 European Union
Stębark
Grunwald
Battle location Grunwald, Poland
Monument commemorating the battle
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The battle begins
Lithuanian attack and retreat
Tactics
Battle of Žalgiris 1410
The battle continues Polish–Teutonic fight
The battle ends
Teutonic Knights defeated
The battle begins
The battle continues
The battle ends
Vytautas, supported by a few Polish banners, started an assault on the left flank of the Teutonic forces. After more than an hour of heavy fighting, the Lithuanian light cavalry started a full retreat. The Knights assumed that victory was theirs, broke their formation for a disorganized pursuit of the retreating Lithuanians, and gathered much loot before returning to the battlefield to face the Polish troops. The false retreat was a planned strategic maneuver borrowed from the Gloden Horde. The Lithuanians crossed the river and stroke back at the Knights, killing them along the way back to the battlefield.
While the Lithuanians were retreating, heavy fighting broke out between Polish and Teutonic forces. Teutonic forces, commanded by Grand Komtur Kuno von Lichtenstein, concentrated on the Polish right flank. Six of von Walenrode’s banners did not pursue the retreating Lithuanians, instead joining the attack on the right flank. A particularly valuable target was the royal banner of Kraków. It seemed that the Knights were gaining the upper hand, and at one point the royal standard-bearer Marcin of Wrocimowice lost the Kraków banner.
At that time, the reorganized Lithuanians returned to the battle, attacking von Jungingen from the rear. The Teutonic forces were by then becoming outnumbered by the mass of Polish knights and advancing Lithuanian cavalry. As von Jungingen attempted to break through the Lithuanian lines, he was killed.
However, it was soon recaptured and fighting continued. Władysław II Jagiełło deployed his reserves – the second line of his army. Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen then personally led 16 banners, almost a third of the original Teutonic strength, to the right Polish flank, and Władysław II Jagiełło deployed his last reserves, the third line of his army. The melee reached the Polish command and one Knight, identified as Lupold or Diepold of Kökeritz, charged directly against King Władysław II Jagiełło. Władysław’s secretary, Zbigniew Oleśnicki, saved the king’s life, gaining royal favor and becoming one of the most influential.
Surrounded and leaderless, the Teutonic Knights began to retreat. Part of the routed units retreated towards their camp. This move backfired when the camp followers turned against their masters and joined the manhunt. The knights attempted to build a wagon fort: the camp was surrounded by wagons serving as an improvised fortification. However, the defense was soon broken and the camp was ravaged. More Knights died there than on the battlefield. The battle lasted for about ten hours.
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DEFINITION OF ŽALGIRIS
Žalgiris is the translation of the German word ‘Grunwald’ which means “green forest.” The name refers to the battle of Žalgiris that happened between Poland, Lithuania and Germany in 1410. The battle is one of the most important battles in Lithuania’s history. The content of the name Žalgiris has changed over the past 600 years for the people in Lithuania. As I came to understand, the meaning of Žalgiris is now used in a more poetical manner. The content still lays in the hands of what has happened in the battlefield in 1410. Now words as companionship, courageous and decisiveness goes with it. The strength and tactical display from the soldiers that were fighting for their nation was stronger than the fear for minority and defeat. The battle means now, for the people of Lithuania a more stronger understanding of themselves as the nation. Lithuanians were pagans and tried to fight Christianity against the Germans who wanted to bring that upon them. The invasion of the crusades where stopped there at the battlefield. By stopping something that was so big and well spread over whole of Europe the Lithuanian felt strong. They overcame their fears, even though they seem to be so little. The devaluating of the meaning Žalgiris is therefore also founded during the battle. The symbolic meaning of this event continues beyond the things we see, it lays deep in the Lithuanian heart. The name Žalgiris is still an well-known term. It is now given to great sport clubs like for instance the Basketball club in Kaunas and the football club in Vilnius. Giving them a greater meaning of being stronger and being
a part of something bigger. They still fight for their country but now the whole country is standing behind them when they play. Lithuania forms together with Latvia and Estonia the Baltic region in Northern-Europe. With her 65.300 km², Lithuania it is the biggest of the three states. The population in Lithuania is only 3 million inhabitants that live in the county and there is around half a million people that live aboard. You can say that Lithuania is a spread county and divided itself into urbanized or nature environment. The country itself is not urbanized or planned if it is not part of a city reason. There are five big cities in Lithuania: Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys. Even if we talk about the dispersion of the county and the people in it, when it comes to sports and especially basketball or BC Žalgiris in particular, everybody is a great fan. No matter where they are in the world, people will find a way to view the match. They go to sports bars around Europe (especially those living abroad) to watch the game of their team. This solidarity means for Lithuanians the same as on the battlefield: strength together, even being small. For those who are playing, they feel a high pressure and responsibility against the nation. They know how important it is for Lithuania to win but nowadays in a more peaceful battle against the ‘enemy’. By caring the name of this famous battle of 1410 they feel stronger and hope they conquer ones more.
:
LITHUANIA
WARSAW | POLAND
401 km2 area : 537.152 (2013) population : 1.391,9 /km2 density:
517,24 km2 1.711.324 (2012) 3.304 /km2
WARSAW | POLAND area : population : density:
PARIS | FRANCE
517,24 km2 area : 1.711.324population (2012) : 3.304 /km2 density:
032
2.844,8 km2 2.243.833 (2010) 21.000 /km2
PARIS | FRANCE area : population : density:
2.844,8 km2 2.243.833 (2010) 21.000 /km2
20 km
WARSAW | POLAND ENGLAND MOSCOW | RUSSIA area 1.572 : km2 area : 517,24 km2 2.511 km2 population : population 1.711.324 (2012) 8.308.369 (2012) : 11.503.501 (2010) density: 3.304 /km2 4.581,24 /km2 5.285 /km2 density:
PARIS | FRANCE MOSCOW | RUSSIA BERLIN | GERMANY area : population : density:
area2.511 : km2 area : 2.844,8 km2 891,85 km2 population : population 2.243.833 (2010) 11.503.501 (2010) : 3.292.365 (2011) density: 4.581,24 density: /km2 21.000 /km2 3.700 /km2
BERLIN | GERMANY area : population : density:
AMSTERDAM | THE NETHERLANDS
area : 891,85 km2 population 3.292.365 (2011) : density: 3.700 /km2
219 km2 805.166 (2013) 3.506 /km2
A
ar po de
PARIS | FRANCE VILNIUS | LITHUANIA
WARSAW | POLAND
PARIS | FRANCE
area : area : 2.844,8 km2401 km2 population : population 2.243.833 : (2010) 537.152 (2013) density: density: 21.000 /km21.391,9 /km2
area : population : density:
area : population : density:
517,24 km2 1.711.324 (2012) 3.304 /km2
2.844,8 km2 2.243.833 (2010) 21.000 /km2
Vilnius
BERLIN | GERMANY LONDON | ENGLAND
AMSTERDAM | THE NETHERLANDS MOSCOW | RUSSIA
VILNIUS | LITHUANIA
area : area : 891,85 km2 1.572 km2 population : population 3.292.365 (2011) : 8.308.369 (2012) density: density: 3.700 /km2 5.285 /km2
area : area : 219 km2 2.511 km2 population : population 805.166 (2013) : 11.503.501 (2010) density: density:3.506 /km2 4.581,24 /km2
area : population : density:
LOCATION AREA analyses
BERLIN | GERMANY
401 km2 area : 537.152 (2013) : population 1.391,9 /km2 density:
891,85 km2 3.292.365 (2011) 3.700 /km2
20 km
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Pre-history of Lithuania The first settlers of Lithuania arrived in approximately 12, 000 B. C. In 3,000–2,500 B. C., the Indo-European Balts came to live here. Between the 5th and 8th centuries tribal groupings formed in the western territories: Prussians, Yotvingians, Curronians, Zemgalians, Lithuanians and Latgallians. In the 10th c. the pagan Baltic tribes became the target of the missions of the Catholic Europe. In 1009, the name of Lithuania was mentioned for the first time in the written account of the mission of St. Bruno.
HISTORY OF LITHUANIA from the start until now
Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea LITHUANIA
LITHUANIA
Vilnius
0 0
100
Vilnius
Battle of Zalgiris 1410
Battle of Zalgiris 1410
Grand Duchy of Lithuania, ~1263
Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 15th century
200 Kilometers 100
200 Miles
N
Black Sea
0 0
100
200 Kilometers 100
200 Miles
N
Black Sea
Monarchy and Tolerance In the Middle Ages, Lithuania had already had its state: the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Magnus Ducatus Lithuaniae). It is generally accepted that the state of Lithuania found its way into the world maps, following the coronation of Mindaugas, ruler of the consolidated Lithuania, on 6 July 1253. The Papal Bull granted the State with the highest title of the monarchy, which meant that Lithuania was recognized by and accepted into the family of the Western Europe as an equal member of the political system. With the official adoption of Christianity in 1387, Lithuania chose to follow the Western path of development: the following period saw the spread of the written language, schools were opened, Lithuanian students travelled to study to European universities.
036
From the Baltic to the Black sea We won one more important victory in the Battle of Žalgiris (Grßnwald) in 1410 when in alliance with the Kingdom of Poland we defeated the Order of Teutonic Knights. After the battle, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania reached the peak of its power, with its territory stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea and from Poland to Smolensk, thus emerging as an important political power in Eastern and Central Europe. The success of the expansion of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was essentially based on ethnic and religious tolerance towards those who were traditionally considered potential enemies.
Tallinn SWEDEN
ESTONIA RUSSIA
Baltic Sea
Rīga LATVIA
Baltic Sea
DENMARK LITHUANIA
Moscow
LITHUANIA Калининград (Königsberg)
Vilnius
Kaunas
Vilnius Hrodna Navahradak
Minsk BELARUS
Warsaw POLAND
Lublin Lutsk
Kraków
Kiev UKRAINE
Battle of Zalgiris 1410
Battle of Zalgiris 1410
Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth, after Lublin Union (1569)
Borders of the Republic of Lithuania, 1923-1940 Lithuanian claims on Poland as per the Russo-Lithuanian treaty of July 12, 1920
Border between Lithuania and Poland (1569)
0 0
100
200 Kilometers 100
200 Miles
N
Black Sea
0 0
100
200 Kilometers 100
200 Miles
N
Black Sea
038 Tallinn
Tallinn SWEDEN
SWEDEN
ESTONIA
ESTONIA RUSSIA
RUSSIA Rīga LATVIA
Baltic Sea
DENMARK
Moscow
LITHUANIA Калининград (Königsberg)
DENMARK
Hrodna Navahradak
Калининград (Königsberg)
Minsk
Kaunas
Vilnius
Minsk
Hrodna
BELARUS
BELARUS
Navahradak
Warsaw
Warsaw
POLAND
POLAND
Lublin
Lublin Lutsk
Lutsk Kraków
Moscow
LITHUANIA
Kaunas
Vilnius
Rīga LATVIA
Baltic Sea
Kraków
Kiev UKRAINE
Kiev UKRAINE
Battle of Zalgiris 1410 Grand Duchy of Lithuania, ~1263 Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 15th century Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth, after Lublin Union (1569) Border between Lithuania and Poland (1569) Borders of the Republic of Lithuania, 1923-1940
Curent Republic of Lithuania 2005
Curent Republic of Lithuania 2005
Curent borders
0 0
100
200 Kilometers 100
200 Miles
N
Lithuanian claims on Poland as per the Russo-Lithuanian treaty of July 12, 1920
Battle of Zalgiris 1410
N
Black Sea
Curent borders
0 0
100
200 Kilometers 100
200 Miles
Black Sea
1918–1940: Period of prosperity
Soviet occupation and annexation of Lithuania
On 16 February 1918, 20 courageous, determined and trusted representatives of the Lithuanian nation signed the Act of Independence of Lithuania “re-establishing an independent state, based on democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital city, severing all previous links with other states.” Having withstood the fight for independence against Bolsheviks and Polish invaders, Lithuania sealed its parliamentary democracy in the Constituent Assembly (Steigiamasis Seimas) in 1920. The historical tragic flight by Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas, who were among the first in the world to fly a propeller plane over the Atlantic (from the US to Europe) in 1933, became a national symbol of patriotism. The principles of the civic society, cultural values and farming foundations rooted in during this period helped Lithuania to survive the Soviet occupation and subsequently served as ideological basis for the restoration of the independence.
On 15 June 1945, the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and, on 14–18 June, started mass deportations of the Lithuanian population to remote areas of the Soviet Union. Yet we have survived these hardships: we endured occupations, first by the Soviets, then by the Nazi Germany. Many Lithuanians joined partisan groups to fight for Lithuania’s independence. The period of partisan fights is one of the most dramatic and tragic events in Lithuania‘s history.
One of the people that signed the Act of Independence in 1918 owend the land in Šeškinė.
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Singing revolution / the Baltic way 23 August 1989
The Initiative Group of Sąjūdis (Lithuanian Reform Movement), established in June 1988, inspired us with faith and hope: the independence movement Sąjūdis soon spread into the whole of Lithuania. On 23 August 1989, we joined our hands to form a human chain stretching 650 kilometres across Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn to mark the 50th anniversary of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact as a result of which Lithuania lost its independence. The Baltic Way was a symbolic action that separated the Baltic States from the Soviet Union and by which our people expressed their will to be free. We did not have to wait long. On 11 March 1990, the independent State of Lithuania was re-established. However, our people’s will was opposed by the Soviet Union authorities which, on 13 January 1991, sent to Vilnius their well trained and heavily armed paratrooper units. But even under the threat of violence we responded to the Soviet Union’s aggression peacefully – without arms, singing songs Tallin and with an endless faith in our victory. That is why these events are commonly referred to as the Singing Revolution. This was the third time Estonia in history that Lithuania started an epoch of autonomous life. Baltic Sea
Russia
Gulf of Riga
Latvia
Compare: The Baltic Way similar in distance between
Vilnius
Tallin
Estonia
Baltic Sea
Russia
Gulf of Riga
Latvia
Glasgow
Frankfurt
San Francisco
Rīga
Lithuania
Paris
Rīga
Lithuania
The biggest protest in the Baltics, 2 million people took part across 3 Baltic States, uninterrupted holding hands covering 400 miles or 600 kilometres, remembering the 50th anniversary of the Soviet-Nazi Pact.
London
Vilnius
Los Angeles Poland
Glas
The January Events The January Events (Lithuanian: Sausio įvykiai) took place in Lithuania between January 11 and 13, 1991 in the aftermath of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. As a result of Soviet military actions, 13 civilians were killed and around 1000 injured. The events were centered in its capital, Vilnius, along with related actions in its suburbs and in the cities of Alytus, Šiauliai, Varėna, and Kaunas. Soviet military tanks came from the still by Russia occupied army base in Šeškinė. They where heading to the TV tower and the Parlement building of Vilnius. Manny locals went to these places to barricade and protect them from occupation by the Soviet.
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EU and NATO membership Following its EU and NATO membership in 2004, Lithuania again reunited with the European family. Once an EU member, Lithuania has become an official donor country and has been giving aid to Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, South Caucasus, Afghanistan and Iraq; it has also been fulfilling multilateral obligations within the EU framework. Lithuania joined the Eurozone by adopting the euro on 1 January 2015. This made it the last of the three Baltic states to adopt the euro, after Estonia (2011) and Latvia (2014). Before then, its currency, was the litas.
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VILNIUS
Lithuania, City aspacts
Vilnius history in short The tolerant capital of the largest medieval state (Until 1655) According to a legend Vilnius was established by duke Gediminas in early 14th century after his dream of an iron wolf was so interpreted by oracle Lizdeika. Modern historians however usually claim that the city is at least as old as the Lithuanian state itself and that the country‘s first Christian church built by King Mindaugas in 13th century stood at the same place where the Vilnius Cathedral stands today. Whatever its beggings were Vilnius became an important city by the 14th century (it received Magdeburg law in 1387). With the conquests of Grand Duke Vytautas Vilnius became the capital of what was at the time the Europe‘s largest country, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. It was a very tolerant city where Muslim Tatars from Crimea, Lutheran German merchants, Jewish craftsmen, the Catholic Lithuanian and Polish elite and the Orthodox Ruthenians lived side-byside peacefully, each group building their own temples in their own streets and districts. In this era the irregular Old Town layout developed, walled in 1503. As the richness of the city grew more and more palaces, churches and monasteries adorned its narrow streets. Not even the 1569 Union of Lublin which created a Polish-Lithuanian confederacy with capital in
Cracow rather than Vilnius was able to defuse the importance of Vilnius as the Kings still used their palace here. Vilnius University established in 1579 by the Jesuits became a primary centre of science and education in the Eastern Europe. The era of lavish churches and impeding doom (1655-1795) The prosperous centuries came to a horrible halt on 1655 when the strenghtening Russia (Muscovy) invaded and sacked the city in a long campaign of looting, mass-murdering and raping. The days of PolandLithuania as a great power ended, and so were the days Vilnius as a seat of power. Vilnius palace became neglected and the Kings ceased visiting it. Furthermore, the Russian (Orthodox) and Swedish (Lutheran) invasions eroded the remarkable religious tolerance. Although no longer one of the Europe‘s main cities Vilnius continued to exist. The uncertain future at mercy of surrounding great powers encouraged the local noble families to build lavish Baroque churches that still crown the city skyline. The knot around Poland-Lithuania was tightening and the country started to lose lands rapidly in the late 18th century. In 1795 Vilnius was captured by the Russians who were to stay for 120 years.
The industrial era under Imperial Russian rule (1795-1918) After Vilnius was annexed to Russia in 1795 it continued to be a backwater with population of 50 000. However Vilnius University remained a major intellectual center with various secret societies swiftly established, such as filaretai or filomatai, each of them aimed at critically studying history and potentially restoring the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. Knowing this the Russians closed the Vilnius Univesity in 1832 (after a failed revolt) forcing the Lithuanian elite to seek education in Saint Petersburg. Vilnius remained an administrative seat (the capital of Northwestern Krai, roughly cromprising of today‘s Lithuania and Belarus). As such, the government wanted to make the city look more Russian. Some of the Catholic church buildings were converted to Russian Orthodox or seccular use, some others demolished, monuments for czars and governors were constructed. true possibility to change the face of the city came in 1860 when the industrial revolution finally reached Lithuania. That year the first train on the new Saint Petersburg-Warsaw railroad arrived at Vilnius. Other amenities of the era came to the city as well, even if lagging several decades behind the West: gas lighting in 1864, horse-drawn tram in 1893, electricity in 1903 and the public buses in 1905. Technological changes implicated social changes and a process of rapid urbanization started. A grand new civic center was constructed to the
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west of the Old Town (known as New Town), to be joined by largely wooden suburbs of Žvėrynas, Šnipiškės, Naujininkai, Rasos, Žvejai and Naujieji Pastatai in 1890s and 1900s. The main additions were planned to follow grid layout that was anchored on large new Russian Orthodox churches. Their wide streets were named after locations and heroes of the large Russian Empire. With Lithuanian language banned in 1863 the official public inscriptions were also in Russian. The final decades before the World War 1 witnessed the most massive construction. Businessmen conceived 4 to 6 storey buildings in the New Town, full of rental apartments, hotels, trade rooms for their businesses and smaller yet elaborate so-called urban villas for their own residences. Many stately administrational buildings were constructed, such as the enormous Railways HQ. On the eve of the War Vilnius had a population of over 210 000. The Lithuanian national rennaisance turned Vilnius into a capital once again, even if a shadow one. With the scrapping of some anti-Lithuanian policies in 1904 „Vilniaus žinios“ newspaper was published here by the Vileišis family. In 1905 the Great Seimas of Vilnius convened in the city, declaring an aim for an autonomous Lithuanian country that soon turned into a drive for independence.
The era of Polish rule and conflict over Vilnius (1918-1939) With the revolution of Russia and German surrender in World War 1 the rulers of Vilnius changed some 10 times in years 1918-1922. The city was culturally important to four different ethnicities: Lithuanians, Poles, Jews and Belarussians. Furthermore, both Russian monarchists and communists wanted to restore the former boundaries of Russia, with Vilnius inside them. Of these six entities only the Jews lacked a military force. Having beaten back the Russians who in turn subdued Belarussians, Poles and Lithuanians were the last two left to quarell over Vilnius. In 1920 Polish irregular forces captured the city in breach of the previous treaty of Suwalki. This was the start of a painful final divorce of Lithuanian and Polish nations. Lithuania never recognised the loss of Vilnius and remained at a state of war with Poland. International mediation failed. The plight for Vilnius was a major topic at any interwar celebration in Lithuania where the choirs would sing „Mes be Vilniaus nenurimsim“ („We won‘t calm down without Vilnius“) hymn. Many streets and squares in Lithuanian towns were renamed after the city, „Vilnius oaks“ were planted, „Union for the Liberation of Vilnius“ established. In Vilnius itself the self-declared Lithuanian community dwindled to under 1% according to the contemporary Polish statistics. Some of its leaders
were expelled to Lithuania. The number of ethnic Lithuanian students in Vilnius (Polish name: Wilno) University was limited by law. Other ethnic minorities were also discriminated against, but the Jews managed to run YIVO, an international institute of Yiddish that has since relocated to New York. A large share of Russians, primarilly government officials and officers, had left Vilnius for good during or after World War 1, whereas an older Old Believer community remained. A joke of the era was that Vilnius would not be subject of a conflict only if it would be depopulated and turned into a museum. If people would have knew that the first part of this joke will soon almost become true they probably wouldn’t have laughted at it. The city was an economic outback of Poland and only a limited construction took place, in contrast to Kaunas or Warsaw of the era. The total population of the city was 167 400 during the 1923 census. The 20 years that changed Vilnius forever (1939 – 1959) In 1939 Nazi Germany and Soviet Union invaded Poland and this sparkled the World War 2. Vilnius was captured by the Soviets on September 1939. They sacked the city and then presented an ultimatum to Lithuania. Under this ultimatum Lithuania would be given 1/5th of the Vilnius region (including the city) but would have to accept Soviet military bases in its territory. Refusal would have meant imminent Soviet invasion therefore Lithuania accepted.
