Resesrch and Innovation

On 26–27 February, Vilnius will host the international wood architecture and engineering forum “Forum Wood Building Baltic”, bringing together architects, engineers, researchers, business representatives and urban planners from the Baltic, Nordic and Western European countries. The event is part of the international network Forum Holzbau, which unites leading European universities and operates as a platform for knowledge and technology transfer in the field of contemporary sustainable timber construction.   Registration here The forum for the Baltic region is organised by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), Riga Technical University (RTU), Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) and Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA). This is the second time the forum is being held in Vilnius. Timber as a response to climate challenges In the Nordic and Baltic countries, timber – a traditional building material – has gained new significance in the context of sustainability. Renewable resources, advanced research and technological innovation are opening up new possibilities for high-quality, sustainable and aesthetically distinctive buildings. “Today, timber is no longer merely a symbol of tradition. It is a strategic choice that helps address climate change, resource scarcity and the environmental impact of the construction sector. The forum becomes a meeting point for science, practice and business,” says Dr Liutauras Nekrošius, Associate Professor at VILNIUS TECH and Chair of the Scientific Committee. According to him, the aim of the event is to bring together representatives from different fields for a common discussion: university researchers, practising architects and engineers, timber structure manufacturers, contractors, real estate developers, urban planners, public administrators and heritage specialists. Two-day symposium and innovation exhibition The forum will consist of a two-day symposium and an exhibition of manufacturing and construction companies. The conference programme includes six oral presentation sessions, and for the first time this year, a poster session will also be organised. “We deliberately structure the sessions so that professionals from different disciplines and countries meet in the same room. Only interdisciplinary dialogue can lead to genuine innovation,” emphasises Dr Nekrošius. “This year, it is particularly important for us to actively involve students, doctoral candidates and young architects and engineers in the discussion.” Experts from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Spain and Germany will deliver presentations at the forum. From biophilic schools to timber apartment buildings Among the speakers are renowned architects and engineers whose work transcends the boundaries of a single profession. Architect Arūnas Liola and structural engineer Žydrūnas Jurgelionis will present a joint lecture on the challenges of implementing the “Sanctum” centre, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Professor Pekka Heikkinen from Aalto University will discuss the links between university research, education and the construction market. Architects Thomas Jørgensen and Markus Kaasik will share their experience in designing biophilic and context-sensitive school buildings, while Rūdis Rubenis will present a community library project. Among the social impact initiatives, architects Margarita Kaučikaitė and Evelina Vasiliauskaitė will introduce their travelling architecture workshops, which empower young people in smaller towns to participate in shaping their own environments. Architect Viktorija Blažienė will demonstrate how architecture can become a tool of humanitarian aid for war-affected Ukraine. Architects Johannes Hübner and Tina Selami are conducting experimental research in renovation and new construction, while Joakim Kaminsky will present a 12-storey timber apartment building insulated with straw – an innovation that raises sustainability standards to a new level. Engineering solutions and market perspectives In the engineering section, Stefan Winter will forecast the future of timber structures in 2030, Professor Andreas Heinzmann from Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences will analyze directions for improving timber production processes, and engineer Maarja Mirjam Rajasaar will present an experimental study on monitoring outdoor timber structures. Researcher Maximilian Pramreiter will explore more efficient use of forest resources, while Professor of Biology Vitas Marozas will address the importance of sustainable forestry and biodiversity. The programme will also include a presentation on the design of timber bridges in Spain and their production in Lithuania, as well as an analysis of the implementation of the largest administrative building with load-bearing timber structures. An overview of the current state, potential and future directions of the timber architecture and construction market in the Baltic states will be presented by business representative and sustainable building expert Paulius Milčius. “The timber construction sector in the Baltic region has enormous growth potential. However, this requires close cooperation between academia, business and the public sector. The forum catalyzes this process,” concludes Dr Nekrošius. Partners: „Rothoblaas“, „EGGER Group“, „Pro clima“, „Binderholz“, „HSBCAD“, „James Hardie“, „STEICO“, „ISOCELL“, „KNAUF“, „SIHGA“, „SWG“, „KLH“, „Koch&Schulte“, „Peikko“, „Drūstraigtis“, „VMG Grupė“, „Jūrės medis“, „Woodon“, „The Nordic Council of Ministers“, Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO Wooden Architecture Centre. Text prepared by Dr Liutauras Nekrošius, Associate Professor at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and Chair of the Scientific Committee. Author of photos Leonas Garbinčius, "Project Sanctum". 

