Some aspects of revitalization of city squares

Abstract

The impetus to alter the configuration, the purpose, or to change the appearance - the aesthetics - of a given city square may be twofold: it may be a natural process brought about by the city's growth, or it may be an ideological measure intended to change the square's history. While in the first case the reconstruction of the square aims to improve its appearance, the second approach most frequently is motivated only by the replacement of some single existing monument, or by making some cosmetic renovation to its pavement surfacing. A city is a complex entity, with its urban and social elements both internally and visually intertwined, therefore, any proposal to alter a given city square must take into account a more in-depth analysis not only of its immediate surroundings, but, more often than not, it requires a careful study of the context of the entire city. After the restoration of Lithuania's independence, the country experienced a boom in the rush to reconstruct the Soviet-period city squares. This was not a smooth process, because, most often, the impetus for such reconstruction was motivated by "ideology." In investigating city squares, it is most important to evaluate their impact on the public. Such evaluation is significant in determining their configuration and the means of their reconstruction. [...]