„Vilnius belongs to us and we belong to the Russians“ was a popular irony at the time. It wasn‘t far from truth as in mid-1940 Russian forces deposed the Lithuanian government and completely occupied and annexed Lithuania in three months time. Vilnius felt the full swing of nationalisation campaign and the genocide of Lithuanian nation. „There will be Lithuania – but without the Lithuanians“ – said Mikhail Suslov, the chairman of USSR Central Commity Bureau for Lithuanian Affairs. In June 1941 alone some 2% of the entire Lithuania’s population (50 000) were forced into railroad cattle carriages and deported to Siberia where most died. Campaigns like this became even larger under the Second Soviet Occupation. Vilnius’s eastern location and railway hub status meant that most deportees were moved through the city. Nazi German invasion (1941) relieved the pressure on some ethnicities (among them Lithuanians) but increased it on some others. The entire Jewish population of Vilnius, never before segregated from the others in what for centuries had been a tolerant multicultural city, was suddenly locked in a ghetto. A large share of them (some 30 000) eventually were killed at Paneriai suburb in 1941-1943, many others were sent to labour camps or murdered elsewhere. With the help of other allies in the west Soviets beaten back the Germans in the east in 1944. Vilnius was in turmoil as here not two, but at least four different factions fought for dominance, every single of them hostile to every other one. In addition to the Germans and Russians there was Lithuanian resistance that sought to re-establish independent Lithuania
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and also Armia Krajowa – a Polish force that fought for Wilno as a part of Poland. The later two were poorly armed and never played a significant role. They were eventually crushed by the Soviets, although their ability to sometimes hoist their own flags on the Gediminas Hill Castle Tower and inflict damages on the enemies boosted their morale. After the 1944 occupation of Lithuania Vilnius saw one of the biggest campaigns of destruction it witnessed in its history. Soviets closed and desecrated churches, destroyed chapels, upturned cemetaries, burned non-communist books, removed archives, stole sacred paintings and sold them on the black market, arrested, deported and murdered people. Everything that reminded of either Germany, Lithuania, Poland or nonOrthodox faith was attacked and destroyed. But this was only the beggining. When the Russian architects drawn their plans of Vilnius of the future it became clear that the Soviets want to completely obliterate entire boroughs of the old city and rebuild it on the Soviet model. The project was started but never completed. Buildings that you may now only see in old pictures include large chunks of Jewish district and the Vinius Great Synagogue, multiple cemetaries, residential districts in Vokiečių, Rūdninikų, Vilniaus and other streets, the municipal building, „Europa“ hotel (the largest in Vilnius), the Piarists college, the Kardinalija palace. Luckily a change of policies saved Saint Catherine church, the Gate of Dawn and many other famous centuries-old structures that were also initially condemned to destruction by Anikin, the architect from Leningrad behind the plans of Vilnius „redevelopment“.
The districts destroyed by the Soviets were replaced by large Stalinist buildings or transformed into squares and wide avenues. Old statues were replaced by new ones, dedicated to various communists and Russian soldiers. Road maps had to be redrawn with the majority of centuries-old street names changed to ones such as „Lenin Avenue“, „Red Army Avenue“ or „Gorkiy Street“. Citizens themselves were replaced: Russians, Belarussians and Ukrainians were being relocated to the Vilnius homes of Poles, Jews and Lithuanians who were recently murdered or expelled. In this time most of the Catholic churches were closed and turned into sports halls, warehouses and factories, their cultural wonders stolen and lost. Lutherans, Reformed Christians, Muslims and Jews shared a similar uprooting of their religious culture. The only mosque of Vilnius was destroyed, while the majority of Vilnius Jews switched from Yiddish to Russian language, and only 25% of them did not abandon their religion. The only religious community that was persecuted less was the Russian Orthodox one. Not only their churches were not attacked but even their Holy Spirit monastery was allowed to operate at a time when monastic life was banned in Soviet Lithuania and every Catholic monastery had been disbanded.
The era of concrete slab boroughs followed by a five minutes of worldwide glory (1959 – 1991) With the death of Joseph Stalin the Soviet persecutions were gradually weakened although the policy remained totalitarian. What was already changed remained changed (including the closed churches and street names), save for an occasional removal of refferences to Stalin whose personality cult was uprooted by the new leader Nikita Khrushchev. However, the tide that threatened to destroy the Lithuanian culture altogether ceased to rise. For instance, the settling of the country slowed down: while the share of Russians in Lithuania increased from 2,5% in 1939 to 8,5% in 1959, it only further increased to 9,5% by 1989. The monumental style of Stalinist buildings was changed to a functionalist one devoid of any architectural details. It was these mass-produced apartment blocks that were to become the new face of Vilnius. Instead of replacing Old Town they were largely built in place of former wooden suburbs throughout the 1960s. In 1970s and 1980s completely new boroughs were constructed to the north and west, connected to the center and to each other by wide avenues, traversed by unbelievably crammed public buses and trolleybuses (private cars were always a kind of luxury in the USSR). New construction in downtown was now limited to flagship buildings, such as the apartments of Communist Party officials, meeting hall of the Supreme Soviet of Lithuania (currently the parliament) or the Opera and Ballet theater.
Population of Vilnius increased from 236 000 in 1959 to 576 000 in 1989 in what was effectively the prime era of urbanization in Lithuania‘s history. Some of this increase was due to immigration from the rest of USSR, but more and more rural Lithuanians found their home in Vilnius as well. Relocation was no easy deal, as the population was tightly controlled by the government and many of those who wanted to settle in Vilnius were refused permits and forced to live in the countryside instead. Vilnius became the intellectual center of Lithuania. However with only 50% of its population ethnically Lithuanian it left the title of cultural center to Kaunas. Russian language was the lingua fanca in the Soviet Union, thus it was also much-used in the interethnic Vilnius (something heavily promoted by the Soviets). Nevertheless, an underground opposition always existed, its secret networks uniting street musicians of Gedimino Avenue to the Roman Catholic Church, to the banned and persecuted Freedom League of Lithuania, to the hiking clubs that were always treated with suspicion due to their habit to choose historically important places as the goal of their weekend expeditions. With the rise of Gorbachev and his perestroika campaign the Sąjūdis movement was born in 1988 out of this underground opposition. It was also joined by freedom-sympathisers who previously would not have risked their lifes to openly endorse Lithuanian independence. In mere months what the Soviets once considered to be just another of their provincial capitals was catapulted to worldwide news networks such as
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CNN and BBC as the global population impatiently waited how would the Lithuanian aspirations unfold. In March 11th of 1990 in the same old hall of the Supreme Soviet the first democratically-elected parliament to convene in Vilnius declared independence. The Russian blockade followed, leaving Vilnius without fuel for heating or cars, and eventually a military aggression on January 11th-13th of 1991 that killed 14 people and injured 700. Due to unbelievable cohesion of the people of Vilnius who stood armless against the Soviet tanks all these actions failed. Soviet Union collapsed. This collapse (and the end of Cold War) started here – in Vilnius. Capital of a modern European state (1991 and beyond) The restoration of independence (marked in Vilnius by removal of Soviet statues, restoration of the old street names and vacation of Soviet military bases) flattered Lithuanians‘ hearts, but the 50 years of exploitation took their toll. The city was lagging far behind the Western standarts in almost every statistic. Its factories were uncompetitive, its people crammed into little yet uneconomic flats, real estate prices ridiculously small but nevertheless out of reach for many locals. Many reforms were to be done, and in the following decade Vilnius led these reforms in Lithuania, always followed by Klaipėda and Kaunas, in that order. The free market killed some of the old factories yet new businesses started to thrive in places such as Gariūnai marketplace in western
Vilnius. Private shops sprung up and the lack of goods that plagued Soviet era was a thing of the past, all western trademarks becoming readily available. By some 1995s the shopkeepers even started to smile (something unheard of in the Soviet Union where the client was always wrong and frequently yelled at). Most of the churches were reopened and new ones were conceived in the churchless Soviet boroughs. Used car import business was among the most lucrative, the number of private cars quadrupled in 1990-2010 and traffic jams formed for the first time in late 1990s. McDonald‘s opened 4 outlets. In 1997 the first office high-rise was built (Hanner building). By 2003 there was entire skyscreaper district in southern Šnipiškės. Modern style with glass facades prevailed. Among those was the new Vilnius municipality building, the first example of public-private partnership in Lithuania. In 2000 Akropolis, the first hypermarket in Vilnius and Lithuania, opened, to be followed by many more. This changed the Lithuanain shopping habits, luring them from bazaar-like markets. After 2000 the residential construction boomed with credits supplanting the cash payments (in US dollars or German marks) that were common in the quite lawless era of early 1990s. North Town Soviet military base in Žirmūnai was the first area to be redeveloped, to be followed by many modern apartment blocks elsewhere.
Most of the new rich did not wait for the construction boom. The prestigious residence of 1990s was a large detached home in one of the rapidly developing suburbs (Kairėnai, Pavilnis, Zujūnai). Such buildings sprung up, their owners caring primarilly about size rather than architectural appeal. By 2000s the Western ideas reached suburbia and new uniformly-developed gated communities outcompeted the „private castles“ of 1990s. Being the capital Vinius received a fair share of new public buildings. Among those are the Sodra palace, two extensions of Vilnius airport (1993 and 2007), a minimalist General prosecutors office (a black cube with windows that glow blue at night) and the extension of parliament building. The most controversial addition was undoubtedly the Palace of Rulers, a hundreds of millions worth reconstruction of long-lost palace right next to the Vilnius Cathedral. People complained about wasted money whereas architects voiced their doubts on the cultural value and authenthicity of the building. In 1997 a campaign to repair the crumbling Old Town of Vilnius was launched by mayor Paksas. The main squares and streets became picture-perfect. The abandoned buildings were bought up by residential and hotel developers. The hotels received more and more guests from the West, discovering this once hidden gem.
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HISTORICAL TIMELINE From past until now
Legend of the Iron Wolf According to the legend, Grand Duke Gediminas was hunting in the sacred forest near the Valley of Šventaragis, near where Vilnia River flows into the Neris River. Tired after the successful hunt of a wisent, the Grand Duke settled in for the night. He fell soundly asleep and dreamed of a huge Iron Wolf standing on top a hill and howling as strong and loud as a hundred of wolves. Upon awakening, the Duke asked the pagan priest Lizdeika to interpret the dream. And the priest told him: “What is destined for the ruler and the State of Lithuania, is thus: the Iron Wolf represents a castle and a city which will be established by you on this site. This city will be the capital of the Lithuanian lands and the dwelling of their rulers, and the glory of their deeds shall echo throughout the world.” Therefore, Gediminas, obeying the will of gods, built the city, and took it the name Vilnius – from the stream of the Vilnia River.
captivity over and over again
1275-1341
German garrison withdrew and passed the authority over the city to a local Polish committee, against the pleas of the Lithuanian administration. However, only three days afterwards, on January 3, 1919 the city was attacked and taken by Bolshevik forces advancing from the east. The city was proclaimed the capital of the short-lived LithuanianByelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. For the next 4 months the city became a communist experiment in governance. During the course of that conflict, on April 19, 1919 the city was again seized by Poland.
The "Golden Age of Jewry" in Lithuania started with Grand Duke Gediminas the empire builder who took a liking to foreigners and Jews whose skills and education were badly needed in medieval Lithuania. In the early 1300's he attracted them to his realm with numerous perks, including guarantees of religious freedom and tax exemptions. The Jews of Europe responded in droves, and Vilnius became the heralded centre of Jewish culture and learning.
During the Second World War, about 200,000 (95%), Lithuanian Jews were murdered. This was the greatest loss in all of Eastern and Central Europe. The Nazi Holocaust led to an almost complete extermination of Lithuania’s Jews, and also destruction of their history and cultural monuments - a most tragic page of Lithuanian history.
1914-1918 World War I
Vilnius was occupied by Germany from 1915 until 1918. Still under German occupation, Council of Lithuania proclaimed the Act of Independence of Lithuania in Vilnius on February 16, 1918.
ca. 1296 - May 1377
ca. 1275 – Dec 1341
Algirdas or Olgierd son of Gedimidas 1341 until 1345 Prince of Krevo and Vitsebsk 1345 until 1377 Grand Duke of Lithuania made Lithuania in one of the largest European states of his day
Gedimidas 1315 until 1341 Grand Duke of Lithuania erecting the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius establishment of a dynasty that can be traced to other European monarchies
June 24, 1812 Napoleon Bonaparte crossed the Nemunas River with his huge army and stayed in Vilnius for 18 days calling Vilnius ‘Jerusalem of the North’
Samogitia was the last ethnic region of Lithuania to become Christianized in 1413, following the defeat of the Teutonic Order in the Battle of Žalgiris and the Peace of Thorn and its subsequent return to the Lithuanian control. In November 1413, Vytautas himself sailed Neman River and Dubysa, reached the environs of Betygala, where he baptised the first groups of Samogitians.
directly connected to Vilnius
World War II In the beginning of World War II, the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany, initially avoiding confrontation, but the treaty was disregarded in 1941 when the Nazis invaded, opening the largest and bloodiest theatre of combat in history. Soviet war casualties accounted for the highest proportion of the conflict, in the cost to acquire the upper hand over Axis forces at intense battles such as Stalingrad, eventually driving through Eastern Europe and capturing Berlin in 1945, inflicting the vast majority of German losses.[5] Soviet occupied territory conquered from Axis forces in Central and Eastern Europe became satellite states of the Eastern Bloc. Ideological and political differences with Western Bloc counterparts directed by the United States led to the forming of economic and military pacts, culminating in the prolonged Cold War.
occupation of Lithuania by Nazi Germany At first the Germans were welcomed as "liberators" from the repressive Soviet regime which occupied Lithuania prior to the German arrival. In hopes of re-establishing independence or regaining some autonomy, Lithuanians organized their Provisional Government. Soon the Lithuanian attitudes towards the Germans changed into passive resistance.
Lithuania was reestablished as a democratic state It remained independent until the outset of World War II when it was occupied by the Soviet Union
History of Lithuania 1009 - 2013
1939-1945
June 22, 1914 to Jan. 28, 1945
Feb. 16, 1918
Nov. 1413
TIMELINE
1939-1945
1919
August 23, 1989 Singing Revolution "The Baltic way" The Initiative Group of Sąjūdis (Lithuanian Reform Movement), established in June 1988, inspired them with faith and hope: the independence movement Sąjūdis soon spread into the whole of Lithuania. On 23 August 1989, the people joined their hands to form a human chain stretching 650 kilometres across Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn to mark the 50th anniversary of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact as a result of which Lithuania lost its independence. The Baltic Way was a symbolic action that separated the Baltic States from the Soviet Union and by which the people expressed their will to be free.
Lithuanian religion: Polytheism (bef. 1251; 1263–1387), Catholicism (1251–1263; 1387–1569)
12th century until 1795 Grand Duchy of Lithuania
1795 until 1917 Russian Empire
1922 until 1991 Soviet Union
1990 until 2013 State of Lithuania
Lithuania worrior state
Lithuania pagan state
1200 March 9, 1009
The name of Lithuania was first mentioned in the Quedlinburg Annals in 1009, in the context of St. Bruno‘s mission to pagan lands
July 15th, 1410 - Battle of Žalgiris 1569 to 1667 Partitions of Poland Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth 1795 Union of Lublin ca. 1351/1362 – June 1, 1434 The Union of Lublin replaced the personal union of Jogaila, later Władysław II Jagiełło 1377 until 1434 Grand Duke of Lithuania 1386 until 1399 King jure uxoris of the Kingdom of Poland 1399 until 1434 sole King of Poland
ca. 1203 – fall 1263
The first known reference to Lithuania as a nation ("Litua") comes from the annals of the Monastery of Quedlinburg and is dated March 9, 1009. Today, the two remaining Baltic nationalities are Lithuanians and Latvians, but there were more Baltic groups or tribes in the past. Some of these have merged into Lithuanians and Latvians (Samogitians, Selonians, Curonians, Semigallians), while others no longer exist (Prussians, Sambians, Skalvians, Galindians). The first Lithuanians were a branch of an ancient Indo-European group known as the Balts, whose tribes also included the original Prussian, Yotvingian and Latvian people.
Mindaugas 1219 first known Grand Duke of Lithuania 17 July 1253 crowned as Catholic King of Lithuania 1263 the first ruler of the Grand Duchy
1385 Union of Krewo or Act of Krėva Union of Krewo was a set of prenuptial promises made in the Kreva Castle on 14 August 1385 by Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania, in exchange for marriage to the underage reigning Queen Jadwiga of Poland. The act was very limited in scope and in the historiography the term "Union of Krewo" often refers not only to the particular document but to the events of 1385–1386 as a whole. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. The union was a decisive moment in the histories of Poland and Lithuania; it marked a beginning of the four centuries of shared history between the two nations. By 1569 the PolishLithuanian union grew into a new state, the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth, and lasted until the Third Partition in 1795.
Jadwiga of Poland
born between 3 October 1373 and 18 February 1374 died 17 July 1399 was monarch of Poland from 1384 to her death
the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages.
July 14, 1920
Lithuania was lost to Soviet forces again this time, the Soviets were aided by Lithuanians, who were promised Vilnius
1721 until 1917 Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the short-lived Russian Republic, which was in turn succeeded by the Soviet Union. One of the largest empires in world history, the Russian Empire was surpassed in landmass only by the British and Mongol empires. At one point in 1866 it stretched from eastern Europe across Asia and into North America.
1922 until 1991 Soviet Union Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was a socialist state on the Eurasian continent that existed between 1922 and 1991, governed as a single-party state by the Communist Party with Moscow as its capital. A union of multiple subnational Soviet republics, its government and economy were highly centralized.
March 11, 1990 Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania was an independence declaration by the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted on March 11, 1990. Signed by all[citation needed] members of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR, the act emphasized restoration and legal continuity of the interwar-period Lithuania, which was occupied by the USSR and lost independence in June 1940. It was the first time that a Union Republic declared independence from the dissolving Soviet Union.
2004
EU and NATO-member
June 15, 1945 the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and, on 14–18 June, started mass deportations of the Lithuanian population to remote areas of the Soviet Union. Yet we have survived these hardships: we endured occupations, first by the Soviets, then by the Nazi Germany. Many Lithuanians joined partisan groups to fight for Lithuania's independence. The period of partisan fights is one of the most dramatic and tragic events in Lithuania‘s history.
Following its EU and NATO membership in 2004, Lithuania again reunited with the European family
Januari 11 - 13, 1991
January Events
This event took place in the aftermath of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. The Soviet Army attacked the State Radio and Television Building and the Vilnius TV Tower. Civilians tryed to stop the tank-invation. As a result of Soviet military actions, 13 civilians were killed and around 140 were seriously injured. The Soviet Union finally recognized Lithuanian independence in August 1991, after Soviet coup attempt of 1991.
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Select city data Name: First mentioned: Granted city rights: Area, city municipality Population: Density: Total percentage of citizens walking, cycling or taking public transport to work:
Vilnius, Capital City 1323 1387 401 km2 554.000 1,391.9/km2 69.4 %
Vilnius capital city The city of Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, is home to 16% of the country’s population and with 554.000 citizens, it is the largest city and a cultural, scientific, industrial centre. The city stretches along the valleys of the Neris and Vilnia rivers and is located in the southeast of the country. Vilnius occupies an area of about 400 square kilometers of which 20.2% approximately is developed, and the remainder is green space (approx. 43.9%) and water (approx. 2.1%). Vilnius, one of the oldest Baltic cities, has a long history rich in events. Vilnius was first referred to as a capital of Lithuania in 1323 in the letters of Grand Duke Gediminas (1275-1341). Gediminas is seen as one of the most significant individuals in early Lithuanian history and he was responsible for erecting the capital of Lithuania. As the story goes, the location for the city Vilnius came to him in a dream. Vilnius was devastated by the Crusaders numerous times, but once the attacks quieted down after the Battle of Zalgiris, 1410, the city started to grow rapidly. There were 30 thousand people living in Vilnius by the 16th century, and it became a large trade, industrial and cultural centre of Europe. Vilnius is classified as a Gamma global city according to GaWC (Globalization and World Cities Research Network) studies, and is known for its Old Town of beautiful architecture, declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1994. Its Jewish influence until the 20th century has led to it being described as the “Jerusalem of Lita” and Napoleon named it “the Jerusalem of the North” as he was passing through in 1812.
The “Golden Age of Jewry” in Lithuania started with Grand Duke Gediminas (1275-1341), the empire builder who took a liking to foreigners and Jews whose skills and education were badly needed in medieval Lithuania. In the early 1300’s he attracted them to his realm with numerous perks, including guarantees of religious freedom and tax exemptions. The Jews of Europe responded in droves and Vilnius became the heralded centre of Jewish culture and learning. Manly because of this fact Germany wanted to take over the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1410 and bring Christianity upon them. During the Second World War about 200.000 (95%) Lithuanian Jews were murdered. This was the greatest loss in all of Eastern and Central Europe. The Nazi Holocaust led to an almost complete extermination of Lithuania’s Jews, and also destruction of their history and cultural monuments - a most tragic page of Lithuanian history.
