Office of the “Ateitininkai” organization

Office of the Catholic youth organization

The Lithuanian Catholic youth organization “Ateitininkai” was formed before the First World War. A decade later, in already independent Lithuania, this movement became an organization that was active in the country until the occupation. Ateitininkai eventually became the most popular youth organization among schoolchildren and students, and also brought together senior graduates. It also encouraged the formation of various other organizations related to the Lithuanian Catholic Church.

The intelligentsia, which created the ideological basis of the organization, was actively involved in the activities. The organization was led by famous philosophers, writers, politicians and other public figures.

First design project of the building. Architect F. Vizbaras, 1930s. Source: Kaunas Regional State Archive. Online source: Ateitininkų rūmai. Architektūros ir urbanistikos tyrimų centras (AUTC).

One of the principles of the federation – sociability – was implemented through active participation in the cultural, social and religious life of the society, organizing mutual assistance and education. All these features were planned to be embodied and implemented in the organization’s headquarters and its architecture.

A “Square Box” style

Knowing the organization and its ideological principles, as well as drawing attention to the fact that the building was built in the 1930s, it is not surprising that the first design project was featured with neo baroque features. However, the history of the building and its current image reveals the interesting views and creative principles of two different generations of architects. For unclear reasons, few years later after the construction it was decided to repair and to modernize the building. The reconstruction was finished in 1933. The author of the reconstruction was engineer A. Šalkauskas. The first architect of the building was extremely critical of the modernization, calling it a “square box” style.

The building in 1940s. Photo by J. Stanišauskas. Source: Kauno apskrities viešoji biblioteka.

After adjusting the project, the savings were allocated for the construction of an additional – fifth floor. Various functions were concentrated in the building after it opened its doors: a student canteen was installed in the basement, the profitable first floor was rented for commerce (there were large windows for shops), a large event hall was located on the second floor, a primary school, various editorial offices, a bookstore, and a student dormitory on the upper floors.

At the beginning of the occupation, the activities of the organization were declared anti-state, and the property was nationalized. After the war, the building was used by Kaunas University, and later by the Polytechnic Institute. Now they are home to the Culture Center of Kaunas University of Technology.

Text by Žilvinas Rinkšelis

Sources of information:

Kaunas Architectural Guide. Vilnius, 2017.

V. Petrulis, Ateitininkų sąjungos rūmai Kaune. Architektūros ir urbanistikos tyrimų centro duomenų bazė.

Photo by Ž. Rinkšelis, 2016.