In Lithuania, new or reconstructed buildings often spark sharp debates, not only among professionals from various fields but also within society. However, projects located in UNESCO heritage sites, especially in Vilnius and the Curonian Spit, tend to attract even more controversy.
"For instance, we can recall the construction of apartment buildings in the 'Missionary Gardens' in Vilnius or the ongoing, unproductive discussions about the Nida Culture, Tourism, and Information Center 'Agila' project. All these changes in buildings or landscapes become part of local identity and have a direct impact on and significance for internationally protected cultural landscapes," says Dr. Dalia Traškinaitė, who conducted special architectural research.
In her dissertation, the researcher explored the connection between legal regulations and architectural aesthetics, examining new and adapted (reconstructed) buildings in Vilnius and the Curonian Spit since their inclusion in the World Heritage list. She also studied the architectural expression of these buildings and the requirements set out in international and national heritage protection documents for new, adapted, and reconstructed architecture.
"Complicated and confusing legal regulations, the underutilization of international heritage protection documents, and prevailing general urban trends pose many challenges in planning and implementing new buildings or reconstruction projects in the areas I studied. Moreover, the growing gap between the implemented architecture and the legal regulations associated with UNESCO sites not only creates confusion for architects designing in these areas but also hinders the creation of architectural objects that meet the required standards," explains the scholar.
Lack of Aesthetic Evaluation Criteria
While writing her dissertation, VILNIUS TECH alumna analyzed the genesis and development of new architecture in protected areas, focusing primarily on aesthetic aspects. The young researcher compared international and national legal heritage protection documents, conducted an analysis of aesthetic expression, and, based on the results, examined the most characteristic buildings—new, reconstructed, and restored—in the Curonian Spit and Vilnius' historical center.
"One of the conclusions I reached is that Lithuania lacks a clear concept of heritage, where international heritage protection documents would be integrated into the national legal system. This would help reduce the complexity of the existing system, which leads to many legal misunderstandings, resulting in architectural, urban, and aesthetic problems in protected areas.
Due to the confusion caused by legal construction requirements for new architecture, strategic documents—management plans—are necessary. These plans would allow for the assessment of the vulnerability status of values, adjustment of existing planning and other heritage protection documents, and enable continued monitoring and expert evaluations of the area. Of course, not only the preparation of these plans but also their implementation—constantly reviewed and updated—would help protect these World Heritage sites and manage potentially harmful processes," shares Dr. Traškinaitė.
Moreover, it is essential to ensure the effective transfer of practical knowledge into legal regulations. The exchange of both theoretical and practical knowledge, along with ongoing monitoring, would help bring about qualitative change in the Vilnius and Curonian Spit areas, considering each participant's contribution to the common goal—maintaining these cultural landscapes in the most harmonious way, she continues.
"Since my dissertation examines the connection between two areas—legal regulations and architectural aesthetics—during the research on legal documents, it became clear that the legal documents of the protected sites studied lack aesthetic evaluation criteria. These would include ethical, sensory, emotional experience, and psychological impact parameters that should be applied in the creation of new architecture, which forms a significant part of architectural aesthetics and local identity," explains Dr. D. Traškinaitė.
Regarding the historical center of Vilnius and the Curonian Spit, the most significant type of construction here is reconstruction (major repairs, annexes, adaptations during reconstruction), followed by new architecture. The direction of change in these studied areas, following the recommendations for Historic Urban Landscapes, is to apply sustainability principles by reusing and adapting heritage buildings.
Additionally, 20th-century buildings in these areas should be assessed to determine which ones are unique and worthy of protection, with established values, and which, if carelessly reconstructed, might lose their character. The possibility of restoring destroyed heritage values in these areas can only occur when it is based on sources and discussed not only by experts but also by a community that has developed heritage thinking, avoiding unfounded decisions and doubts about the appropriateness of such a solution.
"By applying the findings of this research, it would be possible to ensure planned changes in the areas, maintain their vitality, and continue to protect these sites on an international level. I believe the results of these studies can be useful to specialists working in the field of architecture—designing buildings and complexes or reconstructing existing architectural objects in UNESCO World Heritage sites in Lithuania, including architects and urban planners.
These insights can also be valuable for design specialists working in other protected areas of Lithuania, as they can help them delve deeper into environmental issues and consistently apply aesthetic criteria in practice, thus creating quality architecture. Certainly, these insights are also important for those working to educate society about heritage protection, as the community is directly responsible for the continued existence of these World Heritage sites," concludes Dr. Dalia Traškinaitė.
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