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Sourse: European Green City Index, 2009
In the year 2009, Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture, together with the Austrian city of Linz. Today, Vilnius, is one of the most frequently visited cities of Eastern Europe. It draws attention, not only because of its unique architectural character (mainly the old town), but also by its cultural events and attractions. During the first ten years of independence the city has become a tourist attraction centre. It is therefore not surprising that during these ten years the number of tourists has consistently increased and at the same time tourist infrastructure and services have been developed. In Vilnius there are over fifty kinds of churches, many museums and a lot of historical and cultural heritage attractions. From an economic perspective, Vilnius contributed just under two-fifths of the country’s GDP in 2007 and accounts for around 19% of total employment in Lithuania. Although Vilnius provides just 16% of national industrial output, it has attracted more than two-thirds of total foreign direct investment in Lithuania. As well as increasing numbers of tourists, Vilnius has been a key destination for many migrants from other parts of Lithuania because of the employment opportunities that it offers. However since 2009 the unemployment rate is going up and cost severe problems for young people in Lithuania. Therefore they choose more often to study and work abroad.
Vilnius ranks 13th in the overall European Green City index, with a score of 62.77 out of 100, making it the best performing city in eastern Europe as well as among the low-income cities in the index. Vilnius ranks around the middle of most categories in the index, but performs exceptionally well on air quality, for which it is ranked in first place.
Two sides of the city Styles of architecture reflect the socio-political and religious past of the country. The same can be said about the people that live in it. While the majority of Vilnius inhabitants live in Soviet-era concrete apartment buildings in the new town (suburbs around the whole old-town), a much smaller group prefers the historical old town characteristics. The social difference and mentality between the people living in the old and new town is undoubtedly, a Soviet souvenir and the changing to modern times. There are also many objective reasons that are leading to socialmental differences between the old town and the suburbs inhabitants. Starting with the price of real-estate. An apartment in the old town cost five to ten times more than in concrete block house. So those living in the centre, have a higher income than a statistic mid-class person and live there to show their status. The second group are pensioners who live there intire life in the city centre. They are still going to theatres, art galleries and museums. The majority of them are ex-professors in universities or academies as well as retired actors or singers. The third group who are living in the old town are renting apartments and are also more “culturally involved” people. You could say ‘Yup’, ‘Hip’ or ‘Creative’ culture lovers and like to be in the centre of events, to go downstairs and spend an evening in a bar chatting and discussing life. Normally those earn a bit more as mid-salary for their age, so they can afford a more expensive rent and are still single. Those of creative
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industry (creative professions students as well) also assume, that living in a block house limit their creativity. In a way “old-towners” are more closed people, perceiving the world in an “old-fashioned” way. They live in their “hip” surrounding and do not accept existence of the “new-town” as an interesting and valuable experience. Here we come to the definition of “the new town inhabitant”. This is the biggest part of Vilnius city inhabitants. The first and big group are pensioners that were working in factories back at the time, so had lower education or none at all. They live very poor and can hardly afford paying communal taxes (as they are very high for those apartments with holes, windows and walls) and get support from the government. They spend their leisure in churches or in green spaces in between block houses. Unfortunately the majority of these green spaces are not well maintained and become parking lots over time. At the time the block houses were build, the car density was 0.2 car per apartment. Nowadays it is almost 2 cars per existing apartment. This group also include exengineers of those huge factories that were open in Soviet time. A lot of them are Russian speaking people, who got their apartments as they were moved from somewhere in the Soviet union (same apply for moved simple factory workers – many of them cannot speak Lithuanian till nowadays). The second and the main group are midage families, who own those apartments as they could privatize them after the collapse of Soviet Union. These households consist out of two parents in the age of 45-60 and have 2-3 children. Some of which are still staying with their parents after graduating secondary school or even university as
they start. Salary is quite low and they cannot afford to rent their own apartment or they rent it nearby. The third group are young people coming from other towns and villages, for studies at universities and colleges or those coming to search for work in town. These people are less involved in the cultural events happening in the old town. They just visit the centre from time to time and preferably do things which are for free. They like sports and think more modern in a way of IT. These suburban block house areas have the best internet connection in the world (according to statistical data), glass-fibre or broadband internet is available in every building. “IT creatives� also prefer these areas to live in because of the same reason. The fourth and last group lives on the edge of the City (more outside suburbs) and are young families that bought their own apartment in newly built apartment houses. They travel between the old and new town. Soviet-time suburbs are also full of huge shopping-malls nowadays. So consumer culture, is in a way of shopping or visiting entertainment events. Events like, sport matches in arenas around (there are few smaller universal sports arenas that host concerts or shows) is becoming more popular. Of course there is no statement that old-town and new-town inhabitants do not mix. Of course they use the opposite from time to time, but most of their time they spend in their own surrounding. There is one more unmentioned group, families that own their own house. They live outside the city. Their only connection is a rarely going bus to the city. People also use their own car. These people are working in the old town or business areas around the city centre. They commute every day to
and from work, bringing or picking up their children from kindergarten or school and crossing suburban areas where they shop or visit sportclubs. It is mentioned here because it also influence existence of consumer culture at one spot, like for instance the supermarket. They sometimes go in the weekend for the whole day in those shopping-malls and come back to their closed garden.
060
OLD TOWN
NEW TOWN
Old town The historical centre of Vilnius, the Old Town, (Senamiestis) is one of the largest medieval old town centers in Eastern Europe (covering almost 360 hectares). The Old Town is situated in a picturesque valley of two rivers – the Vilnia and the Neris, at the crossroads of trade roads, next to the ford, which was guarded by Vilnius castle in the olden times. The oldest part of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, has developed over the course of many centuries and has been shaped by the city’s history and a constantly changing cultural influence. It is a place where some of Europe’s greatest architectural styles - gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical - stand side by side and complement each other. Pilies Street is the Old Town’s main artery and the hub of cafe and street market life. Pilies Street has been blocked off to traffic since 1988. The main street of Vilnius, Gediminas Avenue, is partially located in the Old Town. The central squares in the Old Town are the Cathedral Square and the Town Hall Square. In 1994 the Vilnius Old Town was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (No. 541) in recognition of its universal value and originality. The definition of “historic centre” itself has a broader meaning than the Old Town, formerly encircled with defensive walls. It embraces the valuable historical suburbs of Vilnius, such as Užupis, which historically used to be outside the city boundaries. Therefore Užupis is often considered a part of the Old Town of Vilnius.
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New Town New Town is a product of 19th century expansion which was minor in Vilnius comparing it to major metropolises of the Western Europe but nevertheless increased the Vilnius population fourfold (from 50 000 in 1800 to over 210 000 in 1914). Most sub-hubs are consisting out of Soviet-ara concrete blockhouses. The problem with these blockhouses now, is that nobody is maintaining them and are now in a dilapidated condition. In many cases, it is a desolate sight and there is no lively feeling of living area. Naujamiestis is the first expansion of the city. It is located in the city centre, on the left bank of the Neris River, west of Vilnius Railway Station. It is called the centre of the new town. Naujamiestis was conceived by the Russian Empire to be the grand centre of what was then the capital of its Vilnius Governorate and the main city in the Northwestern Krai (an administrational unit roughly comprising of modern-day Lithuania and Belarus). Naujamiestis is part of the first buffer zone of the old town. From there the New Town is expanding further on the other side of the River. The new city center of Vilnius, a commercial and residential modern district, is being established in formerly empty areas, or areas currently occupied by outdated and obsolete sports facilities and wooden buildings, on the right bank of river Neris. To further establish the
stance of the area as the center, the municipality itself moved to a newly built high-rise building there. The former Municipality Palace in the Gediminas Avenue was sold and now there is a shopping centre. Although one of reasons for the new center of Vilnius is that it would move away traffic from the old town. The project is still regarded by some as controversial, due to skyscrapers being visible from the old town and supposedly destroying the medieval atmosphere there. Skyscrapers being more impressive visually than the traditional symbols of Vilnius such as the Castle of Gediminas and the new districts destroying the wooden architecture of Ĺ nipiĹĄkÄ—s district. A rare case of 19th age former suburb of Vilnius still remaining as it was unchanged. The municipality government however discounts such arguments as being old-fashioned and states that the municipality must move forward together with time.
Districts of Vilnius Neighborhoods Area
064
Population Density
1. Verkiai 56.0 30,856 551.0 2. Antakalnis 77.2 39,697 514.2 3. Pašilaičiai 7.9 25,674 3,249.9 4. Fabijoniškės 5.9 36,644 6,210.8 5. Pilaitė 13.9 15,996 1,150.8 6. Justiniškės 3.0 30,958 10,319.3 7. Viršuliškės 2.6 16,250 6,250.0 8. Šeškinė 4.6 36,604 7,957.4 9. Šnipiškės 3.1 19,321 6,232.6 10. Žirmūnai 5.7 47,410 8,317.5 11. Karoliniškės 3.7 31,175 8,425.7 12. Žvėrynas 2.6 12,188 4,687.7 13. Grigiškės 7.0 11,617 1,659.6 14. Lazdynai 9.9 32,164 3,248.9 15. Vilkpėdė 10.8 24,749 2,291.6 16. Naujamiestis 4.9 27,892 5,692.2 17. Senamiestis 4.4 21,022 4,777.7 18. Naujoji Vilnia 38.6 32,775 849.1 19. Paneriai 84.8 8,909 105.1 20. Naujininkai 37.6 33,457 889.8 21. Rasos 16.3 13,054 800.9
1
2 3 5
6
14
10
8
7 11
13
4
9
12 16
18
17
15 21
19
Vilnius districts by number
20
Population density 9
25
9
Vilnius occupies an area of about 400 square kilometres of which 20.2% approximately is developed, and the remainder is green space (approx. 43.9%) and water (approx. 2.1%).
6 125 168
6
55 7
2
72 79 14 282 86 146 86 148 97 98 62 68 163 49 67 45 154 71 97 114 38 16 5 16
The city of Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, is home to 16% of the country’s population and with 554.000 citizens, it is the largest city and a cultural, scientific, industrial centre.
2
2 8 3
Population density - population number per ha
17
32
8
Šeškinė of Vilnius city, is located to the north west of the city center, near the road to Ukmergę. The block occupies 18 acres, although the municipality occupies only 4.6 km2 (1.1% of the total area of Vilnius) and is one of the smaller districts of Vilnius. Šeškinė is one of the most populated districts of Vilnius, in 2011 36.604 people were living here (approx. 6.6% of all the inhabitants of Vilnius).
066
LEGEND Location Static complexes Buildings Archaeological sites Vilnius city boundary Vilnius Old Town boundary, protected zone Vilnius castles State Cultural Reserve Vilnius Old Town - World Heritage objects U1P area Urban monument of local importance UV-70 area Other urban monument area Urban monument of local importance, UV-70 protection zone A Urban monument of local importance, UV-70 protection zone B Protected natural areas Complex of buildings - palaces, estate and homesteads territory
Cultural values
Vilnius - cultural values
Šeškinės is part of a protected natural area, because of the unique landscape and greenery. The landscape is formed by glaciers that made Šeškinės Esker. This part of the location site needs to remain green and construction is only allowed with special permit. Šeškinės forest is an urban monument of local importance and its part of a protection zone for the Old Town. The Old Town is protected because of its UNESCO Heritage status. The zone A and B indicated these boundaries, within you cannot harm or disturb the view and skylines of the Old town.
068
LEGEND Registered cultural values and registered culture of the registry values (individual and combined objects) Vilnius Old Town, the interim accounting registry objects included in the inventory (single and combined objects) Territories that have retained the authentic or close to authentic urban structure Green Plantations Public Spaces The inherent boundaries of the Old Town Vilnius city defensive fortifications (the studies, the jury. Immovable cultural values G235K) - managed by the cultural heritage technologies Vilnius City defensive fortifications putative contour adjusted trials V
Vilnius groundwater system elements The main historical tracts Most important objects and streets of the nineteenth century
Cultural haritage
Vilnius - consolidated value plan
UNESCO World Heritage Centre Vilnius is an outstanding example of a medieval foundation which exercised a profound influence on architectural and cultural developments in a wide area of Eastern Europe over several centuries. In the townscape and the rich diversity of buildings that it preserves, Vilnius is an exceptional illustration of a central European town that evolved organically over five centuries. On a site that had been intermittently occupied from the Neolithic period, a wooden castle was built around AD 1000 to fortify Gedimino Hill, at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers. The settlement did not develop as a town until the 13th century, during the struggles of the Baltic peoples against their German invaders. By 1323, when the first written reference to Vilnia occurs, it was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania founded by Prince Gedymin, ancestor of the Galitzin family. At this time some brick structures had apparently been erected on a small island formed when the Vilnia changed its course. Lithuania was the last great pagan state in Eastern Europe to be converted to Christianity, in 1387, when Grand Duke Jagaila was baptized. This opened Vilnius to the Western world, as in the same year it adopted the Magdeburg Statutes. However, it was not until 1410 when the Teutonic Order was destroyed at the battle of Tannenberg that it became safe from marauders and invaders.
The rapidly expanding town was struck by a disastrous fire in 1471, when the first religious establishments (cathedral, parish church of St John and Franciscan and Cistercian monasteries) were destroyed. The only surviving remains from the earliest period are therefore the walls, some sections of which survive beneath the defences built in 1503-22 against Tatar incursions. The town was partially reconstructed after another major fire in 1530, when an attempt to rationalize the medieval street pattern was largely unsuccessful. This was a period of commercial and cultural development. Close trading links were established with both Western and Eastern Europe, and these trading links led to the spread of Western culture into Byelorussia and the Ukraine. A printing works was set up in 1522 and a university in 1579. Yet another fire in 1610 saw the destruction of the newly built Lower Castle and the new cathedral. The subsequent reconstruction included extensive church building: the churches of St Michael, St Stephen, St Casimir, All Saints, and St Theresa all date from this period. At the beginning of the war with Russia (1654-67) Vilnius had no fewer than 41 religious buildings, though many were lost during the conflict. Most of the older buildings in wood were lost in a series of fires (in 1715, 1737, 1748 and 1749), but it was the successive reconstructions that gave the town many of the buildings of special character, including the cathedral, town hall, arsenal, and the Tyzenhauzai, Rensai, Pacai and Masalskiai palaces. Many of the surviving earlier buildings were rebuilt or refurbished in Baroque style.
Annexation by Russia in 1795 led to the Lithuanian capital gradually losing some of its distinctive character. The fortified enceinte and Lower Castle were demolished in 1799; in 1837 Cathedral Square was laid out in strict academic style and St George Avenue was constructed cutting across the old town fabric. In the Second World War, over 80 old houses were destroyed, but reconstruction was put in hand with the end of hostilities. Major rehabilitation projects for the historic town centre were drawn up in 1956-58 and 1970-74. The historic centre comprises the areas of the three castles (Upper, Lower and Curved) and the area that was encircled by a wall in the Middle Ages. The plan is basically circular, radiating out from the original castle site. The street pattern is typically medieval, with small streets dividing it into irregular blocks, but with large squares inserted in later periods. The historic buildings are in Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and classical styles (with some later additions). Some 40% of them are adjudged to be of the highest category of architectural and historical importance. They constitute a townscape of great diversity and yet at the same time one in which there is an overarching harmony. inhabitants of Vilnius).
070
VILNIUS Land use
072
LEGEND city ​​center, the most important local center intense built-up residential areas low building intensity residential areas public area for specialized complex buildings intensive use of planted greenery forest and wooded areas protected areas
Vilnius - land use
Part of the location site is reserved for the public, specialized complex buildings. This require buildings that are in use of the public which are for example; sport complex, cinema, shopping center and museums. The light green areas indicated the protected green, forest and wooded territory. This needs to stay ‘calm’ green with no extreme recreation or activities. The darker green indicates that the green can be more used in a intensive way. For example, leisure and recreation park in combination with outdoor activities.
PO
074
Elektrinių Traukinių Depas
Pavilnys
Vilnius
TRANSPORT SYSTEMS Connections
Vokė
Paneriai
Vilnius International Airport Kirtimai
LAVORI
ŠKĖS
LEGEND
ZA RA SA I
UTENA
RG ME UK GA RY
Vilnius city - important infrastructure now Ė
Location Administrative bordere of Vilnius municipality River The main Vilnius centre Expantion of the main centre Strenghtened and formed linear centres Vilnius Citycentral core
KLA
LAVORI
Elektrinių Traukinių Depas
IPĖD
ŠKĖS
A
STREET CATEGORIES A
Pavilnys
C;B
Vilnius
AXIS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT Vokė
LĖ
The most important connections with peripheral centres
MED
ININ
MIN
SK
ŠALČININKAI
VARŠUVA WARSAW
Kirtimai Paneriai
Valčiūnai
LYDA
MARIJAMPO
The most important inner connections
Vilnius International Airport
KAI
Railway connecting centres
076
TRANSPORT SYSTEMS Road systems
Road system Roads Vilnius road acces Vilnius city centre Šeškinė district
Transport system Vilnius international airport Existing train lines Planned train lines Planned metrolines
Kairënø kapinës 38As Perkûnkiemis (N2)
Paðilaièiai
Ateities g. 49,57,76
078
Paðilaièiai 5
5G, 32,46,105 Fabijoniðkës 10
Saulëtekis 4G, 5G,101 Ðeðkinë 48
Ðeðkinë N2
Ozo g. 26,87 Ðiaurës miestlis 5,7,33
Karveliðkës 63s
1 Þalgirio g. 35,36,66 2 Kalvarijø g. 27,37 3 Europos a. 88
Justiniðkës 43,73
Pilaitë N3
Antakalnis (15),17,18, 38,38As, 39,50,115
Þolyno g. 15 Kalno g. 67
Arimø g. 14,27,(74x)s
Rokantiðkës 37 Pilaitë 4G,54,75,102
Naujoji Vilnia 31
Þvërynas 11,32,59, 63 s,116
Lazdynai
Parko g. 6G,18,(67), 74,105,115
Uþupis 11
1 20 2 23 3 7, 22
Þemasis Pavilnys 13 Savanoriø pr. 29 Markuèiai 10,102
Grigiðkës 28,29,59 Gariûnai N1, N2, N3
Greitosios pagalbos ligoninë 55
Grigaièiai 14
Naujinikai 104 Guriai 33,58
Maxima Bazë M
Bukèiai 49,116
Þemieji Paneriai 24,103
TRANSPORT SYSTEMS Trolley bus lines Trakø Vokë 51
Vilkpëdë 13,73
Lazdynëliai 21
Agrastø g. 9x
Oro uostas 3G,1,2,88
Þemieji Paneriai 8,20,25,28,51,68
Zuikiø g. 9x
Kuprioniðkës 61
Uþusienis 41
Kirtimai 4
Vilnius city - Trolley Bus lines and directions
LEGEND Location Naujaneriai 66
Administrative bordere of Vilnius municipality
Antaviliai 17
Balþio g. 39
Rivers, water basins
Vanaginë 87
Trolley Bus lines
Oþkiniai 35,35As Santariðkës 1G,55,103 Bukiðkës 60 Bajorai 57
Bajorai 50
Visoriai 34
Ozo g. 26,87 g
Santariðkës 2G,26,48,75 Ðilënø g. 38
Tarandë 52 Fabijoniðkës 40
Turniðkës 15
Kairënø kapinës 38As
Perkûnkiemis (N2)
Paðilaièiai 5G, 32,46,105
Ateities g. 49,57,76
Paðilaièiai 5 Fabijoniðkës 10
Saulëtekis 4G, 5G,101 Ðeðkinë 48
Ðeðkinë N2
Ozo g. 26,87 Ðiaurës miestlis 5,7,33
Karveliðkës 63s
1 Þalgirio g. 35,36,66 2 Kalvarijø g. 27,37 3 Europos a. 88
Justiniðkës 43,73
Pilaitë N3
Antakalnis (15),17,18, 38,38As, 39,50,115
Þolyno g. 15 Kalno g. 67
Arimø g. 14,27,(74x)s
Rokantiðkës 37 Pilaitë 4G,54,75,102
Naujoji Vilnia 31
Þvërynas 11,32,59, 63 s,116
Parko g. 6 ,18,(67), 74,105,115 G
Lazdynai
Uþupis 11
1 20 2 23 3 7, 22
Þemasis Pavilnys 13 Savanoriø pr. 29 Markuèiai 10,102
Grigiðkës 28,29,59
Greitosios pagalbos ligoninë 55
Gariûnai N1, N2, N3
Grigaièiai 14
Naujinikai 104 Guriai 33,58
Bukèiai 49,116
Þemieji Paneriai 24,103
Agrastø g. 9x
Oro uostas 3G,1,2,88
Þemieji Paneriai 8,20,25,28,51,68
Zuikiø g. 9x
Trakø Vokë 51
Vilkpëdë 13,73
Lazdynëliai 21
Maxima Bazë M
Kuprioniðkës 61
Uþusienis 41
Kirtimai 4
Salininkai 19
Skaidiðkës 12 V.A.Graièiûno g. 25
Skaidiðkës 16 Salininkai 42
Vaidotai 8 Vaidotai 3 Rudamina (16x)
Trolley Bus directions and line numbers (important stops)
3 GRA maršrutas 7 GRA maršrutas
080 7 GRA maršrutas 4 GRA maršrutas
4 GRA maršrutas 5 GRA maršrutas 5 GRA maršrutas
1 GRA maršrutas 2 GRA maršrutas
3 GRA maršrutas
TRANSPORT SYSTEMS GRA bus lines
Vilnius city - GRA Bus lines and directions
LEGEND Location Administrative bordere of Vilnius municipality Rivers, water basins 1GRA maršrutas “Santariškės - Laisvės pr. - Stotis” 1 GRA maršrutas
2GRA maršrutas “Santariškės - Laisvės pr. - Stotis”
2 GRA maršrutas
3GRA maršrutas “Fabijoniškės - Centras - Oro uostas”
3 GRA maršrutas 7 GRA maršrutas
4GRA maršrutas “laitė - Konstitucijos pr. - Saulėtekis”
7 GRA maršrutas 4 GRA maršrutas
5GRA maršrutas “Parko - Olandų g. - Žaliasis tiltas” 7GRA maršrutas “Pašilaičiai - Ozo g. - Saulėtekis”
4 GRA maršrutas 5 GRA maršrutas 5 GRA maršrutas
1 GRA maršrutas 2 GRA maršrutas
3 GRA maršrutas
082 Elektrinių Traukinių Depas
Pavilnys
Vilnius
Vilnius International Airport
Vokė
Kirtimai Paneriai
TRANSPORT SYSTEMS Train lines and airport
Vilnius city - Train stations and airport
LEGEND Location Administrative bordere of Vilnius municipality Rivers, water basins Train Lines Train Station Airport
Elektrinių Traukinių Depas
Pavilnys
Vilnius
Vilnius International Airport
Vokė
Kirtimai Paneriai
Valčiūnai
084
TRANSPORT SYSTEMS Future development plans
Transport system - Transport network development in 2015
LEGEND Newly built streets and roads by 2015 Reconstruction of streets and roads by 2015 Prospective street and road network after 2015 Essential biking and hiking trails Newly built bicycle and pedestrian trails International Euro Velo bike trail Kernaves bridge alternative route New road at the junction 2015 New bridges and overpasses 2015 Ferent levels of pedestrians switch 2015 Reconstructed one level sanktyzos 2015 Reconstruction of second level sanktyzos 2015 Reconstruction of bridges and overpasses 2015 Airport Railway station
Location
Bus Station
Limitations in the Old Town area II (25 priority)
Planned major river port with support intrastructure
Coordinated traffic regulatory zone (Priority 7)
Planned marina
086
Transport Šeškinė The transport system plan shows the development plans that will be realized by 2015. On the outer edges of Šeškinė district some new streets and roads will be realized and old roads will be reconstructed. By adjusting and constructing these roads the accessibility to Šeškinė district will be better. New and improved bicycle and pedestrian trails will help to access the naturale green areas that was before inaccessible. The trails that are going into the district are given more and faster passageways to the facility Šeškinė has to offer. At the current time cycling and walking can cause uncomfortable situations because there are no separate pathways.
