Tourist route „Reflections of modernism in the temporary capital of Lithuania“ offers a look into a period of early modernist architecture, which flourished in Lithuania since early 30‘s until the soviet occupation.

The new tendencies of modernism, that spred through the most part of the Western World after World War I, soon found their way into the young Republic of Lithuania. Local architects, that were coming home after studies in Western European universities brought back the new architectural ideas, and transformed them into disctinctive local form, that was later named Kaunas school of architecture. Each of these architects had their own style, marked by their unique variations of modernist elements – either by fusing them with classical architecture, search for so called „national style“ or just by simply trying to adjust those ideas for the local conditions.

During this walk the participants will survey buildings of various types designed by Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, Arnas Funkas, Bronius Elsbergas, Stasys Kudokas and some other, more or less known architects.  The route itself goes trough two main ranges of Lithuanian interwar modernism – the main part of central Kaunas called Naujamiestis, and also the district of Žaliakalnis, which is known for it‘s wide collection of modernist residential buildings.

Because of the wide dispersion of included buildings, the route is split in two parts. First part, which extends through Naujamiestis is intended for pedestrians, and the second part that includes objects in Žaliakalnis district, that serves as an additional branch for the main route, recommended for cyclists and those who enjoy long walks.

Paulius Tautvydas Laurinaitis