The second Soviet occupation of Lithuania having started in 1944 also changed the situation with respect to the development of Kaunas architecture. A great number of the most creative architects moved to the West (K. Reisonas, S. Kudokas, F. Vizbaras, A. Funkas, etc.). Besides, the city lost the status of the temporary capital. In Kaunas city planning strategies, the highest priority was given to development of industrial facilities; similarly to the entire country, mass construction works of residential districts were in progress.

However, the central street of Kaunas, i.e. Laisvės Avenue (Freedom Avenue), succeeded in maintaining its significance level even during the Soviet period. Here, the following critical urban/regeneration projects were realised: reconstruction of J. Janonio Square (present Vienybės Square [Solidarity Square]) and of Laisvės Avenue itself. Areas of high-rise buildings, i.e. dominants, were developed. A range of public/commercial structures in the Modernism, Postmodernism style were constructed in compliance with original projects.

GUIDES: doc. dr. Vaidas Petrulis, art historian Kastytis Rudokas

DURATION: 5 h

DOWNLOAD EXCURSION MAP: map

PHOTOS OF THE EVENT: take a look

This is the fourth part of excursion series „modernizmas.lt“ (2012/09/08-10/27) 

Excursion is sponsored by LR KULTŪROS RĖMIMO FONDAS.