Vilnius C.S.
TRANSPORT SYSTEMS Pressure test
Vilnius International Airport
088
Vilnius city - pressure test
LEGEND Location Perspective/ future noise zone Current noise zone Administrative bordere of Vilnius municipality Rivers, water basins Dense city territory Danse peripheral territory Outside expansion territories Industry, busness and infrastructure objects’ expansion territories STREET CATEGORIES
Vilnius C.S.
A C;B
Vilnius International Airport
AXIS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT The most important inner connections The most important connections with peripheral centres Railway connecting centres
VILNIUS CITY CENTRES The main Vilnius centre Expantion of the main centre Developed and modemised main local centres Existing developed and modemised specialized city centred Newly formed local poli-functional city sentres Newly formed centres in outside development/expansion Strenghtened and formed linear centres Vilnius Citycentral core Developed centres outside Vilnius municipality administrative borders The border of Vilnius city subburban zone
090
ŠEŠKINĖ DISTRICT Development
Šeškinės development during soviet union
092
The biggest grow of the capital city of Lithuania was due to the Soviet Union. The city of Vilnius dealt with the grow and constituent of neighbourhoods and public centres, build in 1955-1990 during the soviet occupation. 1955 was the threshold, which marks the beginning of industrial building in Vilnius. The area in question includes the second half of the twentieth century design and build cities of Vilnius: Žirmūnai, Lazdynai, Karoliniškės, Justiniškės, Viršuliškės, Pašilaičiai, Fabijoniškės, Šeškinė, Baltupiai, Pilaitė and Žalgirio mikr. Mass residential construction in Vilnius started developing the application of the free areas and already existing parts of the city.
LEGEND Historical part of the city massive construction spots Construction of the massive isolated complexes
Vilnius city - developing districts scheme historical part of the city
massive cap construction spots
Construction of the m
Analysis of urban and architectural ideas are influenced by the formation of Vilnius districts and are limited to the period of the twentieth century. Take into account the social, political, economic and cultural situation, which had a profound impact on new buildings and housing design principles. In order to formulate and explain the arise of Vilnius districts in that time, amongst Ĺ eĹĄkinÄ—, we need to look in to the morphology methods of experience in analysing the city and city centres.
Public centres significance neighbourhood structure
DAILY PERIODIC
All the districts are built according to most important. At first all main roads, housing blocks and towers are build. Then, all public functions and neighbourhood functions.
EPISODIC
The set of the 1954 mass residential construction trends are directly associated with the installation of a multi-stage services for the population. Gradually transform public housing sector in Lithuania tiered service launched in 1956. With time Lithuania refused to build a small, separate buildings for public trade, catering, domestic and cultural service. The ground floor was a public space. From an economic point of view, such a system has been quite successful, so with some reservations she was introduced after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late eighties. According to George Hawk, summarizing the Western ideas Residential zone model consistingzone of themodel Residential phased service system: of urban experience, such a system has been ideological, processed, consisting of the phased service improved and have become a national standard. 1 - Residential centerssystem: 2 - District centers 1 - Residential centers 3 - City centre 4 - Industrial District Centre 2 - District centers 5 - Leisure center area 6 - Specialized centers
3 - City centre 1 4 - Industrial District Centre 5 - Leisure center area
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J. Hawk , describes the three main elements of residential areas: • group home or residential area; • residential neighbourhood; • residential district. Group home or residential area was considered to be a few blocks and a yard surrounding the house. One quarter or for a specific group of the population (depending on the size of the city ) and restricted arterial streets was regarded as a district. Neighbourhoods consist of residential buildings and daily service agencies have concluded neighbourhood service centre. Residential zone model consisting of the phased service system.
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400-500 meter radius of the neighbourhood service centre and districts, 800-1000 meters radius from the centre of the district. These limits have been installed in cities tiered system of services to the population result. These systems were based on the principles of service institutions and companies in the layout of the network according to their frequency of visits. Population tiered service system scheme
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Public centres were important districts of structural elements and functional and compositional aspects. Public centres are formed around the main districts of the public space. Maximum values were measured in areas specifically from social centres. Catchment area, this was a
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George Hawk defined neighbourhood as an area consisting of several districts, park, sports stadium and periodic maintenance of the complex institutions representing the district centre. The district used to provide a large secondary school. The development of residential construction was recommended for 20-25 percent of the area to anticipate future social, commercial buildings. The district, in contrast to the catchment area, crossed the city streets with large traffic flow and public transport. Usually occurred near the highway and the centre of the public district.
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Institutions and companies were divided into three groups: 1. daily (being visited every day or every other day); 2. periodic (every 7-10 days); 3. episodic visits (once or twice a month).
the use of one or another function, the closer to home it should be housed. One of the main objectives of such planning was optimal travel time and resource utilization, but such a model can exist only under ideal conditions, when each citizen is obliged to strictly observe the daily pattern of behaviour dictated.
The first group consisted of children in nurseries and kindergartens, at school, convenience foods, cooking and basic industrial goods store. Was required to ensure a safe, fast connection between the foot functions and residential buildings. The second group includes clubs with a theatre hall, cinema theatres bank branches, post office, hairdressers, universal type of shopping, music and art schools, libraries, sports facilities, clinics, pharmacies, laundries, dry-cleaning facilities for reception points. Objects are grouped into regional or inter- regional centre, the relationship between these functions and residential ensured walk, or short-distance travel on public transport. The third group consisted of larger institutions and businesses, cultural attractions focus on one or more to reach the city centre from the residential areas within 30 minutes, ensuring good communication with external hubs and stations. The fact that a multi-stage service system is a hierarchical dictates its name has the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;stepsâ&#x20AC;?. Dimitrijus Zadorinas, the architect that worked on these districts, presents almost a identical layout to the definition of a multi-stage queuing system, like George Hawk. The author notes that such a city as composed of varying scale structures, where each step is only responsible for a number of its current problems. The basic idea behind the cascade of domestic service system is that the more intensive
Societies, centres and public spaces in the ratio change. A - public spaces B - public function.
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There was a change in the concentration of social functions related to public space, during the construction of the soviet period districts. Šeškinė was one of the last districts to be built and experienced evolving of the public centre. The principle changed from public space all around and oriented towards the object going now into a social centre to free construction principles formed around the public space. Space was admitted to the interior of the building (open, covering the first floor, a glass display case). Freeing the lower tier of public buildings initiation functions concentrated area unit values appear to form a closed assumptions. Articulate tighter spaces (or vice versa, in order to form a higher quality of public space and functions of concentration)
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the western part of Šeškinės public centre plan
Šeškinės public center scheme
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Šeškinė is divided in four home groups areas. These areas where the first part which was built when the Šeškinė district was constructed. Their are located around the centre.
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ential zone model consisting of the d service system:
idential centers trict centers
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EPISODIC A2
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Šeškinės district was established in the north-west of Vilnius. It is about 3 km from the city center and occupies 18 hectares of territory. Šeškinės first mentioned as historical district in 1390. From the sixteenth to the eighteenth century the district was owned by the Radviloms family. Until the mid twentieth century Šeškinė was a village. Along Šeškinės hills were arranged small wooden house. During the Soviet years, a number of individual brick residential home were built. Sinds1955 Šeškinė was connected to the city of Vilnius.
ŠEŠKINĖ DISTRICT Architecture
1977 Šeškinė started construction of multi- residential district, designed by architect Kazimieras Balėnas. Kosmonautų prospekto axis is the first district, all of which formed the new series of 120V household groups. Short step allowed smulkėti house building groups of cuttings, so the whole structure stronger neighborhoods segmentiškumas. Groups of buildings in all districts Šeškinės formed “U” and “L“ letters and their modifications principle, it creates a semi -closed group home ‘s interior space. Compared with Karoliniškių tarpgrupinėmis spaces, Šeškinė is larger and clearly identified. The space formed by the three vertical planes, buildings and in the area of free planning solutions acquire a different character. Monolithic reinforced concrete buildings, design specially Šeškinės district, formed of two hulls connected in the center of the stairwells, corridors and lifts blocks. High buildings surrounded on four sides with rounded balconies with a dynamic rhythm distinguished panel- static multi- environment. Until the 9th decade following the end of the monolith was peculiar accents Vilnius gate from the highway from Ukmergės (to Riga) side of the characters, which were inseparable from the image of a clock on one of the šešiolikaaukščių and cast inscription “Vilnius.“ One of the first buildings of the new architecture - complex Šeškinės trade and service center. Around half an enclosed playground located four and one 2- storey low , red- brick building , reminiscent of the Old Town area. Highlighted in the middle pool and the clock tower on one of the
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objects of the original stands on the towering columns of the second floor gallery. Particular attention was paid to the accessibility of the complex: the shopping center the walking trails from around the neighborhood. This is exactly the opposite pattern of the twentieth century. flourished at the end of a large covered shopping center “box” type. This is one of the most original of the late Soviet period, the supermarket. Šeškinės clinic stands near the Baltic Way crucifix, reminiscent of the Lithuanian Revival events. Crucifix engraved three times : in 1939 VIII 23/1939 IX 29/1989 23 VIII. The first - the Molotov -Ribbentrop Pact, the second - in Vilnius and the Vilnius region, the return date of Lithuania, and the third - the Movement of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Popular Front organized campaign “Baltic Way” Day. Among Šeškinės and Viršuliškių Raina is the Jewish cemetery, where many famous people are buried. Now Šeškinė is one of the most populated districts of Vilnius. There are about 25 thousand population. Neighborhoods adjacent to Šeškinė are; Šnipiškėmis, Žvėrynu, Justiniškėmis, Pašilaičiais, Fabijoniškėmis, Viršuliškėmis. Main Street neighborhood - Ukmergës. Ukmergës street bordered with Kalvariju and T. Narbuto streets. This street runs through Šeškinės and Fabijoniškių districts. Šeškinė to parish status.
Šeškinė very interesting geologically. Where else in the middle of the twentieth century began to appear the first Šeškinės neighborhood houses, stretched above the village, district and individual houses rather rare geological formation formed by the ice age - Šeškinės Ridge. Oz - quite a rare geological formation in the world. These local relief of 16-18 thousand years ago formed the glacier. Water flowing through ice slot, built of different materials deposits. Glacier was completely dissolved, these deposits formed an elongated winding ridge of gravel, sand and boulders stretching 1160 meters. For many years, there was an intensive excavation. The Second World War, the surface ozone was badly damaged - furrowed trenches and trenches, and for gravel excavation Ridge appeared spacious digs. This place name comes from the animal ferret, which is very common after a sandy and pebble hills. Šeškinės hills have long been used as a natural barrier to defend Vilnius. In 1390 there was fighting against the Crusaders, fallen Vilnius. In 1794, 1831, And 1863 Šeškinės hills rallied and organized the defense of the rebels . Also here in 1794 J. Jasinskis led rebel army defended the city. In 1964 Šeškinės Ridge was declared a natural monument, and in 197980 was filled quarry. From Šeškinės hills overlooking a very beautiful view of the entire city. Today, many people are coming out to walk in the hilly areas, jogging, skiing in the winter.
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ŠEŠKINĖ DISTRICT Esker
Šeškinės esker A remarkable geological monument in Vilnius proclaimed in 1964 is the Šeškinė esker, an unique element of glacial accumulation relief in Vilnius city. This geomorphologic body also is selected for insert into the list of representative geo-sites in Lithuania. This geomorphological form as an esker for the first time was described and popularized in press in 1936, and somewhat later the Šeškinė esker was described in the Encyclopedia of Great Britain “Britannica”.
It is believed that the Šeškine esker appeared before 16–18 thousand years, in margin of the last Pleistocene glacier (Weichselian) when a thick ice layer still occupied the whole lowering between Rieše upland and the present hills of Šeškine. The accumulation of glaciofluvial deposits forming the esker could take place in large fracture – tunnel of cracked (“dead”) ice or in its mouth. When glacier thawed and these sediments sank down, the oblong flexuous ridge Šeškine esker – appeared on the Earth’s surface. At present only the upper part of esker is seen, because the lover its part is hiding below its foot level.
Šeškinės esker have long been used as a natural barrier to defend Vilnius. In 1390 there was fighting against the Crusaders, but led to the fallen of Vilnius. In 1794, 1831 and 1863 Šeškinės hills rallied and organized the defines of the rebels. Also here in 1794 J.Jasinskio led rebel army defended the city. The esker is a flexuous ridge (has three distinct turns) of embankment shape, stretching from SW to NE. The ridge starts in the Northern OzoGelvonu streets crossing corner (next to “Akropolis”) and continues NorthEast where it ends up at a small lake. Its measurements are following: length – 1160 m, relative height – 3–18 m, width of crest – 3–12 m (average – 5 m), average width of base – 50 m, declivity of slopes – 7–30°. The Šeškine esker is formed of obliquely bedded gravel and sand; a lot of boulders >0.5 m in diameter are in the gravel. On the of ridge (crest) a thin (1.2–0.7 m) cover formed of brown loam or sandy loam occurs by spots.
Example Esker
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Land hights
Aerial photo 1940
For some time the esker was devastated by excavation of gravel from it, and its natural picture could remain only in old aerophotos, but by common efforts of scientists and society it was preserved proclaiming it as a monument of nature. A street, shopping centre and a school are named Ozas after the Šeškinė esker. Šeškinė esker is typical radial esker, formed in glacial conditions. This classical esker denoting maximum advance of the Weichselian glaciation is known since end of XIX century.
Fig. 1. The Esker is formed by the glacier and waterstream
Fig. 2. Ice melts and the Esker remains
Geologists D. and N. Sobolevai are probably the first in 1911 that drew attention to the Šeškinės ridge and kept it in Ozu. Locals have long known Šeškinės Oze slūgstant large gravel and sand reserves. However, larger amounts of gravel mining started here by far since 1952, and this detrimental Šeškinėje ozui activity engaged in Vilnius city executive committee to the city to repair trust - then the collective farm “New Road” (this was the land of the ridge) boss. Since 1953 Šeškinės oze gravel began to operate, and other construction companies, road builders . Intensive gravel excavation lasted about 6 years, until 1957, moves the scientific and educational institutions naturalists, Nature Protection Committee of the Lithuanian SSR Council of Ministers of digging was stopped. However, after the ban and then for many years was on the prowl Šeškinės oze pasikasama gravel. This Ridge/ Esker has lost more than 80.000 m3 of gravel.
ice water till
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The Šeškinė esker and its mode of occurrence:
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1 – glacial loam with abundant amount of gravel 2 – clayey loam with scarce gravel 3 – gravel with boulders 4 – sand with gravel 5 – fine, well-sorted sand 6 – talus deposits (coating of slopes)
Seskines esker scheme hypothermia after digging gravel suspension in 1957 (of A. Linz, 1971)
January 1990 drillings at 122 m depth. Drilling for deep geological mapping No. 145
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1958 Nature Conservation Committee (V. Bergo personality) has proposed to restore the integrity of the Šeškinės esker (suvežant the quarry cavity soil) and the surrounding area to make a park planted with trees. 1969 A. Linčius in the press have suggested Šeškinės esker quarry location to set up a museum of natural underground and the restoration of the former volume of ozone build -purpose cultural building. 1970 threatens to expanding the city of Vilnius (building Seskine areas) Šeškinės esker around the quarry site will be divided down the broad main streets and the large slacks to šiaurytinės ozone Pason stadium will be built. Making substantial efforts to naturalists in 1972 managed to convince city planners to abandon the faith. 1972 Vilnius Art Institute of fourth-year students of J. Klobaitė, L. Valinevičiūtė, A. Banaitis, R. Repšys ir A. Siurblys, led by prof. E. Budreikos submitted as term papers five projects Šeškinės esker fragmented part of the museum to restore and use the building. In 1973, Lithuanian SSR State Construction Committee was held and declared that 1975 will organize an open competition Šeškinės ozone protection and the use of the best design concept to explain It was 1973 A. Linčiaus design and design tasks, but competition did not (apparently, he found the funds). 1975 Vilnius Civil Engineering Institute was awarded a diploma Valerija Mikšiūnaitė, under the direction of A. Klimašauskui was regained Šeškinės esker hipsometrinį plan (scale 1:5000, contour lines are lead of 0.5 m),
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which were introduced at Vilnius City Executive Committee of the Board of Civil Engineering and Architecture staff (they made a copy of the plan). In 1979 and 1980, the beginning of the quarry Šeškinės esker hole was filled with soil brought from transformed trunk route departure from Vilnius on Highway Ukmergės toward, but then was not adjusted to the soil mound ridge better meet its primal form. In 1981, Vilnius Civil Engineering Institute graduate Virgilijus Bulavas, under the direction of A. Klimašauskui, hipsometriniame Plan (the scale of 1:5000) documented the current state of the form Šeškinės esker/ ridge and reconstruction consisted Terrain maps with the calculated volumes of the work . During World War II Šeškinės ozone surface in many places was furrowed trenches and trenches, and when running on gravel ridge appeared spacious digs, it has become the unofficial trash, in which their waste transported by various organizations. There were blown up in war found mines and bombs, burned ELTs. Šeškinės esker and environmental conservation, management was convened to discuss matters at a board, attended the Vilnius City Executive Committee, Environmental Protection, Vilnius University, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Lithuanian Geological Research Institute and representatives of other institutions were placed, for example; 1201-1970, 23-04-1979, acts of the proposals, but to date geological monument status remains critical. Despite the fact that Šeškinės Ridge
169 on gravel operation and other reasons, very badly damaged and still ill-treatment he has decades of Vilnius University, Vilnius Pedagogical Institute students geological and geographical practice cognitive and educational natural object.
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Šeškinės ozas protection zone sins 10 Jan. 1986
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ŠEŠKINĖ DISTRICT Tourist attraction
Šeškinės esker and reserve is part of a far more bigger protection zone of national reserves within Vilnius. Starting within the Šeškinės district;
- Šeškinės ozo (esker) Geological Park - Šeškinės slopes of the Geomorphological Reserve
Others;
- Karoliniškės Landscape Reserve - Cedrono upper reaches Landscapes - Griovių Geomorphological Reserve - Vokės Hydrological Reserve - Panerių erosion hills Landscape Reserve - Vokės senslenio slopes of the Geomorphological Reserve - Dvarčionių Geomorphological Reserve - Aukštagirio Geomorphological Reserve - Valakupių Klonio Geomorphological Reserve - Veržuvos Hydrological Reserve - Tapelių Telmological Reserve
- Verkių Regional Park - Pavilių Regional Park LEGEND
Reserve Regional Park
Vilnius city touristic map for view points within the city
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Vilnius city outdoor advertising special plan
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Imagine having to compete for another country at the prime of their life when they have everything going for them. Knowing full well that since 1940 the Russians have occupied and oppressed and just destroyed every bit of hope that an entire country, their homeland, had ever even thought about.â&#x20AC;?
