Limits of change of town form character in Lithuania. Changes of Biržai during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries

Abstract

Even though it is natural for towns to change constantly, at some cases the character of town form may be affected. It is a very important issue in the context of globalisation and the aspiration to live in unique and vital towns. Especially fragile are small towns which usually are left in the background of urban settlement system. Lithuania case is an example how small towns are not seen as promising and attractive places to live. Unfortunately, population of those towns is continually decreasing and their distinctive form is often neglected. Studies of town form may allow to perceive the distinctiveness of town form and to measure changes, which can be discussed as major transformations affecting negatively the image of the town. Such knowledge may have influence on further investigations, local and general solutions of problems and act as an inspiration for strategic and spatial planning of towns. The article presents the case study of Biržai town as an explanation of suggested methodology of research of town form character, which is still developing. The methodology is based on multilayered analysis of main elements of town form in the context of changes. Results show that such analysis and its precision are depending on the comparative analysis and may set not only limits of changes of particular town form, but also guidelines for further development.