The development of regional concepts of wood architecture in Lithuania

Abstract

World regional architectural concepts significantly influenced and continue to affect the development of wood architecture in Lithuania. Such architectural ideas encourage more meaningful quality in attractive and well thought-out architectural design. The impact of such thinking can be seen in the architectural practice in Lithuania from the beginning of the twentieth century. During the Soviet occupation such regionalism also influenced in a significant manner the uninterrupted development of wood architecture. In Lithuania, the regionally-generated design ideas were directly related to the use of wood in architecture and to the search for new architectural expression using wood and harmonizing it with native ethnographic traits and attributes. Contemporary wooden structures in Lithuania relate to the concepts of international realism in several ways: a) the expression of architectural distinction and uniqueness, using national cultural characteristics; b) the use of traditional local features in buildings which were designed and built abroad; c) the use of architectural motifs from abroad in local design; d) the harmonious synchronization of architecture with the local context, in that way countering overly modernistic architectural tendencies; d) the “spirit of site” ‒ genius loci ‒ tendencies, i.e., the codification of architectural metaphors; f) the inclusion of the potential occupants of buildings in the creative process; g) the adaptation of simple, everyday objects in architecture.