Bill Walton, 2012
retired American basketball player about basketball team Žalgiris
THE WORLD OF SPORTS
The world of sports The Greek philosopher Aristotle (d. 322 B. C.) remarked that play or sport is the closest thing most human beings come to contemplation, to the highest of human activities. Sport perhaps lacks the â&#x20AC;&#x153;seriousnessâ&#x20AC;? of contemplating the highest things, yet it contains a liberty and a joy of its own that can only be had if we seriously engage in the play before us. Play, by demanding all of our energies and skill to perform either badly or well, takes us out of ourselves. We are at our best when we are looking at something besides ourselves. The best way to catch the meaning of ourselves as physical beings endowed with bodies is to watch those of our kind exerting themselves in the highest of athletic skills, to become hushed as the challenge unfolds, to cheer the play and the winner, to know that good players also lose, to see the spirit suffuse the flesh. Politics and sports or sports diplomacy describes the use of sport as a means to influence diplomatic, social and political relations. Sports diplomacy may transcend cultural differences and bring people together. The use of sports and politics has had both positive and negative implications over history. Sports competitions or activities have had the intention to bring about change in certain cases. Nationalistic
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fervour is sometimes linked to victories or losses on sports fields. While the Olympics is often the biggest political example of using sports for diplomatic means, association football, as well as other sports in the global arena, have also been used in this regard. Aristotle knew of the Olympic Games and their religious and exemplary overtones concerning human limits and human beauty. He meant that play was something for its own sake, something that need not exist, something that was free. But still play was put into being in order to reveal the excellence and limits of the condition of man in his earthly human form when he is striving to be his best. The kinds of games that exist -- the contest games, the vertigo games, the games of chance, and the imitation games -- each reveal a different side of human excellence. By using sports to overcome cultural differences and bringing people together means that sports can unify people of different ethnic, religious, social, and cultural backgrounds. Because in a team or countries national sport, everyone is working towards the same goal. The key element to achieve this goal is working together (teamwork). Sports encourage teamwork, for teamwork to be necessary you need to accept each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s differences and do whatever needs to be done. The desire for success causes us to put aside our prejudices and really work with the other person, rather than with our negative image of that person. At the end of a season, people will be bonded together because of the experience of the sport and experiencing it together - the cumulative experience of success, failure, hardship, and triumph.
Sport is a universal language that can bring people together, no matter what their origin, background, religious beliefs or economic status is. There are times when sports can bring people together. Sports can unify communities, cities, states and even nations. Lithuanians are sports enthusiasts and real chauvinism if it comes to sports. Basketball is the only sport the 3,5 million Lithuanians truly care about - it is their second religion, after Catholicism - and their success is proportionately stunning. The national team is No. 5 in the world rankings, behind countries of 313 million (the U.S.), 47 million (Spain), 40 million (Argentina) and 11 million (Greece). Basketball was introduced by a Lithuanian American named Stasys Darius after World War I (1914â&#x20AC;&#x201C;18). The sport caught on rapidly and the Lithuanian team won the European basketball championship twice before World War II (1939â&#x20AC;&#x201C;45). One of the reasons why Basketball became so big in Lithuania is probably the reason that they are great and successful in the sport. After the number one Basketball, is following football and track-and-field athletics. Strangely they are less great in football. We can ask ourselfs the question of this has anything to do with the fact that there was less support for football clubs in the past. Or that there is also not a decant representable stadium for these football teams.
I came to understand that when international football games take place, they play the home matches of Lithuania in Latvia. Even if they do renew the LFF Stadium, it is still not good enough to be taken seriously by the people of Lithuania. They make many jokes about this Stadium and therefore also about the football teams playing for the country. This situation does not only happen in the world of football. Since Lithuania won a golden medal on the previous Olympic Games for female-swimming, the country is talking about how bad the situation is for all sports other than Basketball. For instance, there is no swimming pool in whole Lithuania that would meet the Olympic standards in length. Many sportsmen that built up a name practice abroad. This is because of pour local conditions that cannot meet their needs. Running is becoming more and more popular among the citizens. People in general are becoming more aware of practising sports themselves. With a new development of the area that serves the needs for citizens and by building a new National stadium could improve the awareness of the common problems and healthy lifestyle.
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SUMMER SPORTS Aquatics
Diving Swimming Synchronized Swimming Water Polo
Archery Athletics Badminton Basketball Boxing Canou Slalom Sprint
Cycling
Cycling BMX Cycling Road Cycling Track Cycling Mountain Bike
Equestrian Dressage Eventing Jumping
Fencing Football Golf Gymnastics
Gymnastics Artistic Gymnastics Rhythmic Trampoline
Handball Hockey Judo Modern pentathlon Rowing Rugby
WINTER SPORTS Biathlon Bobsleigh
Sailing Shooting Table tennis Teakwondo Tennis Triathlon Volleyball
Bobsleigh Bobsleigh Skeleton
Beach Volleyball Volleyball
Weightlifting Wrestling
Curling Ice Hockey Luge Skaiting
Skiing
Alpine Skiing Cross Country Skiing Freestyle Skiing Nordic Combined Ski Jumping Snowboard
Figure Skating Short Track Speed Skaiting Speed Skaiting
Greco-Roman Freestyle
OLYMPIC SPORTS
SUMMER OLYMPICS 1992 Barcelona 1 Athletics - Men’s discus throw 3 Basketball - Men’s competition 1996 Atlanta 3 Basketball - Men’s competition
WINTER OLYMPICS 2008 Beijing 2 Modern pentathlon - Men’s competition 2 Sailing - Women’s Laser Radial class 3 Athletics - Men’s discus throw 3 Modern pentathlon - Men’s competition 3 Wrestling - Men’s Greco-Roman 120 kg
2000 Sydney 1 Athletics - Men’s discus throw 1 Shooting - Women’s trap 3 Basketball - Men’s competition 3 Cycling (Road) - Women’s road race 3 Rowing - Women’s double sculls
2012 London 1 Swimming - Women’s 100m breaststroke 1 Modern pentathlon - Women’s competition 2 Canoeing - Men’s C1 200 m Wrestling - ‘s Greco-Roman 74 kg 3 Boxing Men’s 60 kg 3
2004 Athens 1 Athletics - Men’s discus throw 2 Athletics - Women’s heptathlon 2 Modern pentathlon - Men’s competition
2016 London 2 Rowing - Men’s double sculls 3 Rowing - Woman’s double sculls 3 Canoe sprint - Men’s kayak double 200 m Weightlifting - Men’s 94 kg 3 In total count 25 medals
No medals where won
LITHUANIAN
OLYMPIC MEDALS
LIETUVIA
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Impuls
various and training of sports
Pramogu Arena
VšĮ „Sportas ir poilsis“ Sportima Indoor sports
Ice skating ring
Siemens Arena
Basketball / Multi Arena
Old National Stadium Lietuvos vaiku ir jaunimo centras Lithuanian Youth Center
Žalgiris Stadium Football stadium
Teatro Arena
various and training of sports
Vingis Stadionas
athletics track / football
Lazdynu Baseinas
Lietuvos Edukologijos Universiteto Stadionas
Sporto Rūmai
Vilnius Palace of Concerts and Sports old arena for volleyball and basketball
athletics track / football
Swimming pool
LFF Stadium
Football stadium
SPORTS FACILITIES Vilnius city, Lithuania
Vilniaus Universiteto Campus Stadionas athletics track / football
Sport facilities
Lietuvos Biatlono Federacija Lithuania Biathlon Federation
Lietuvos Lengvosios Atletikos Federacija Lithuanian Athletics Federation
Lietuvos Žirginio Sporto Federacija Lithuanian Equestrian Federation
Lietuvos Teniso Sąjunga Lithuanian Tennis Union
Lietuvos Nacionalinė Slidinėjimo Asociacija
Lietuvos Greitojo Čiuožimo Asociacija
Lithuanian National Ski Association
Lithuania Speed Skating Association
Lietuvos Taekwondo Lietuvos Krepšinio Federacija (Wtf) Federacija Lithuanian Basketball Federation Lietuvos Kerlingo Asociacija Lietuvos Beisbolo Asociacija
Lithuania Taekwondo (WTF) Federation
Lietuvos Badmintono Federacija
Lithuania Curling Association Lithuanian Baseball Association
Lithuanian Badminton Federation
Lietuvos Bokso Federacija Lithuanian Boxing Federation
Lietuvos Baidarių Ir Kanojų Irklavimo Federacija Lithuanian Canoe Rowing Federation Lietuvos Buriuotojų Sąjunga Lithuanian yachtsmen Union
Lietuvos Futbolo Federacija Lithuanian Football Federation
Lietuvos Dviračių Sporto Federacija Lithuanian Cycling Federation
Lietuvos Fechtavimo Federacija Lithuania fencing federation
Lietuvos Gimnastikos Federacija Lithuania Gymnastic Federation
Lietuvos Imtynių Federacija Lithuania Wrestling Federation
Lietuvos Irklavimo Federacija Lithuanian Rowing Federation
Lietuvos Lankininkų Federacija Lithuanian Archery Federation
Lietuvos Ledo Ritulio Federacija Lithuanian Ice Hockey Federation
Lietuvos Plaukimo Federacija Lithuanian Swimming Federation
Lietuvos Rankinio Federacija Lithuanian Handball Federation
Lietuvos Regbio Federacija Lithuanian Rugby Federation
Lietuvos Stalo Teniso Asociacija Lithuania Table Tennis Association
Lietuvos Sunkiosios Atletikos Federacija Lithuanian Weightlifting Federation
Lietuvos Šaudymo Sporto Sąjunga
Lietuvos Triatlono Federacija
Lithuanian Shooting Sports Union
Lithuania Triathlon Federation
Lithuanian Modern Pentathlon Federation
Lithuania water polo Federation Lietuvos Žolės Riedulio Federacija Lithuanian Hockey Federation
Lietuvos Šiuolaikinės Penkiakovės Federacija Lietuvos Vandensvydžio Sporto Federacija Lietuvos Tinklinio Federacija Lithuania Volleyball Federation
There are not a lot of sports facilities in Vilnius and most of these complexes are in poor condition or totally not in use any more. The complexes that are still in practice are most likely used by the public or young athletes that cannot afford to go somewhere else. This is one of the reasons that the government of Lithuania decided a long time ago to build a new National Stadium for all kind of sports that are in need of a new accommodation. To build one sports palace for multiple kinds of sports and have one place to concentrate the spectators.
The most important stadiums SIEMENS ARENA Basketball / Multi Arena The number of spectators: Basketball match – up to 10.000 spectators Ice hockey – up to 8.000 spectators Performance, chamber event – 700 to 3.000 spectators Concerts – up to 12.500 spectators Catering services: 1 restaurant 1 VIP Bar 5 regular bars 11 fast food bars 5 BMW Club bars
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LAZDYNU BASEINAS Swimmingpool The number of spectators: Swim match – up to 550 spectators 50m bath with 8 tracks Pool depth ranges from 2 to 5 meters 10 meter diving tower Catering services: athletics sports sauna , massage , solarium , café , a VIP lounge PRAMOGU ARENA Ice skating ring The number of spectators: Ice hockey, Curling and Figure Skating – up to 2.500 spectators Concerts – up to 4.000 spectators Catering services: Festive cafes combine two rooms Ground floor hall can accommodate up to 50 guests Second floor hall has 150 seats, and buffet tables accommodate up to 200 guests
ŽALGIRIS STADIUM Football stadium
ŽALGIRIS ARENA - KAUNAS Basketball, multi-purpose stadium
The number of spectators: Football match – up to 15.029 spectators Catering services: No extra accomodations
The number of spectators: Basketball 15.688 Concerts 17.500 Hockey 13.762 Circus 15.400 Boxing 15.261 Volleyball 13.666 Handball 13.807 Catering services: rentout VIP suite 9 Žalgiris venue loges for events, presentations, concerts, viewing sporting events or shows various foodservice establishments
LFF STADIUM Football, multi-purpose stadium The number of spectators: Football match – up to 5.500 spectators Catering services: Facitities are rentend out
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It could be no-one but Heracles (Hercules in the Roman world), the mythological hero of strength and of exertion, to set the length over which the athletes had to compete against each other in the only competition of the first Olympic Games. Legend has it that six-hundred feet of the hero, one after the other, determined in 776 BC the length of the track of the running event, a length just exceeding 192 m after which the competition itself and the facility welcoming it were named: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stadionâ&#x20AC;?.
GENERATIONS OF STADIUMS Stadium history
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The origins The first stadium therefore originated in the VIII Century BC around a rudimentary athletics track shaped as an elongated “U”. Starting and finish line were at the two ends and there was one only 192 m long and 32 m wide track. A stone stand with two separate entrances for judges and for spectators, who could therefore watch the athletes’ efforts and cheer them throughout the competition, was built along the track. The also elongated-U-shaped stand ran along the three sides of the track, two rectilinear and one bended, on the other side opening onto the surrounding landscape. Olympia stadium, which was extended as the Games became popular in the whole ancient Greece, could welcome up to 45,000 spectators. As sport became more popular, stadia were built in many Greek towns alongside with hippodromes. These had similar characteristics and dimensions but they were used for horse and chariot racing. These sports facilities soon started to play key roles within the “polis”. There are still vestiges in Delphi, Ephesus and most of all in Athens, where in 331 BC Panathenaic stadium was built. It was then rebuilt for the first modern Olympic Games of 1896 and was recently renovated for the Olympic Games of Athens 2004.
From an architectural viewpoint, with its partially open structure and its plan, shaped as an elongated “U”, the stadium, which is built sometimes by excavating tiers along a slope and other times by building them at a certain height on a level ground, is the meeting point between the two great typological models of the Greek and Roman world, which are also public facilities but used for performances: theatre and amphitheatre. The former, which developed in Greece starting from the VI century BC, was made up of the succession of three basic cores, cavea, orchestra and scene. The cavea tiers were arranged on a natural slope in a semicircular configuration towards the scene, the site of the performance, and beyond also towards the surrounding landscape, which therefore turned into an integral part of the scene and as a consequence of the theatre itself. Epidaurus theatre, giving onto Peloponnesus mountains, and the Hellenistic Taormina theatre, giving onto Etna, are famous examples. The amphitheatre was built during the Roman age starting from the first century BC in contrast to the Greek model, from which it differed due to its most urban nature. Tiers were built on an elevated level often with superimposed rows. The elliptical layout fully encompassed the amphitheatre and spectators could focus only on the arena, the central area for the cruel gladiators’ fights or for naumachia. Besides, unlike those in the theatre stands were often screened by a curtain screen made up of cloths actuated by ropes. Arles amphitheatre, Verona Arena and of course Flavian Amphitheatre, the Colosseum, are the most important and best preserved examples.
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From greece to roma In parallel with the transition from theatre to amphitheatre, the tradition of sports facilities moved from Greece to the Roman world with the birth of circus, the typological evolution of the prototypes of stadium and of hippodrome, between the II and the I century BC. The circus concerned equestrian sports and drew the elongate “U” shape from the previous models but it differed from them as its fourth side was closed by buildings. Spectators’ tiers were arranged on a natural slope and their lower part was made of stone. Upper tiers were built at a certain height and were usually made of wood. The sometimes monumental buildings on the fourth side included the horses’ starting stalls marking the boundary of a further side of the track. The course was continuous and races on more laps could therefore take place. The two long sides of the track were separated by a low central balustrade decorated with statuary. Two pillars at its ends indicated the “metae”, the turning posts for the horses. Circuses were usually built around the walls and adjacent to the imperial palace, in order to ensure direct access for the emperor and his court. Due to their positions, these large open spaces were sometimes used for some more public activities as well, thus turning into an integral part of the city life.
Circus Maximums, built in the first century BC in Roma, is the best-known example of this typology. Its main characteristics were its large dimensions and its capacity. It was over 600 m long and 200 m wide and its tiers, built along the two long sides and one short side, could welcome about 200,000 spectators. The stands covered three levels, behind which there was an external façade with three superimposed rows. The lowest row was provided with large arcades used by the spectators reaching the facility and streaming out of it. The arcades also featured workshops opening onto the outside. Thanks to its location, near the Tiber, it could be filled with the river waters and as a consequence Circus Maximus could be also used for naumachia shows. One of the best preserved circuses is the Circus of Maxentius in Roma, and Constantinople Circus is also a famous example. It was built in the IV century AD together with the other large buildings of the new capital of the Roman Empire. However by the time it was built circuses were no more serving their original purpose, that is hosting equestrian events, but they were rather used for other public activities
Fifteen centuries of suspention During the IV century AD, the importance of sports practice was considerably reassessed all over the ancient world, which unavoidably affected the development of sports facilities. After Christian cult was legitimized by Constantine Edict, the Council of Arles held in 314 imposed a ban on the circus charioteers, actually banning the pagan practice of chariot racing and thus speeding up the conversion of circuses into non-sports public facilities. Similarly in 394, when Greece had been under the Roman rule for a long time, an edict promulgated by the emperor Theodosius who accepted the request made by Milan bishop Ambrose led to the abolition of the Olympic Games, which were regarded as a pagan rite contrary to religious rites. Therefore shifted to new building typologies such as churches and cathedrals, castles, fortifications, towers and municipal palaces which became peculiar elements of Medieval towns and of their development. Sports activities were seldom and limited. The ancient Greek and Roman sports buildings were progressively abandoned. Many of them were converted into markets or houses, others were fully pulled down to reuse building materials.
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Sports practice was given a new boost during the Renaissance when running events and equestrian events were reintroduced. However they did not take place in specific facilities, but usually in areas serving other purposes, in large open spaces or in the squares, which were often provided with wooden tiers and small temporary roofs for the most important spectators. Piazza del Campo in Siena and its Palio horse race are the most important case that is still popular nowadays, while in Firenze in Piazza Santa Croce the forerunners of modern football used to play in teams made up of 27 members each without any rule, but the one to throw the ball into the goal of the opposite team. Sports were properly defined a few centuries later, in the second half of the Nineteenth Century, which also saw the setting up of the first clubs and sports federations. The enthusiasm for the new sports, football and rugby in particular, quickly grew in Great Britain, where in the cities in which population had dramatically grown due to the urbanization process resulting from the Industrial Revolution people soon felt the need to build new facilities that could welcome a high number of fans. In the same years the revival of the Olympic Games, proposed in 1894 by the French baron Pierre de Coubertin, sanctioned the final importance of sport in the modern age and symbolically marked the start of a new age of stadia.
The modern age Modern Olympic Games were inspired by Greece and by the model of stadion, this time Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, which was brought to light by the excavations dating back to the Eighteenth century and which was rebuilt keeping its elongated “U” shape prior to the first Games held in 1896. The models of the Greek and Roman sports facilities rediscovered in the Neoclassical age turned into the reference prototypes for the first modern stadia, triggering off an evolutionary process that starting from Great Britain at the end of the Nineteenth century and still under way, spread in all continents in parallel with technological innovations and often linked with Olympic Games and Football World Cups. So far the technological evolution is almost one century and a half long. On the basis of the peculiar aspects that have marked the different stages, partly drawing on the theoretical analysis made by Rod Sheard (read note 1), five “generations” of stadia can be identified. These are generations marking the steps of a faster and faster development with many stadia, fully renovated or rebuilt over time, that have gone through more stages of this evolutionary process.
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The first stadium First-generation stadia were like huge hotchpotches whose purpose was basically to host a large amount of spectators in an age when there was no television and sports events could be watched just live. Particularly in the first years, they were facilities with no architectural value, uncomfortable and the provision of facilities was basic. Tiers were made of concrete or just with the arrangement of embankments standing and often crammed into the stands, with the exception of some small seating stand, sometimes also provided with a small roof for the most important spectators. Their extension was usually disorderly and non-homogeneous, in order to satisfy the increasing demand for seating areas by the spectators. This model was introduced in Great Britain as football facility with the typical rectilinear stands running parallel to the sides of the pitch and was soon adapted to the model of the Olympic stadium with continuous tiers running along the perimeter of the athletics track. The White City stadium, now pulled down, was the first example during the Games of London 1908. Alongside with the passion for football, these models were exported from Great Britain to the rest of Europe and to South America. They often featured the Marathon Tower, which made them easily identifiable
in the city environment. This first generation of stadia took different forms until the end of the Fifties, when they had to be confronted with a sudden reduction in the number of spectators. (read note 2)
The equipped stadium As a result of the TV coverage of the most important sports events, at the end of the Fifties more and more spectators started to prefer the images coming from their home TV sets to stadia, which were often uncomfortable, not so welcoming and with not so good visibility conditions. To solve this problem the new stadia started to be equipped with more facilities for spectators in order to improve their comfort. The new stadia built in the three following decades or many of the already existing ones that were renovated provided themselves with viewing sectors with seats, with roofed stands and with a higher number of toilet facilities, also including food and beverage outlets in the stand area. The stadia were also equipped so as to welcome television broadcasting systems as best as possible and to develop their potentials. The interior of many facilities was renovated, thus stressing their nature of â&#x20AC;&#x153;introvertedâ&#x20AC;? stadia, which were comfortable inside yet anonymous outside, which was a common element of that age. They were also provided with artificial lighting installations thus ensuring night broadcast. (read note 3) What was still a problem in the stadia was inside safety.
