The city is one of the most controversial structures of civilization, an integral part of modern culture, often personalised, adored and demonized. It is constantly changing, thriving or declining, it is surprising or disappointing, and the permanent change keeps it as one of the most popular objects of research.

The city and its physical expression is influenced by many factors: historical circumstances, natural conditions, demographics, financial or political power, even individual personalities. So if we consider the city as the system of those elements, the question arises, how is it changing along with changes of the constituents, with their decline or with the appearance of new ones? What other forces act on the cities, what events of the past have defined their present and what awaits them in the future? When this system reaches equilibrium and stability, what are the breakpoints that may dramatically alter or destroy the previous system? Or maybe the city is an organism where critical changes may cause mutations and malformations?

The talks are held every Thursday, 8.00 p.m. at the National Art Gallery (NDG), Konstitucijos av. 22, Vilnius. Entrance is free of charge.

The fourth session of ARCHITECTURE [discussion] FUND is dedicated to rethinking of how the mechanism of architectural education functions and bringing into a new perspective the curriculum of an architect. The speakers representing different attitudes are invited to touch upon the subject from their point of view: How has the architecture as discipline changed and what new forms it will take in the future? How wide and multidisciplinary architectural education can be? How the processes of research and design interact in it? Has the fundamental master/apprentice model dissolved due to institutionalizing of the architectural education, or can this model still be recognizable in the performance of the contemporary architectural offices? How does the educational practice reflect ideological frameworks and contexts? Is it becoming a platform for political action?     

* 1)to exhibit or display so as to invite admiration; 2)to behave in such a manner as to make an impression; 3)a person who makes a vain display of himself

Lecture series will refer the intriguing role played by the museum in today’s media saturated society. As a design challenge the museum is in the spotlight of architectural media, as an icon, as bearer of cultural significance, as exposition of architectural innovation. How does architecture deal with the museum as an institute, as a cultural accumulator and broadcaster? How does it serve new forms curating, archiving and in the end its audience? How the architecture interfere the interaction between the creator, the work and the spectator?  What are the design strategies we need today in order to address the questions above?

Speakers representing different disciplines and attitudes from Lithuania and abroad are invited to touch upon the subject of ‘SHOW OFF: Architecture on Display’ from their point of view in any form they please.

The talks are held every Thursday, 8.00 p.m. at the National Art Gallery (NDG), Konstitucijos av. 22, Vilnius. Entrance is free of charge.