On February 26th, we invite you to participate in the VILNIUS TECH "Well-being Day" – an online event dedicated to raising awareness about mental health. We will cover neurodevelopmental disorders, universal design, youth mental health, and the importance of the student-lecturer relationship.   We will openly and boldly discuss important topics, share experiences, and seek new ways to improve emotional well-being. Note: the only lecture in English will be “I’m neurodivergent and I want everyone to know that…” (from 10.10 AM), but we invite you to participate in Lithuanian lectures too! It's a good chance to improve your languange skills.    PROGRAM   10:00-10:10 | Opening Remarks 10:10-11:10 | (In English) “I’m neurodivergent and I want everyone to know that…”: psychological insights from university students | Miglė Rudytė – VILNIUS TECH Psychologist, Coordinator for Students with Individual Needs, and PhD student at the VU Institute of Psychology. The presentation will address the mental health of young adults with neurodevelopmental disorders and the challenges they face in higher education. It will cover the main symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders, common co-occurring conditions, and learning difficulties 11:10-12:10 | Youth Psychological Well-being in Times of Unrest and Artificial Intelligence | Giedrė Dautartaitė – Clinical Psychologist, Specialist at the Vilnius City Public Health Bureau. She will provide an overview of the current youth mental health situation, common difficulties, and available support options. 12:10-13:00 | Lunch Break 13:00-14:00 | Universal Design for Learning and Higher Education | Indrė Širvinskaitė – President of the Lithuanian Disability Forum. This lecture will examine accessibility in higher education – from legal frameworks to practical application. The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) will be introduced, along with opportunities to apply them in the study process. The session will discuss how applying UDL principles can help create an inclusive learning environment not only for students with disabilities but for all students. 14:00-15:00 | Discussion: The Lecturer-Student Relationship in the Study Process | Participants: Dr. Sigita Kamašauskė (Lecturer at the Faculty of Creative Industries, Doctor of Communication Science), Tautvydas Kvietkauskas (Lecturer and PhD student at the Faculty of Fundamental Sciences), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vilius Vertelis (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Electronics), Vita Vasionienė (Technician at the Materials Science and Welding Laboratory). Moderated by: Psychologist Rasa Urbanavičiūtė. LINK TO JOIN: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/35094064956685...

The Department of Architectural Fundamentals, Theory, and Art at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) invites students and 2025 graduates of Lithuanian higher architectural education institutions to participate in the annual drawing competition. The theme of the 2026 competition is: IMAGINATION CARTOGRAPHY. Drawing must be submitted by March 25. The theme of the 2026 architectural drawing competition is urban, architectural, and landscape maps and plans of the imagination. Maps help us to understand our surroundings, navigate, and act within them. They are tools used to make discoveries and important decisions, and are therefore understood as documents confirming facts. However, maps can also be called mock(doc)uments, combining what is real and what is fictional and imaginary. Even when striving for maximum objectivity, maps inevitably reflect the subjectivity of their creators, the fragmentary nature of the data presented, the selective means of graphic expression, the illusory nature of images, and perspective distortions. Plans and maps are an integral part of architectural, urban, and landscape design theory, practice and communication. They are used both to visualize future ideas and to document projects that have already been implemented. However, architects' inerest in maps is motivated not only by professional necessity, but also by a purposeless enjoyment of visual aesthetics of cartographic material and the possibilities of representation of speculative ideas. The drawing of the maps based on the imagination can be focused not only on the representation of objects, territories, places, and infrastructure, but also the nuancing of tonal and color spots, and the abstract composition of lines, dots, letters, numbers, and conventional signs.  Drawing imaginary maps encompasses a myriad of cartographic ideas and possibilities for expression, of which we will mention only a few possible directions for developing the theme: - drawings that intertwine references to virtual environments such as imagined, dreamt, or seen in movies, computer games, with real urban, architectural, and landscape sites; - maps that layer the inner and outer worlds; the past/present/future of the city; micro and macro worlds; nature/geology and architecture; - cartography of digital data landscapes; - drawings revealing the changing effects of state borders, migration, population, and climate change; - cartographic abstractions that do not signify anything specific, but only play with conventional symbols. Cartographers of the imagination can also be guided by bringing up rhetorical questions such as: what worldview does the map convey? What is the scale of the map, and what does its change alter? Can errors of the map be important to the idea behind the drawing? Is the map intended for the eyes of a child, a woman, a man, an animal, a plant, a machine-robot-AI, or an alien? Participants: The competition is open to architecture students of all levels at Lithuanian higher education institutions and 2025 architecture graduates. Evaluation of competition entries: Entries submitted to the competition will be evaluated by a commission composed of professional artists and architects. The aim of this commission is to select three authors from among all competition participants who have submitted the most interesting and best drawings, who will be awarded prizes. The commission may also propose additional nominations of participants. Competition evaluation criteria: relevance of drawings to the competition theme, originality of ideas, conceptuality and clarity, harmonious use of drawing tools and aesthetic quality of execution, harmony between artistic ideas and graphic image. Drawing techniques and tools: Works must be drawn on paper by hand or by combining hand drawing with other graphic representation techniques, such as collage or computer drawing. Works may be created using various drawing tools – graphite, charcoal, ink, markers, rapitographs, brushes, feathers, etc. Drawing size: The maximum size of the drawing is 1x1m. This means that the drawing may also be smaller. Organizers: The curator of the competition is artist and VILNIUS TECH Department of Architectural Fundamentals, Theory and Art lecturer Prof. Dr. Audrius Novickas, assisted by artist and associate professor Lilija Puipienė, poster designer Kipras Dubauskas. Selected resources, links for inspiration: •    https://lookingatcities.info/2021/04/15/mapping-abstract-concepts-for-urban-design-a-lecture-presented-to-htwg-konstanz-university-of-applied-science-faculty-of-architecture-and-design-constance-germany/ •    https://drawingmatter.org/cartographies-of-the-imagination/ •    Drawings by the architects  Peter Cook, Zahos Hadid, Bernard Tschumi;  •    Fei Fei Zhou piešiniai https://feifeizhou.com/ •    Barbara Macaes Costacartography https://barbaramacaescosta.info/cartography •    Artist Matthew Rangel walking maps: https://www.rangelstudio.com/images/sierra-nevada-codex-exhibition-view •    Woks by visual artists Nicolaus Gansterer, Christopher Fink, Grayson Perry. Still have questions? audrius.novickas@vilniustech.lt +370 683 20159