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The commercial stadium The Eighties ended with a series of catastrophic events in the UK stadia: fire of wooden stands, the escalation of the violent phenomenon of hooligans and the disaster at Sheffield Hillsborough Stadium, caused in April 1989 by an overcrowded stand. These events killed hundreds of people and induced us to consider spectatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; safety. The result was summarized in the pages of Taylor Report, a survey carried out on behalf of the Government, which in 1990 introduced the new safety measures to be adopted in the UK stadia. The main recommendation was that all stadia had to become all-seater facilities. Taylor Report became greatly popular not just in the UK and started a deep upgrading process concerning many European stadia. As a consequence, these facilities which were made more accessible, safe and comfortable drew more diversified and heterogeneous spectators. Therefore the stadia were not upgraded just to be in accordance with the new standards, but the process gave us the opportunity to introduce business activities in stadia, which were soon also sponsored. Merchandising, museums, guided tours, boxes and restaurants become popular in stadia together with recreational and leisure areas, which ensued from a new way to manage the facility, regarded as a public area used not for the mere sports event and open seven days a week. (read note 4)
The flexible stadium The solution was successful. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Commercialâ&#x20AC;? stadia had excellent yield and to exploit the potentials offered by these large audience containers at best, non-static, technologically sophisticated facilities capable of meeting many-sided requirements were chosen. Mobile roofs, stands and playing fields are the basic elements of this generation of new multipurpose and flexible facilities capable of being quickly converted to offer the optimum configuration and the maximum comfort whatever the event to take place, whether sports or non-sporting, may be. The stadium is now open to marketing and to communication: boxes, conference rooms and hospitality areas are now part of the language of new facilities, which in their turn have been converted into lounges for sponsors and companies and designed so as to enhance television broadcasting and to positively reach the high lighting and acoustic standards required by digital television. In this way, stadia draw many users all the year round and turn into new urban centralities, sometimes capable of acting as catalysts for the processes aimed at their neighbourhoodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; redevelopment. (read note 5)
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The urban icon In the last few years stadia have played this urban role more and more, mainly as a joint reaction to a double effect linked with the now great popularity of sports events, not just the most important ones, through the TV and the Internet. On one hand, in order to prevent a spectatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; reduction similar to the one that took place at the end of the Fifties, stadia have to help spectators live unique and unrepeatable experiences, offering a wide range of facilities and optimum safety also outside the facility and in the surrounding areas. On the other hand stadia are in the forefront more and more not just during sports events. You just have to click to view photos of a stadium exterior and interior, from all angles. Also by clicking you can take a tour of them with the three-dimensional virtual Google Earth programme. They are now the centres of attraction, are classified by UEFA in main instruments in the challenge among the cities bidding to host the major international sports events. Latestgeneration stadia are designed by people who are well aware of this and therefore they feature high-quality architectural and technological systems. Their role as urban icons, new points of reference in the city environment and as displays of identity that are easily recognizable all over the world is nowadays acknowledged. (read note 6)
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Toards the future This new approach puts stadia at the centre of the evolutionary process of contemporary cities, as key elements in development and new centres of attraction. At the same time this calls for strict planning in terms of economic and environmental sustainability, without jeopardizing their sports nature and architectural qualities. Whatever the next â&#x20AC;&#x153;generationâ&#x20AC;? may be, each stadium is always an exciting architectural challenge and each design marks a new step in the evolutionary process of stadia. It is a course that was started almost three thousand years ago with the six-hundreds steps of Heracles.
NOTES Note 1: Rod Sheard, The Stadium: Architecture for the New Global Culture, Periplus Editions, 2005 Note 2: Among the “first stadia” worth mentioning and now upgraded there are Dublin Lansdowne Road (1872), London Stamford Bridge (1877), Liverpool Anfield Road (1884) and the prototypes designed by the Scottish architect Archibald Leitch: Glasgow Ibrox (1899) and Hampden Park (1903), Manchester Old Trafford (1910), which was the first stadium provided with continuous stands linked to each other by means of semicircular stairs that fully encompassed it, and London Highbury (1913), which in 1936 was the first stadium to be provided with a stand on two levels placed one on top of the other. In Europe the most important facilities were in those years London Twickenham (1907) and the first Wembley (1923) stadium with its characteristic Victorian towers in the front, Milano San Siro (1926), Vienna Prater (1931) and Madrid Santiago Bernabeu (1947). The importance of Berlin Olympiastadion (1936) goes beyond sport but the purpose of the facility is to symbolize the political set-up through its robust structure and the strict geometry of its elliptical system. In Italy, Firenze Stadio Comunale (1931) designed by P.L. Nervi is a striking exception in terms of architectural quality. Large stadia, most of which with elliptical plans, spread in South America: the most important of them are Rio Maracana (1950), capable of welcoming 200 000 spectators crammed into the stadium for the final
match of the Football World Cup held in 1950, Montevideo Centenario (1930), Santiago del Chile Nacional (1938), which will then go down in history to be used as jail under the open sky during the days of the Golpe of 1973, Buenos Aires Monumental (1938) and Bombonera (1940), the latter one provided with rectilinear stands. American football and baseball caught on in the United States. The former is played in large elliptical bowls with continuous tiers, such as Pasadena Rose Bowl (1922), the latter in stadia that are partly open on one side and provided with peculiarly shaped stands following the shape of the playing field. New York Yankee Stadium (1923) is the most famous example. Note 3: Among the most important “equipped stadia” there are Roma Olympic Stadium (1953), which in 1960 hosted the first Olympic Games broadcasted by TV networks throughout Europe, Barcelona Camp Nou (1957) and Napoli San Paolo (1959), Paris Parco dei Principi (1972) and Munich Olympiastadion, architectural jewel set in the gradients of the Olympic Park designed by G. Behnisch and F. Otto, in intentional contrast to the geometrical rigour of the first German Olympic stadium. In the other continents Mexico City Azteca Stadium (1966), Johannesburg Ellis Park (1982) and Pyongyang May Day Stadium (1989), which is still nowadays the biggest stadium in the world with its capacity of 150 000 seats, are particularly important. The second generation of stadia ended with the facilities of Italia ‘90, which were completed just when Europe was about to start a new phase of upgrading of football stadia. These include Genova Luigi Ferraris
(1989), rebuilt on the site of the old facility, Torino Delle Alpi (1990) and Bari San Nicola (1990), the “spacecraft” designed by R. Piano. Note 4: Alfred McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield (1994) and Bolton Reebok Stadium (1997) are the main “commercial stadia” built in the UK just after the introduction of Taylor Report, but almost all European facilities, starting from those in the UK, were largely upgraded during the Nineties. Note 5: The main “flexible” stadia provided with mobile roofs are Amsterdam ArenA (1996), Cardiff Millennium (1999), Oita Big Eye (2001) and Toyota City (2001), while in Arnhem Gelredome (1998) and in Gelsenkirchen AufSchalke Arena (2001) it is possible to move the roof and even the pitch, which can be moved outside the facility thus benefiting from natural air and lighting. In Sapporo Dome the pitch is moved and part of tiers are rotated in order to change the facility configuration and to convert it from football stadium into baseball ground, with different playing fields. Mobile stands are also provided in Saint-Denis Stade de France (1998), which can be easily converted from athletics track into football ground even taking spectators just behind the pitch. The stadium can be also used for the most varied sports, such as skiing and beach volleyball and even for motor races, as well as for non-sporting events, such as fairs and concerts. Sydney Australia Stadium (1999) was designed already knowing that it would be converted after the Olympic Games of 2000 by pulling down the upper part of the two outdoor
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stands, reducing the number of seats and providing the whole stadium with a roof structure. Similarly, City of Manchester Stadium (2002) was designed for the Commonwealth Games already knowing that just one year after its opening it would be converted from an athletics stadium with two rings into a three-level football stadium, by lowering the height of the playing field. Note 6: The most striking examples of new “urban icons” are Istanbul Ataturk Stadium (2001), whose roof is the bridge linking Asia and Europe enhancing the peculiarity of the city, which is the only one in the world located between two continents, Lisbon Da Luz (2003), Porto Do Dragao (2003) and the small Braga Municipal Stadium (2003), without “curved sectors” and set in a mountain landscape, Athens Olympic Stadium (renovated in 2004), Munich Allianz Arena (2005), with the characteristic light effects of the luminous façade that fully encompasses it, London Emirates Stadium (2006) and the new Wembley (2007) with its big steel arch that makes it identifiable all over the world, as well as “Bird’s Nest”, Beijing Olympic Stadium (2008), a technological and architectural jewel.
by Angelo Spampinato
SIGNIFICANCE OF A NATIONAL STADIUM
Many countries have a national sport stadium, which typically serves as the primary or exclusive home for one or more of a country’s national representative sports teams. The term is most often used in reference to an association football stadium. Usually, a national stadium will be in or very near a country’s capital city or largest city. It is generally (but not always) the country’s largest and most lavish sports venue with a rich history of hosting a major moment in sports (i.e. FIFA World Cup or the Olympics, etc.). In many, but not all cases, it is also used by a local team. If a country does not have a National Stadium designated as such, then matches are rotating throughout the country. The lack of a national stadium can be seen as advantageous as designating a single stadium would limit the fan base capable of realistically attending matches as well as the concern of the cost of transportation. It can also been seen as a great shortcoming for a country. There is no symbolic icon that unites the country in one single place and have a building to be proud on. In the late 19th hundred, Lithuania wanted for their capital to build a National Stadium which should host the national football team. Due to corruption this stadium was never completed and they diverted the national football team to Žalgiris Stadium in Vilnius. This Stadium was build before WOII and renovated in 1949-1950. Žalgiris Stadium is a muti-purpose stadium in Žirmūnai elderate, Vilnius. It has lost its meaning as the National Stadium and all the international football matches were played either at S.Dariaus ir S.Girėno Stadium in Kaunas or at the newer LFF Stadium also in Vilnius.
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S.Dariaus ir S.Girėno Stadium is a multi-use stadium in the Ąžuolynas park in Žaliakalnis district of Kaunas, Lithuania. The first stadium in this place was established in 1923 and was completed in 1925. In 1935, 1993, 1998 and in 2005 the stadium was renovated and named the State Stadium. The site is currently the home ground of the Lithuania national football team and football club FBK Kaunas. In 2010 the talks began again that the stadium needed to be modernized and to be used as National football stadium for another 5 years to come. The stadium is named after the two pilots who in 1933, the first nonstop flight made from New York to Kaunas but crashed just before the arrival in Kaunas. LFF Stadium (Lithuanian Football Federation stadium), formerly known as Vėtra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Vilnius. It is currently under renovation to meet level 3 UEFA stadium status. Before, it was used mostly for football matches and was the home stadium of FK Vėtra. The stadium holds 5.500 people and was build in 2004. It is the first private stadium in Lithuania built after the Soviet era.
144 Government attempts to resurrect the National Stadium from the dead
LITHUANIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NATIONAL STADIUM The eternal construction
The ongoing debate Over the years they talked about the idea of maturation and built a modern football stadium in Vilnius. During the Soviet era the build of a football stadium started in Šeškinė district, often ironically named “ the eternal construction”. For several years, experts and authorities debated what to do with the add to many years of investment and whether Šeškinės mountain is the best place for such a scale idea. To continue the construction it was claimed that the stadium complex built structures were outdated and cannot be used for further construction. To restart the building process they needed to start over. It was planned that this National stadium will be the country’s main stadium, with about 30 thousand seating places, so almost two times higher than in Vilnius Zalgiris Stadium. It was not only designed to be the main stadium, but also as sports complex which provides training pitch, athletic tracks, tennis and volleyball courts etc. In addition to sporting events, the new stadium was also supposed to hosed other events like the popular song festival and the traditional dance festival. The last design that was made for this stadium in 2007 is hosting only 20.000 people. There is no documentation found on where that number of spectators was based on. Originally the construction of 31 hectares of land owned by the Vilnius City Municipality, which in the long run should cover all the maintenance
and construction of commissioned Vilnius “major construction”. Stadium construction was stopped in 1993. When the finance stopped, there was a building of a stadium arena underground part of cement on the side of the pylons and a start to the top of the arena construction. The building contractions were registered on behalf of Vilnius City Council, the territory around the stadium belongs to the state, because it was funded by public investment program. After the construction stopped, German investors were interested in this plot but the poor condition to complete the construction of the stadium has discouraged investors and eventually the area was divided into four parts. One was purchased at an auction of the Vilnius trade (I believe this is where Akropolis is build). It broke away from a once planned stadium part. For a long time they argued that these structures were in good condition. They say that the construction almost not has been affected by corrosion on the highend concrete and one year after the termination of the spiked metal building, constructions was attempted to be preserved. In municipal and state level meetings, they debated the future of the country and having a stadium in Šeškinė. In deciding the fate of the stadium, attended by representatives of the Department of Sports, the problem was presented to the Olympic Committee. By simultaneously likings it was decided that the building should be maintained and that on this place should be a national stadium. However, the latest opinion changed and it was decided that the most appropriate location for the new football stadium, is the only potential competitor - for old people - Zalgiris stadium.
Even last summer the board of Lithuanian Union of Architects in Vilnius gave an alternative to transferring the sports theme in the situation of the old stadium, that Šeškinės land can be used for other purposes. Board members sought public attention to the fact that there is a risk to build a national stadium on this ground. The loss of this area, not only in Vilnius but also in Lithuania (the only country and its capital city of the European Union) will have no universal equivalent to global standards to a stadium. For such a stadium with 10.000 - 50.000 seats for spectators requires 10-15 acres of land. Lithuanian Union of Architects was certainly unhappy, when private investors were willing to solve the indifference of the old football stadium reconstruction and the issue again returned to the idea of implementing the stadium at Šeškinė district.
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Investors sought abroad
The old stadium design
Sins 1968 they have tried to find funds for the construction of the stadium. In Cannes in France, real a estate exhibition was organized by MIPIM. This is one of the largest real estate events in Europe, which is annually visited by about 15 thousand visitors. For several years, at the exhibition Šeškinė football stadium was presented as potential investment, but did not receive more attention. In addition to the stadium destiny, the Vilnius City Municipality repeatedly discussed with various foreign experts. French and Canadian professional studies, analysed the most suitable place to build a level object. Recently they have been staying at Žalgiris Stadium, but the failure to reach an agreement with the owners and no time to waver, they finally selected the Soviet era to start and build a football stadium in Šeškinė.
Until 2001, municipality was seeking for investment opportunities for the stadium but when that was not leading anywhere, the priority at that time was given to the city infrastructure. The municipality is focusing on increasing cultural and sports facilities right now. In the spring of 2012, at the Vilnius City Development Department meeting, the City Council decided that the construction of the new stadium on the Šeškinės mountain, coarse old structures that are going to be of intended use, will be dismantled and removed. They argued that, if the stadium project that was introduced in the Soviet era is out of date and a modern adaptation of the stadium already built structures cannot be of use. Today, however, it appears that the use of the old building remains is still undecided.
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2007
In the news today Out of news sources of November 2013 the construction of the National stadium is again part of discussion. On the 20th of November 2013, in the Strategic Committee meeting, have been discussed that the government will seek funds from the European Union to collect most of the money needed to complete the National stadium in Vilnius. After discussion it was decided to continue the construction of the stadium and the order was given to the Ministry of Finance to prepare all the necessary documentation to apply to the European Commission for financial support for the implementation of the high value of the project. They have contacted the Commission last year in December for the funds. The Prime Minister said that it is expected from the EU for the period 2014-2020, a financial support for the construction of the National stadium, that will go up to 85% of the required funding. It is estimated that the construction of the stadium still needs 270 million lt to be finished and for the whole infrastructure around the stadium about 100 million to be fixed. So far, they invested 100 million lt all ready for the work that has been done. Sadly, they did not have enough money to cover the construction site correctly when did could not go further with the building process. The big question is, if they can keep on constructing on the same foundation. In total the government will ask EU funds about 60-75 million euro for this project.
The Lithuanian part that needs to be paid should be 15% of the total amount for the construction. How they are going to come up with this amount is not shore. According to the minister, it depends on how they integrate the project into the programming documents. Splitting of public and private funding partnership. (Nobody in Lithuania knows what this means) The minister said that the optimistic scenario for the stadium would be completed in the end of 2016. Another important issue is to ensure the maintenance of this property. Over the years, it would cost 2-3 million euro. According to the minister, they would be collected from a wide range of funds, including private investors, tickets and institutional contributions. However talking to the Football federation in Lithuania how is suspect to operate the stadium, the City is planning on hosting only 60 events per year. This is not enough to actually pay for these expanses. In fact, after the completion of the building the government will give the project to the municipality of Vilnius. They have no idea about the exploitation of the stadium. They want the Football federation LFF and FC Zalgiris to be the operators in the stadium but they do not have enough money to actually be in the stadium. As an example FC Zalgiris is currently renting the football field in Zalgiris stadium for â&#x201A;Ź1000,- per match. In the new National stadium that would be â&#x201A;Ź9000,- per match. They host approximately 5 home matches per year and have a total year income of â&#x201A;Ź40.000,-. Because of political reasons they cannot say no to play in the National stadium but they can also not afford it.
Next to this money issue they is another reason way they do not want to play in this stadium. Looking into the plans that were made in 1985 when the idea to construct a National stadium was born, the architect Algimantas Nasvytis was designing a third generation Stadium. The purpose of the stadium was football only, there was no commercial included and it had an open roof. Comparing this design with the design of 2006 when they wanted to continue with the constriction, only a few improvements were made. The stadium needed to be multifunctional, got a small covering roof over the tribunes and a few multifunctional sport halls where added. This means comparing with the current stadiums that are being constructed, the sixed or maybe even the seventh generation, it is still a third generation stadium. Looking to stadiums that were also being designed at the same time, the Beijing National stadium by Herzog & the Meuron, cost around 335 million euro. It is also a National Stadium, multifunctional and had a capacity of 100.000 people during the Olympic Games. In comparison to Lithuania National Stadium that is going to have a capacity of 25.000 people and have no special event purpose like the one in Beijing, still cost 140 million euro. That is a big amount of money for a building that is 4 times smaller and outdated compared to the Beijing National stadium.
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History of events In the Soviet ara the sports facility project started in 1985. After a couple of years they started to build the stadium. By the 1991â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s there have been installed in the stadium, tribunes frame foundation and part of the tribunes of the frames. In 1993 the Stadium construction has preserved. In 2006, the stadium was a recognition of the national importance of the subject of sport, its construction revived. However, after the loss of funding the work was stopped. The works carried out In 2007 October In 2007 November In 2007 December In 2008 January In 2008 February In 2008 April In 2008 August In 2008 September In 2008 October In 2008 November In 2008 December Total: From the beginning of the construction
1.453.808 6.020.401 8.114.930 15.777.225 10.748.806 13.355.752 11.019.781 13.680.241 11.559.997 5.195.964 3.073.095 100,000,000 lt
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VILTEKTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STADIUM Design made in 2006
Viltecta Viltekta is a company that designs public and residential buildings as well as industrial, communication and engineering structures. This company was asked to make the new design for the National Stadium in 2006. What was planned to construct in 2007, based on the structure that was already built. Their design consist out of the following: 1. The National stadium Football field Supporting facilities (barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, restaurants, toilet facilities etc.) Accommodation for athletes (4 multi-purpose halls) Stadion administration, journalist and commentators cabins VIP Skyboxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Outlet stors Sport museum Governmental lottery ticketboth Football federation (office) 2. Indoor athletics track and waterpark 3. Throwing course 4. Athletics track 5. Football practise field 6. Pedestrians overpass 7. Parking 8. Akropolis
8 2 5
1
5
7
4 6
3
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RULES OF REQUIREMENTS Vilnius municipality, Lithuania
The regulations Revision/Specifying Designing task of THE NATIONAL STADIUM PROJECT
I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1. The purpose of the National stadium is as follows: 1.1 International and national football and (light) athletics’ sport matches; 1.2 Republic Song and Dance Festival and international festivals; 1.3 Theatrical international events’ programs; 1.4 Concerts and cultural events; 1.5 City feasts and sport events; 2. Sports complex extent/size: 2.1 Universal stadium with covered tribunes; 2.2 Exercise/training course (many training pitches etc.) and covered training centre. 3. Main indicators of the stadium: 3.1 Stadium fitting international football federation (FIFA) and light athletics federation (IAAF) requirements; 3.2 Maximal sitting places for viewers – around 25 000 places;
3.3 Viewers sitting places are covered with roof with possibility to cover the whole stadium; 3.4 Playing field – natural cover, 105x68 m, with planned/designed possibility to cover it with artificial cover when needed; 3.5 For (light) athletics – 9 running tracks; 3.6 Car parking capacity no less than 1600 places (According to STR 2.06.01:1999 <STR: Statybos Techninis Reglamentas – Building Technical reglament >), with designed possibility for expansion up to 4000 places. 4. Main requirements/indicators for training courses: 4.1 Running and jumping warm-up stadium with natural cover football pitch (105 x 68 m); 4.2 One natural covering football pitch (105x68 m); 4.3 One artificial covering football pitch (105x68 m); 4.4 Long/far Throws warm-up pitch with natural covering. 5. Training/ exercise sport centre: 5.1 Covered (roofed) (light) athletics hall with auxiliary premises(like showers etc.); 5.2 fitted to different sports’ pupils/learners; 5.3 car parking size – 600 places (according to STR 2.06.01:1999).
II. NATIONAL STADIUM PREMISES UNDER THE TRIBUNES 6. Viewers zone (simple sitting places, places for disabled, club members places, private lodges/boxes and VIP places, Governmental box) – totally around 25000 places. 7. Common use premises (VIP zone and Governmental box, toilets for visitors/viewers, fast-food bars, cafeterias, restaurants, commerce in the stadium, common use corridors, sport dances federation training rooms) – around 12 550 m2. 8. Staff premises (media zone, cafeterias with auxiliary/utility rooms, events’ workers’ and ticket selling rooms, offices, administration, service, storage and workshop premises, technical rooms, sports museum) – around 6580 m2. 9.Teams’ and performers’ zone (home team changing rooms, guest team changing rooms, exercise sport rooms/ halls, medical rooms, doping control, judges’ rooms, officals’ representers and celebrities rooms) – around 3280 m2. III. TRAINING CENTRE 10. Training sport centre (light athletics hall (120x80 m), Strength training centre, changing rooms, guest team premises, medical centre premises, administration premises, technical rooms, cafeteria with
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auxiliary premises, shop rooms, children sport school premises) – around 19900 m2. 11. Outside training pitches: 11.1 football training pitch (105x68 m) with artificial covering – 1 unit; 11.2 football training pitch (105x68 m) with natural covering – 1 unit; 11.3 running and jumping warm-up stadium (105x68 m) with natural covering and 4 – 6 running tracks – 1 unit; 11.4 long distance throws warm-up pitch with natural covering – 1 unit. 12. Technologic part: 12.1 to design additional 2000 kW electricity power for theatrical programmes and concert events being possible to organize; 12.2 separate sound and illumination systems’ inlet/lead in with separate grounding contours; 12.3 radio antenna/aerial field, providing quality mobile and wireless microphones’ operation in the whole arena.
NOTES: 1. Design programme is prepared according to material provided by SĮ „Vilniaus planas“ (municipality enterpise „Vilnius plan“) and „Stadium consultants internationa, inc“ . 2. The programme might be adjusted according Football federation (FIFA) and light athletics federation (IAAF) requirements during the design process. 3. Designing must be held in separate stages/phases.
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ŽALGIRIS NATIONAL STADIUM And redevelopment of Šeškinė kalvos
Baltic state - Lithuania
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HISTORICAL ELEMENT Reflects over the past
12th century until 1795 Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Baltic Sea
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state. The state was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic Baltic tribes from Aukštaitija.
Lithuania
Battle of Žalgiris 1263 to 1795 Grand Duchy of Lithuania 1569 to 1667 Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Curent Republic of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy later expanded to include large portions of the former Kievan Rus’ and other Slavic lands, covering the territory of present-day Belarus, Latvia, and Lithuania, and parts of Estonia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. At its greatest extent in the 15th century, it was the largest state in Europe. It was a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state with great diversity in languages, religion, and cultural heritage.
Black Sea
Early 13th century (1323) Vilnius was founded as the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Gedimidas
1315 until 1341 Grand Duke of Lithuania erecting the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius establishment of a dynasty that can betraced to other European monarchies.
March 9th, 1009
NARRATIVE
Singing Revolution “The Baltic way” The Initiative Group of Sąjūdis (Lithuanian Reform Movement), established in June 1988, inspired them with faith and hope: the independence movement Sąjūdis soon spread into the whole of Lithuania. On 23 August 1989, the people joined their hands to form a human chain stretching 650 kilometres across Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn to mark the 50th anniversary of Molotovo-Ribbentrop Pact as a result of which Lithuania lost its independence. The Baltic Way was a symbolic action that separated the Baltic States from the Soviet Union and by which the people expressed their will to be free.
Febuary 16, 1918 - July 14, 1920 captivity over and over again
Tallin
At first the Germans were welcomed as “liberators” from the repressive Soviet regime which occupied Lithuania prior to the German arrival. In hopes of re-establishing independence or regaining some autonomy, Lithuanians organized their Provisional Government. Soon the Lithuanian attitudes towards the Germans changed into passive resistance.
March 11, 1990 Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania
Estonia
The act was an independence declaration by the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted on March 11, 1990. Signed by all members of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR, the act emphasized restoration and legal continuity of the interwar-period Lithuania, which was occupied by the USSR and lost independence in June 1940. It was the first time that a Union Republic declared independence from the dissolving Soviet Union.
Russia
Gulf of Riga Latvia
June 22, 1941 to Jan. 28, 1945 occupation of Lithuania by Nazi Germany
According to the legend, Grand Duke Gediminas was hunting in the sacred forest near the Valley of Šventaragis, near where Vilnia River flows into the Neris River. Tired after the successful hunt of a wisent, the Grand Duke settled in for the night. He fell soundly asleep and dreamed of a huge Iron Wolf standing on top a hill and howling as strong and loud as a hundred of wolves. Upon awakening, the Duke asked the pagan priest Lizdeika to interpret the dream. And the priest told him: “What is destined for the ruler and the State of Lithuania, is thus: the Iron Wolf represents a castle and a city which will be established by you on this site. This city will be the capital of the Lithuanian lands and the dwelling of their rulers, and the glory of their deeds shall echo throughout the world.” Therefore, Gediminas, obeying the will of gods, built the city, and took it the name Vilnius – from the stream of the Vilnia River.
Baltic States
Baltic Sea
Lithuania was reestablished as a democratic state It remained independent until the outset of World War II when it was occupied by the Soviet Union.
Legend of the Iron Wolf
Riga
Lithuania
January 11 - 13, 1991 January Events Vilnius
OCCUPATION Poland
This event took place in the aftermath of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. The Soviet Army attacked the State Radio and Television Building and the Vilnius TV Tower. Civilians tryed to stop the tank-invation. As a result of Soviet military actions, 13 civilians were killed and around 140 were seriously injured. The Soviet Union finally recognized Lithuanian independence in August 1991, after Soviet coup attempt of 1991.
1922 until 1991 Soviet Union
2004 EU and NATO-member
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was a socialist state on the Eurasian continent that existed between 1922 and 1991, governed as a single-party state by the Communist Party with Moscow as its capital. A union of multiple subnational Soviet republics, its government and economy were highly centralized.
Following its EU and NATO membership in 2004, Lithuania again reunited with the European family. Sinds January 2015 Lithuania also joined the Euro.
2016
1410
HISTORY
The name of Lithuania was first mentioned in the Quedlinburg Annals in 1009, in the context of St. Bruno‘s mission to pagan lands.
1009
August 23, 1989 The Baltic way
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the short-lived Russian Republic, which was in turn succeeded by the Soviet Union. One of the largest empires in world history, the Russian Empire was surpassed in landmass only by the British and Mongol empires. At one point in 1866 it stretched from eastern Europe across Asia and into North America.
STUGGLE
Vilnius
UNITY
1795 until 1917 Russian Empire
GLORY
1990 1955 Šeškinės became a district of Vilnius The biggest grow of the capital city of Lithuania was due to the Soviet Union. The city of Vilnius dealt with the grow and constituent of neighbourhoods and public centres, build in 1955-1990 during the soviet occupation.
2010 In Memoria 600 years Battle of Žalgiris Masterpiece by Artūras Šlipavičius Three dimensions of the masterpiece
1985 - 1987 Construction of Olympic Stadium 1390 Šeškinės kalvos
PRIDE
1945 until 1952 Soviet deportations from Lithuania
The hills of Šeškinė are used as a natural barrier to defend the city Vilnius. First written fight in the hills was in 1390 against the Crusaders. Later there where more fights mentioned in historical documents; 1794, 1831 and 1863.
Soviet deportations from Lithuania were a series of 35 mass deportations carried out in the Lithuanian SSR, a republic of the Soviet Union, in 1941 and 1945–1952. They were forcibly transported to labor camps and other forced settlements in remote parts of the Soviet Union, amongst Siberia. “In Siberia we built a regulation basketball court. Basketball allowed us to have dignity, to retain our sense of humanity. How did I survive? Basketball. It gave me a lot. They didn’t bury me.” These are the words of Juozas Butrimas, a Siberian Gulag survivor from the 1950s. The meaning of the word Žalgiris changed over the years. The battlename became symbolic and had more content like; strength, fight, struggle, surviving and overcome.
In the Soviet ara the sports facility project started in 1985. After a couple of years they started to build the stadium. By the 1991’s there have been installed in the stadium, tribunes frame foundation and part of the tribunes of the frames.
FREEDOM Original design 1985 - by architect Algimantas Nasvytis
July 15th, 1410 Battle of Žalgiris
2002 Akoropolis Shopping and Entertainment center
The battle was fought on during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, decisively defeated the German–Prussian Teutonic Knights. The battle was one of the largest in Medieval Europe and is regarded as the most important victory in the histories of Poland, Belarus and Lithuania. It has been used as a source of romantic legends and national pride, becoming a larger symbol of struggle against foreign invaders. During the 20th century the battle was used in Nazi and Soviet propaganda campaigns. Only in recent decades have historians moved towards a dispassionate, scholarly assessment of the battle, reconciling the previous narratives, which differed widely by nation.
1. It symbolizes the past, future and present of life and the country. 2. The colors used in the painting tells us about Lithuanian people. The Lithuanian flag colors are based on the country’s traditions. 3. The history of Lithuania. The battles that they have fought on their way to independence. That are now used to inspire people, to stand up and fight by unifying them.
1977 Šeškinės became a district of Vilnius Šeškinė is a fairly new district located in the north of Vilnius, built by the Soviet Union in 1977 as a microdistrict. Earlier, the village of Šeškinė was located there, from which the neighborhood derives its name.
Akropolis is the largest shopping centre in Lithuania, perhaps in Eastern Europe. Literally tens of millions of devout shoppers worship at this consumer shrine every year. The centre is well known not only to people all over Lithuania, but also in Belarus. Occupying almost 110,000 m2 of floor area.
PRESERVE, RECONSTRUCT OR REMOVE We admire and try to collect things around us, not for their beauty or values, but for their association with a phase of our past. It seems that our association based not on the politically historical past, but with a kind of private vernacular past. What we cherish are mementos of a bygone daily existence without a definite date. Despite the fact that the ruins of the old stadium is not century years old, it is an echo from the past. It represent captivity, the occupation by Russia and due to the not finished establishment; defeat. A lot of our enthusiasm for historical preservation seems to be prompted by the same instinct: historical means, less the record of significant events and people, then the preservation of the reminders of the bygone domestic existence and its environment. What does this realy mean for the building or construction? You do not have to maintain or preserve the building for its structure, but to keep only the reminder that it was there already. The attempt to finish the building, as it should be, would not contribute to its environment. It would entirely be a make-believe. By reconstruction of ruins you will not bring more value than only the spirit
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of a stadium. The building completed, following design of yesterday, will not fulfill the needs and requirement of today. To keep the ruins of the old building is not an attempt to contribute to the national heritage of Lituania. Even the simplest reconstructed historical environment often betray a respect for out past. It is a radically new concept of history and the meaning of history. Preservation of old stadium ruins will represent a radically new concept of a monument. A traditional monument, as the origin of the word indicates, is an object which is supposed to remind us of something important. You can say, that it exists to put in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind some obligation that they have incurred: a great public figure, a great public event, a great public declaration which the group had pledged itself to honor. A monument can incidentally be a work of art or a public facility; it can even give pleasure. Even the word ruin, indicates the remains of a building that has been destroyed or a building that is in disrepair, a state of decay. In this case this building was never completed and what was left behind is the foundation of the attempt to build a national stadium. Its value only lays in the intention that is buried in the concrete of the foundation. Rebuild Lithuanian identity on top of the foundation that was left behind after many years of occupation.
Its sanctity is not a matter of beauty or respect of its age. It is honored, not as a work of art or as an antique, but as an echo from the remote past, suddenly become present and actual. It is an enormous ruin, without grace or picturesqueness, but this reason provides a startling reminder of Russian captivity. It is a monument, whose message is not easy to forget. In this area there are more examples of architecture which have the same quality and with vividly remind us the past. The power of the message, the recall of something specific is more valueble then esthetics.
Presurve part of the old stadium fundation
164 Remove to create space for new building
Remove all unnassasary construction and presurve the echo from the past
orientation street side orientation Akropolis
orientation landscape side
The gate
Preserve for cultural value
orientation Akropolis
gate to the landscape
Preserved part of the structure of the ruine by keeping the foundations and essence of the structure. Letting landscape and greenery take over the course of nature. Letting the ruin overgrow and â&#x20AC;&#x153;disappearâ&#x20AC;? slowly by weather and nature elements.
View point from family park Šeškinės Kalvos to the landscape entrance of Žalgiris National Stadium
166
LANDSCAPE ELEMENT
An expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
168 urban character through the wall
landscape character angle
with the wall
Window / view to the landscape and old ruin from the upper passage
The wall
scape land
old city
old city
new city
+
scape land
+
new city
existing situation
new situation
LANDSCAPE Window / view to the old ruin and landscape from the upper passage
Landscape is the key element that connects
LANDSCAPE complete stadium
changing program
landscape character The border between the city and landscape
landscape
The window
old ruin
field
new stadium
urban character
170
The roof
old
new
The rooftop unifies the old and the new
View from Shopping centre Akropolis to Žalgiris National Stadium
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VITALITY ELEMENT Ability to live or exist
Supporting program UTENA
With creating a new function for this location existing structure and program needs to change.
- Akropolis needs to adapt to new form needs to change program/function OZO GATV
RG ME UK
- Landscape becomes usable park redeveloped
IGA /R
- Stadium ground transformed into multifunctional space and sports program squares and public space
CITY
Existing situation
CEN
CIT Y
CE NT RE
OZO GATV
TR E
OUTSIDE SPORTS GROUND
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Šeškinė direction outer circulation
OUTER CIRCULATION
akropolis
INTERNAL CONCOURSE SEATING PLAYING FIELD landscape direction zone 1 zone 2
slow traffic and slow vehicle traffic
slow and fast vehicle traffic
zone 3 zone 4
akropolis
zone 5 fast vehicle traffic
Approaching
slow traffic
N 15
range acceptable for football and rugby best range for track and field events best common axis of opetation for many sports
0
45 75 Stadium orientation in the range of axis shown to ensure that athletes and sportsmen should not have the afternoon sun in their eyes. The old stadium is oriented on a 14 degree angle.
Range of orientation
ZONE 5
ZONE 4
ZONE 3
ZONE 2
ZONE 1
outer area and circulation
major circulation area around stadium
internal concourse
seating tiers
playing field
Standard circulation pattern
seating gallery
vormitary entrance
stand entrance
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seating gallery seating gallery
vormitary entrance
seating gallery seating gallery
vormitary entrance
seating gallery
main stadium entrance seating gallery
vormitary entrance
stand entrance
seating gallery seating gallery
vormitary entrance
seating gallery seating gallery
vormitary entrance sports program
promonade
stadium program
seating gallery
spectators
Urban caractor
Landscape caractor
stadium program promonade entretainment program
stadium program parking
3rd
ring 2nd
connection / visability / relation landcape
using ng g removed program to ed onn outside stadium ground
ring 1st
ring
promonade entretainment program
old stadium ruins
stadium program underneath parking entertainment and sports program
9 78 56 34 12
-10
0
40
60
80
100
9
8
7
6
5
4 3
2
1 FINI SH
P
Parking plan
Landscape surrounds the stadium and becomes public space. ŠEŠKINĖ OZAS
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Opportunity to grow, develop and change - Creating space - Introducing new program to the location - Redevelop current program and functions
STADIUM GROUND
KAROLINIŠKIŲ
NATIONAL RESERVE
Natural Resurve Stadium
public square
public park
permanent expo 4100 m² business/vip 6500 m² kiosk 3000 m² toilettes 3000 m² technical space 10700 m²
athletes 4700 m²
press
2000 m²
CAPACITY 76000 SQUARE METER
press 210 seats vip 420 seats
upper tribune 13770
spectators
disabled visitors 100 seats
CAPACITY 33100 SPECTATORS
drop off 20 places stadium parking 520 places parkinggarage 885 places
circulation 42000 m² elevators, stairs, corridors and temporary expo
lower tribune 18600
spectators
busstops 20 stops
CAPACITY 5000 PARKING PLACES
open air parking 3600 places
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REDELEVOPMENT ŽALGIRIS NATIONAL STADIUM Program and content
OZO GATVĖ +2000
PARKING P CAR 885 parking places
additional parking to Akropolis OZO GATVĖ STREET LEVEL = 0 PLAZA ENTRACE STREET LEVEL = 0
PLAZA ENTRACE STREET LEVEL = 0
i
PUBLIC PLINTH
BUSSTATION 10 places
URBAN PLAZA +4000
P
PARKING STREET LEVEL = 0
P STADIUM PARKING 520 parking
places
MAXIMA supermarket approx. 5000 m²
ŽALGIRIS NATIONAL STADIUM
CAFE/RESTAURANT hospitality approx. 1800 m²
UKMERGĖS GATVĖ
PARK SQUARE STREET LEVEL = 0 access to urban plaza, Akropolis and park AKROPOLIS SHOPPING CENTRE commercial plinth
ŠEŠKINĖS KALVOS FAMILY PARK entrance to park and stadium CROSSOVER karoliniškių national park
TRAININGS FIELD soccer practice
P
PARKING STREET LEVEL = 0
VIEW POINT +6000
stadium view 0
5
10
25
50
182 PLAYERS MEDIA / GADERING CIRCULATION (STAIRS AND LIFT) TECHNICAL SPACE / STORRIGE TOILETS KIOSK BUSISNESS CLUB VIP LOGES EXPO
ATHLETES PLAYERS MEDIA / GATHERING MEDIA / GADERING TECHNICAL SPACE TECHNICAL SPACE / STORRIGE
100
80
60
40
0
-10
TOILETTES TOILETS KIOSK KIOSK
9 876 54 32 1
CIRCULATION CIRCULATION (STAIRS AND LIFT)
BUSISNESS BUSINESS CLUBCLUB LOGES VIPVIP BOXES AND LOGES EXPO EXPO 9
8
7
6
5
1
4
3
FINISH
2
Field acces (-3.05) and players entance -4.50 street level
ATHLETES PLAYERS MEDIA / GATHERING MEDIA / GADERING TECHNICAL SPACE TECHNICAL SPACE / STORRIGE
100
80
60
40
0
-10
TOILETTES TOILETS KIOSK KIOSK
9 87 654 32 1
CIRCULATION CIRCULATION (STAIRS AND LIFT)
BUSISNESS BUSINESS CLUBCLUB LOGES VIPVIP BOXES AND LOGES EXPO EXPO
9
8
7
6
5
1
4
3
FINISH
2
VIP parking and stadium facilities 0.00 street level
184
ATHLETES PLAYERS CIRCULATION CIRCULATION (STAIRS AND LIFT)
100
80
60
40
0
-10
TECHNICAL SPACE TECHNICAL SPACE / STORRIGE
9 87 65 432 1
MEDIA / GATHERING MEDIA / GADERING
TOILETTES TOILETS KIOSK KIOSK
BUSISNESS BUSINESS CLUBCLUB LOGES VIPVIP BOXES AND LOGES EXPO EXPO 9
8
7
6
5
1
4
3
FINISH
2
Stadium entrance and business club 4.00 level +1
ATHLETES PLAYERS CIRCULATION CIRCULATION (STAIRS AND LIFT)
100
80
60
40
0
-10
TECHNICAL SPACE TECHNICAL SPACE / STORRIGE
987 65 432 1
MEDIA / GATHERING MEDIA / GADERING
TOILETTES TOILETS KIOSK KIOSK
BUSISNESS BUSINESS CLUBCLUB LOGES VIPVIP BOXES AND LOGES EXPO EXPO 9
8
7
6
5
4
1
3
FINISH
2
VIP loges and exposition space 8.00 level +2
186
ATHLETES PLAYERS CIRCULATION CIRCULATION (STAIRS AND LIFT)
100
80
60
40
0
-10
TECHNICAL SPACE TECHNICAL SPACE / STORRIGE
98 765 43 21
MEDIA / GATHERING MEDIA / GADERING
TOILETTES TOILETS KIOSK KIOSK
BUSISNESS BUSINESS CLUBCLUB LOGES VIPVIP BOXES AND LOGES EXPO EXPO 9
8
7
6
5
4
1
3
FINISH
2
Upper passage 11.20 level +3
ATHLETES PLAYERS MEDIA / GATHERING MEDIA / GADERING TECHNICAL SPACE TECHNICAL SPACE / STORRIGE
100
80
60
40
0
-10
TOILETTES TOILETS
98 76 543 21
CIRCULATION CIRCULATION (STAIRS AND LIFT)
KIOSK KIOSK
BUSISNESS BUSINESS CLUBCLUB LOGES VIPVIP BOXES AND LOGES EXPO EXPO 9
8
7
6
5
1
4
3
FINISH
2
Upper tribune 21.20 level +4
188 Gallery Kiosk Exposition space
Akropolis shopping centre
Upper passage
Media box
Control room
+30.00
+30.00 Upper tribune
+14.00 +11.20 +8.00 +4.00 +0.00 (street level) -3.00 -4.50
+4.00 +0.00 (street level) -3.00
Lower tribune
Players busstop Stadium parking
Šeškinės Kalvos
+8.00
Plaza
VIP parking Staff and media parking
Players entrance VIP entrance Service road
Mixed zone/press Players tunnel Catacombe View deck business Business club VIP box and loge
Old stadium ruins gateway to park and Stadium entrance Running track 100m
Football field 105x69m
View deck family park
Family park and event terrain
Pathway underneath old stadium
Running track 400m
Cross section Gallery Staircase Upper passage
Business entance Control room
Upper tribune access
Upper passage
Business entance Control room
Media box VIP box and loge
Lower tribune access
Elevator Gallery
+30.00
+30.00 Upper tribune
+14.00 +11.20 +8.00 +4.00 +0.00 (street level) -3.00 -4.50
Plaza
+4.00 +0.00 (street level)
Lower tribune
Exposition space
Technical facilities
View deck business
Players tunnel
Team seats
Technical facilities
VIP parking Staff and media parking
Service road
Long section
Running track 400m
Football field 105x69m
Running track 400m
Maxima shopping caffee
Public plinth (information, tickets etc.)
Bus station
ROOF
• Top layer of the roof material: ETFL - foil color: translucent size: thicknesses 1 mm • Roof structure material: aluminum structure color: ppc white size: thicknesses 30 mm (full roof size 346x280 meter) referance project: Cervantes Theater (Mexico) by Ensamble Studio
TRIBUNE • material: prefab concrete color: untreated (gray)
BALUSTRADE AND RAILINGS
FACADE TYPE 1
• In- and outside material: cellular cast aluminum foam ALUSION™ Large Cell (open one side) color: silver size: thicknesses 43.2 mm panel sizes 3657 mm • Steel construction height of the walls 30 meter ; 19,6 meter ; 15,3 meter
• material: triplex glass balustrade color: black tinted translucent glass
FLOOR
FACADE TYPE 2
• Implemented on pillars, columns, upper staircase material: aluminium composite panel ALUCOBOND - A2 color: coated white size: thicknesses 3/4 mm panel sizes width 1000 - 1750 mm length 2000 - 6800 mm
• Implemented on all circulation areas material: epoxy floor color: white gray 101
URBAN PLAZA • material: concrete pavers in various designs with vegetation
1. 2.
• Implemented on side of the staircases (railing) material: Terrazzo panels Composite material of chips of marble, quartz, granite, glass, poured with a cementitious binder color: white / multi colored size: thicknesses 30 mm
Principle detail section
2.
1. mineral core 2. 0,5 mm aluminium -incombustible-
STAIRCASE AND VIP
• Type 1: Suspended metal ceiling (Exposition space and shops) material: aluminium alliy grid color: powder coating white size: thicknesses 1,0 mm aluminium width 25 mm height 80 mm • Type 2: Gypsum board suspended ceiling material: gypsum board / plaster color: white
CEILING
190
Gallery Upper passage Staircase & elevator Plaza / Entrance level Parking VIP and business club Parking staff and media Players and sports facilities
Section cut stadium
Control room
Shops and retail Madia and conference hall Field level
Media box VIP box View deck
Kiosk VIP loges Business club Exposition space Technical facilities
Players and sports facilities
Section cut stadium
Service road Special parking
192
View from the upper passage to the field
Corridor plaza level / Entrance Žalgiris National Stadium
3
3200
B
B
A
5175
7000
B
7000
LOGE AA - 6,4 meter area 42,0 m² 28 seats LOGE BB - 3,2 meter area 20,5 m² 14 seats
D
D 3200
3200
C
3200
C
3325
C
3200
VIP LOGE A-6,4m | B-3,2m
There is a maximum of 30 VIP-loge within the stadium that could be sold. Depending on the amount of the bigger option loge (type A) there will be less loges available. In any case the available seating will be the same at 420 seats.
3200
7000 5175
3200
2
3200
7000
A
2
1850
A
D 6400
1
3200
C
6400
194
1
5175
3200
3
3325
3200
2
1850
3200
2
1850
1
3325
1850
5175
3325
1
D
Example of a VIP loge (6m x 8m)
196
Stadium program and layout
32.800 100
32.800 100 27.000
Stadium event - sports
18.800 70 30.000
19.300 70 27.000
32.800 100 36.000
Stadium event - concert
198
REDEVELOPMENT ŠEŠKINĖ KALVOS Surrounding area
Section - from ozo gatve down the mountain
OZ
GELVONŲ GATVĖ
ŠEŠKINĖ housing district
OG
ATV Ė
ŠEŠKINĖS OZAS national park
URBAN PLAZA CROSSOVER to Šeškinės Ozas
PARK SQUARE access to urban plaza, Akropolis and park
ŽALGIRIS NATIONAL STADIUM
AKROPOLIS SHOPPING CENTRE commercial plinth
CROSSOVER pedestrian bridge
CROSSOVER pedestrian bridge
VIEW POINT stadium view
KAROLINIŠKIŲ national park
TRAININGS FIELD soccer practise
amphitheater PRIVATI HOSPITAL AND CLINIC “KARDIOLITA” 5 min
ŠEŠKINĖ CLINIC 4 min
BUSSTOP “GELVONĖLIS” 3 min
tribune TRAININGS FIELD athletics and soccer practise
UKMERGĖS GATVĖ
EVENT TERRAIN
ŠEŠKINĖS KALVOS family park
BUSSTOP “ŠEŠKINĖ” 7 min
BUSSTOP “ŠEŠKINĖS KALVOS” 2 min
Ė
VIEW POINT city view
IO
TV GA
VILNIUS TRAINSTATION 13 min
IN
EŽ
L GE
V
O ILK
VILNIUS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 14 min
Section - from ozo gatve down the mountain 25
50
100
200
Crossover to and from Karoliniškių national park
Amphitheater, city view point and tribune in Šeškinė Kalvos family park
View point of the city from Šeškinė Kalvos family park
Connection between Retail, Landscape, Housing and Entertainment Commerce Shopping and entertainment center Akropolis opened its doors in 2002, at the very edge of Šeškinės kalvos, directly next to site of national stadium. Even today, Akropolis remains to be the largest center of its kind in the Baltic region, with around 110.000 square meters of the floor surface, but it is not the only one. More and more shopping malls, big and small, were constructed or currently are under construction after Akropolis. In 2013 the first IKEA store in Lithuania was opened in Southern part of Vilnius. It has the capacity of 26.000 square meters and is considered to be one of the best projects in the history of IKEA. Across the street form IKEA, a new shopping complex Nordika was opened in May 2016. This cause the certain shift of the vector of city retail economy from Northern part, where Akropolis is located, to South of Vilnius. Besides, recently a new shopping mall Ozes, right next to Akropolis, started competing for customers. In order to stay vibrant and successful, Akropolis needs to think ahead about its future. There is a reason to believe, that the concept of Akropolis is outdated and new development strategy needs to be implemented
not only to keep Akropolis attractive for customers in the future, but also to fix original design and planning mistakes and feel the gap between pure commercial and public program.
Housing
Retail
Entertainment
Leisure/ park
This opportunity for changes rises with creating a new National stadium next to Akropolis in order to cooperate, generate more benefits for each other and share visitors between sport facilities and shopping center. For example: • free or not used commercial spaces could be removed and exchanged for public functions and facilities, adding values for public program, such as mediatheque, art galleries, public squares etc. • necessary functions to serve the stadium needs like offices, business center, hotel and catering to be provided during further stages of the development • combined and shared strategy for parking, design of public spaces and landscape Landscape Nowadays there is a big lack of designed landscape parks or accessible natural environment in the northern part of Vilnius. However, there is a big potential in Šeškinės kalvos, because its surrounded by natural reserves and massive greenery. The development of the stadium site will allow developing and opening up the potential of Šeškinės kalvos as a leisure park. On a bigger scale,
this will create the connection to the natural reserve Karoliniškės and Šeškinės ozas. Šeškinės kalvos could become a recreation park for the entire northern part of the city. The goal is to preserve the existing nature and create new elements within the landscape like an amphitheater, marathon path, outdoor sports facilities etc., to make the wild area safe and friendly.
202
Housing
Housing Šeškinė was built in 1977 as an Olympic village for the stadium. After its completion the micro-district was never used for the purpose it was meant to and ‘regular’ people moved in. After Lithuania got independence, the people who lived in Šeškinė district became homeowners and after almost 40 years you can see, that not much has been done by the people or by the government to maintain or improve the district. Neglect and time took over the Šeškinė area. It is time for changes to be made. Improving living condition of existing housing, as well as, new residential development is necessary actions to reflect changes of the Šeškinė. The new stadium could be the starting point for renovation and upgrade. It could be a strong attracting object to bring visitors, new residents and business in the area. Balanced connection between commerce, housing, landscape and entertainment is the formula not only for growing but for surviving of the whole Northern part of the city.
Retail
Entertainment
Leisure/ park
Entertainment In 2015, when Lithuania became full member of European Union, by taking euro as its currency, the government showed back interest in completing the National stadium. After the many failed attempts, they want to do things differently this time: clear, fair and for the people. This is a great opportunity to design not only a good functional stadium, but also via architecture tell the story about the people of Lithuania to themselves and to express the spirit of the country in one single structure. The design is inspired by the great events of Lithuanian history. Architectural language reflects the good and the bad moments from the past, bringing symbolic and monumental status to the location and to the building itself. Building of National stadium next to hosting different kinds of sport, public and entertaining events could be also a link between other leisure facilities of the city. The marathon route through recreational, sport and historical areas from all over the city will connect all of them and give new impulse for future. Zooming out approach will allow to solve many long lasting problems, which are difficult to fix in smaller scale, for instance the riverfront of Neris. The improvement of Seskines kalvos is only a drop that can cause a ripple effect of redevelopment for the whole city of Vilnius, or even for entire country.
ŠEŠKINĖS OZAS
Privati Hospital and clinic "Kardiolita” 5 min
Šeškinės clinic 4 min
INĖS
LIS
PO
RO
AK
ŠEŠK
ŠEŠKINĖS OZAS
gby
ny sports
Old town
STADIUM GROUND
Transtation
IŲ
IŠK
LIN
KA
LD
O
Airport
EW
RO
Busstop
VI
to ensure e afternoon on a 14
Area around the stadium
N
W TO
Emergency exit Hospital
KAROLINIŠKIŲ
Area around the stadium
NATURAL RESERVE
Old town Train station Bus stop Airport
Important access points
Vilnius Trainstation 13 min
Vilnius International Airport 14 min
Emergency exit Hospital
204
G
SIN
U HO IS
OL
OP
R AK
T
EN
NM TAI
AIL RET
TER
EN
AM
K
GR
PRO
SU
LEI
O
H PAT
W
VIE
EW
VI LD W TO N
Designing diagram
C
DS
LAN
E AP
PAR RE
Housing
Retail
Entertainment
Leisure/ Park
Bath
Kitchen
Space
Long and short stay appartments
INTERGRAL HABITAT
Redevelopment Akropolis and housing development
206 Office space Housing towers
Entrance to Akropolis
Akropolis entertainment and shopping centre
Roof terrace Cinema Sports Coffee corner playground
Public square
Crossover
Commercial plinth Shopping passage
Access to square Restaurant Busstation
Public plinth Roof terrace
Office space / Communal space
UTENA
Existing - demolised - new situation D C
OZO GATV
RG ME UK
A
B
A
D
STADIUM C
IGA /R
B
AKROPOLIS
OZO GATV
PARKING
Access connections intergral habitat
PARKING
P
CE NT RE
STADIUM
Existing situation
CEN
AKROPOLIS
P
CIT Y
CITY
P
TR E
CIRCULATIONS AND ACCESS CONNECTIONS
P
URBAN ORENTATION
208
CIRCULATIONS AND ACCESS CONNECTIONS
URBAN ORENTATION
Access connections stadium
STADIUM
Squares orientation
AKROPOLIS
STADIUM
AKROPOLIS
VEGETATION AXESconnections Vegetation URBAN ORENTATION
VEGETATION AXES
STADIUM
Concept diagrams
AKROPOLIS
P
PARKING
AKROPOLIS
P
shopping centre commercial plinth
PARKING under the building
CROSSOVER
ŽALGIRIS NATIONAL STADIUM
BUSSTATION (10 places)
PROJECT
INTERGRAL HABITAT
Street level +0
ŠEŠKINĖ KALVOS FAMILY PARK
entrance to park and stadium
P
PARKING
P
PARKING
PUBLIC PLINTH AKROPOLIS
SPO
shopping centre commercial plinth
RTS P
CO M SPA MUNA CE L LAY GRO
UN
CROSSOVER
D
ŽALGIRIS NATIONAL STADIUM PEDESTRIAN SQUARE ACCESS
BUSSTATION (10 places)
COMMUNAL SPACE
PARK SQUARE
access to cross over and Akropolis
COMMUNAL SPACE
PUBLIC PLINTH
+7.200
ŠEŠKINĖ KALVOS FAMILY PARK
entrance to park and stadium
P
PARKING 0
5
10
25
50
+30.000
P
P
+3.60 FIRST LEVEL
+0.00 STREET LEVEL
+7.20 SECOND LEVEL CROSS OVER
+10.80 THIRD LEVEL
+14.40 FOURTH LEVEL LIVING TERRACE
+28.80 TYPICAL TOWERS PLAN +25.20 +21.60 +18.00
Floorplan scheme LEISURE / PARK
APARTMENT short and long stay appartments
CROSS OVER
ŽALGIRIS NATIONAL STADIUM
P
COMMURCIAL PLINTH
PUBLIC PLINTH
PARKING
212
3
2 3000
4
3000
1
3000
3
2 1
3600
1
B
4
2
3000
3000
3
2400
3600
appartement ca. 59m2
6150
appartement ca. 54m2
5
4
1
3000 2400
3000
3000
2 3000
30
B
A
3
1
2600
B
1
4
C
6150
5
3
5
B
9000
6
6150
B
C
1
A
2100 2600
6
2400
3
5
3000
A
10800
6
2
T1 1
B
C C
9000
10800
APARTMENTS 2
3000
B
7
C 9000
AREA: 54.2m²
5
1
4
B
A
5700
6150
2400
4
3600 3600
9000
4 3000
3
3000
3600
C
3 3000
2
B
2 2600
6
2 3000
1
6150
3600
4 3000
B
3 3000
B
2 3000
3600
9000
1
6
2 5700
4
3600
3600
6
6
2100
2600
B
2600
A
3 3000
0
4 3000
1
1
2
2
5
3000
SCALE 3 1 1 : 1003000
3000
4
3
4
2400
2400 A
5
0
3000
1
2
SCALE 1 : 200
5
A
2100
2600
2600
B
B
B
A
2 3000
appartement ca. 36m2 B
1
2
3
4
1
2
90
appartement ca. 59m2
C
3
2
4
2400
5
2400
3000
1
2 3000
2100
B
1 5700
3
1
6
5700
2 C
10800
2
appartement ca. 36m2 2 3000
4
kitchen living washroom toilet
0
1
2600
1 2
AREA: 59.1m²
APARTMENTS
4
1
2
5
SCALE 1 : 100
2
4
1
3000
5 6 7
3600
3
3 3000
A
bathroom bedroom office /B workspace
SCALE 1 : 200 C
5 6000
2 3000
3600
1
10800
0
6
6150
6
6
B
3600
3
4
3600
2100
A
C
A
5 3000
B
B
6
4 2400
5
5
5 4
T2
3 2400
A 5
90
2100
3000
214
B
1
9000
2400
appartement ca. 36m2 0
2
3
4
3000
1
appartement ca. 36m2
3000 1
3 3000
4
1
2 3000
5
2400 3
3000
4
2400
5
2400
3000
A
2100
2600
B
1
A
B
2 C 5400
C 6000
3600
6150
6
B
6
D2
AREA: 29.0m²
2
5400
C 6000
D1
AREA: 35.8m²
APARTMENTS 0
1
2
5
SCALE 1 : 100
0
1
2
5
SCALE 1 : 200
5700
3600
4
1
4
3600
5
5
B 6150
2600
3
3600
4
2400
3000
4
B
A
3
3000 2
3000
2
2
5700
3000
2100
1
1
216 Pedestrian square access Access ramp - Crossover
Appartements
Crossover
Housing tower
Roof terrace
Entertainment Housing tower
Offices
Roof terrace
Shoppingcentre
+28.80
+28.80
+25.20
+25.20
+21.60
+21.60
+18.00
+18.00
+14.40
+12.00
+10.80
+6.00
+7.20 +3.60
+0.00
+0.00
+0.00
Access road
Busstation
Shops
Communal space/ Workspace
Sports playground
Public square
Public plinth
Shopping street
Commercial plinth
Akropolis shoppingcentre
Cross section Roof terrace
Housing tower
+30.00
Pedestrian square access
Crossover
Roof terrace
Housing tower
Access ramp - Crossover
Entrance stadium parking
Stadiun Entrance
+30.00
+14.40 +10.80 +7.20 +3.60 +0.00
+4.50 +0.00 Sports playground
Long section
Surface parking
Access road
Entrances to housing from square
Public square
Busstation
Parking intergral habitat
Communal space/ Workspace Shops
Public plinth
Access road
Surface parking
Cross over
Intergral habitat
+30.00
+7.20 +0.00
Section - Cross over
Access road
Busstation
Parking Intergral habitat
218
MARATHON ROUTE VILNIUS Master plan
MARATHON ROUTE VILNIUS
route length 21,1 km
Local running track
Main pathway Secondary or alternative pathway
Impuls indoor sports
Sports facilities/events
Local running track
SECTION A
URBAN PATH Local running track
Šeškinės Ozas natural reserve STADIUM GROUND
SECTION C
NATURE PATH
Local running track
Karoliniškių natural reserve “Urban beach” (beach) volleyball, roler-skating, basketball courts etc. and cafe restaurant
SECTION B RIVER PATH
Running track & Football field
Vingio parkas 0
250
500
1000
220 Central park
Siemens arena Vichy water park
Local running track
Ozas shopping and entertainment centre
SECTION A
URBAN PATH
Teatro arena
Žalgiris stadium
Outdoor pool
Vilnius Concert and Sports Palace
SECTION B
RIVER PATH
222 Tennis World in- and outdoor tennis Sportima - sport and recreation arena SEB arena & Europa Stay Vilnius Hotel
Local running track, footbal field and basketball court Impuls sporto club
Utenos Pramogų arena ice skating rink Local running track
Karoliniškių natural reserve
SECTION C
NATURE PATH
ŽALGIRIS NATIONAL STADIUM National sports stadium AKROPOLIS Shopping and entertainment centre OZAS Shopping centre VICHY Water park SIEMENS ARENA Basketball / Multi Arena IMPULS Indoor sports OLD ŽALGIRIS STADIUM Football stadium
The connection
VILNIAUS KONCERTU IR SPORTO RUMAI Concert and sport palic TEATRO ARENA In- and outdoor sports URBAN BEACH Various of sports SCHOOL TRACK Running track and footbal field PRAMOGU ARENA Ice skating ring TENNIS WORLD and SPORTIMA in- and outdoor tennis and sport and recreation areana LAZDYNU BASEINAS Swimmingpool
224
MARATHON ROUTE VILNIUS The way to connect
RUBBER SURFACING
POUR-IN-PLACE RUBBER
BONDED RUBBER
Natural environment
Urban environment
EPDM cap wear layer
RUBBER SURFACING
concrete border
rubber layer bonded rubber
concrete border
SBR base impact layer compacted stone nature area
Materialization
compacted stone nature area concrete or asphalt base urban area
concrete or asphalt base urban area
compacted soil
compacted soil
226
40
00
40 00 00
80
STANDARD TRAIL
STOP ELEMENT
This application is on the flat surfaces of the route.
This application is where the trail interact with a sports facility next to the route. In the extra space, next to the ongoing trail, is equipped for opendoors sports and meeting place.
Route principle
60
00
40
00
60
00
20
00
FOREST TRAIL
FOREST TRAIL
Where the path has more space the path is wider. Therefore it is more suitable for a variety of out-doors activities including horseback riding and mountainbiking.
Where the path must overcome a bigger height, a slope and stairs are built into the trail so that all types of traffic can easily continue their way.
228
Pathway
Application
Reststop
Drinking fountain
Bike racks - Cyclocity Vilnius bike plan
230 EMBANKMENTS WITH CYCLING AND WALKING PATHS - No stop at intersections (route under bridges) - Peaks at each axle or important object
QUAYS TYPES
- With concrete piles (type A) - Eroded rocks existing improvement (B type) - Natural banks (Type C)
Bike path
Type A
Pedestrian path
Type B
Important axle roads
Type C
Sports facilities/events
PRINCIPLE PROGRAM
- Bars with terraces - Lowerd quays pontoon pier and mooring capacities - Stops at the water and sportsfacilities Type A - Lowerd quay Type A - Terrace Type B - Stopover Type C - Sports
QUAYS REVIVE THE NERIS River development
TYPE B
TYPE B
TYPE A TYPE A TYPE B
TYPE C
0
100
200
500
232
THE CURRENT SITUATION
PROBLEM
Two terraces. Upper terrace is used by cyclists and pedestrians. Closer to the water is the lower terrace. It is a popular walking trail and used for recreational sports.
Upper terrace - close to the street, noise and pollution and too far away from the water. Bottom terrace is every year flooding in the period of mid-March and last until mid-May. The water level in the Neris rise in an average between 3 and 6 meter. It can not be improved with lighting, bicycle paths, etc.
green slope
Terras II
reinforced slope Terras I
CENTRAL TERRACE Suggested is to create a middle terrace which is below the street and above the hight rise water level. The lower terraces will be reduced in width but can be used during the low water level.
DESIGN PRINCIBLE
234
trail housing trail pedestrian path road
URBAN TRAIL
CITY PATH
Main trail type through the city in an urban setting.
FOREST TRAIL NATURAL PATH The pathway will give better purpose in usability of the forest but the natural nature image will be preserved.
green slope trail pedestrian path
green slope trail pedestrian path reinforced slope pedestrian path mooring
reinforced slope pedestrian path
QUAY TYPE A
STANDARD
Main quay type with a wide terrace for different use.
QUAY TYPE A
LOWERED QUAY
Quay adjusted in the height of a boat deck, for the mooring of a small boat.
236 green slope
reinforced slope
trail coffee bar public function
descent to the water
QUAY TYPE A
WITH TERRACED STAIRS
Formed by descent to the water with a public function.
green slope trail green slope
pedestrian path
trail
reinforced slope
pedestrian path
descent to the water
reinforced slope former tailings embankments covered with rocks and plants for a naturally grow
QUAY TYPE B
STONE QUAY
Lower existing terrace partly coverd with rocks. Eventually it will overgrown with water plants and becomes a natural rivers fauna home.
former tailings embankments covered with rocks and plants for a naturally grow
QUAY TYPE B WITH A STOPOVER TO THE WATER Descent to the water is placed at the curves of the river where the water flows slower. Also this secluded place is perfect to rest and enjoy the view or fish.
238 outdoor fitness trail natural bank trail natural bank
QUAY TYPE C
NATURALLY QUAY
Untreated quay, the water level will rises during the flood over the bank but the natural nature image will be preserved.
QUAY TYPE C
SPORTS
Near the riverbank is a calm and peaceful place, perfect to do exercises. The paths and routing is designed for different outdoor sports activities.
Secondary embankments terrace moving from Mindaugas Bridge towards the Green Bridge
240
Secondary embankments view from A. GoĹĄtauto gatve
View from the Cross Over to Žalgiris National Stadium