Highlights of the urban areas

A water tower is an engineering structure – part of a water supply system – the main part of which is a water tank raised at a certain height. The reservoir is designed to store and use water supplies during peak water demand, also raised water creates pressure in the water system.

There are 8 water supply towers in Lithuania counted as heritage objects. These are structures built in the interwar period or earlier. Most of the later ones were built during the Soviet era. They were built of various materials: metals, reinforced concrete, bricks. The height of the water towers is variable: in rural areas, metal towers of 10 to 25 m are common, while in urban areas, reinforced concrete towers of up to 50 m can be found.

Water towers are still dominating the cityscapes of many urban areas. Nevertheless, today their destinies are different: some of them are still functioning as they were originally intended, or serves as viewpoints and the place for communication systems, others are demolished as redundant structures. But also, various initiatives are emerging that offers creative insights.

 

Water tower as an opportunity

Creatively transformed water towers for years have been highlights of many cities in the US, Australia and Europe. It is gratifying that these tendencies do not overtake Lithuania either. There is already a climbing center on the tower in Jonava, and the towers in Kretinga are planned to be used as reflections of the city image.

In 2019 the community of Akademija in Kaunas District became a part of the Kaunas 2022 project and for half a year zealously collected memories and stories of residents about their town. During this process, it turned out that most people feel great sentiment for the 11th (Marvos) Fort, where there was a beach, it was customary to spend time with families or fall in love. After long debates, a need to rethink the sense of place appeared and to encourage people to come back here. The artistic tool – an interactive installation of light lasers – was chosen for this purpose. It was created by artists Linas Kutavičius and Linas Ramanauskas together with the community. These lasers turned the huge water tower into a modern lighthouse, not only for the community, but also for guests, inviting them to gather in a memorable place. This light installation can still be seen at the end of the day, in the dark.

This tower also attracted attention several years ago. In 2018 The water tower of Akademija became a place for a national flag. The initiative was implemented by “Kauno vandenys” (water supply company) and its employees to commemorate the centenary of the restored independent state of Lithuania.

Text by Žilvinas Rinkšelis

Photos by Kaunas 2022 and  L. Steponavičiaus (diena.lt).

It is probably the first building in Lithuania to use the most modern technology of reinforced concrete vaulting structures for roofing. At that time, the newspapers wrote: “The beautiful and modern Kaunas City Municipal Bus Shelter” is the largest in the Baltic States.

In 1921 The American–Lithuanian Trade Company (“Amlitas”) was established. It is considered to be one of the major players in the development of inter-war Lithuania motoring and transport. The company, which at the beginning was specializing in the sale and repair of cars and tractors and their parts, later expanded its activities to collect Amlit bicycles adapted for the Lithuanian provincial roads, Ford passenger cars, as well as buses for the city of Kaunas.

Source: Apie tuos, kurie pirmieji įveisė Lietuvoje automobilius ir traktorius. Lietuvos Aidas, 1930 birželio 18, p. 9.

Do you know stories associated with this building? – Tell us! This assistance is invaluable for Kaunas and Kaunas District as a contemporary European Capital of Culture 2022 and for those who want to know more about it. Let’s share our stories about architecture!

This place recalls a three-parted swimming pool, a fountain, gold fishes, water lilies and the elegant ladies, wearing their classy swimsuits and sun hats, chattering in a sunlight… Everything suggesting the Golden Age of Kaunas city during the Interwar period, as the temporary capital of Lithuania.

Kaukas stairs are located near by former Žaliakalnis water-supply station. Together they form one functional ensemble. On the other side of Aukštaičių street were three open basins intended for water let out from reservoir during cleaning operations. The water from these basins as well as other Žaliakalnis effluents were collected in the sewage system`s main container, installed under the Kaukas Stairway (1936) connecting Žaliakalnis with Naujamiestis. In the lower terrace a fountain was installed. The broad steps of hewed granite, embellished with decorative plants around them, were the loveliest in Kaunas, and the area around the basins became favorite resting places. Towards the end of the war some of the installations were bombed. Instead of three basins one was reconstructed.

 

The station was built in the former territory of Kaunas`s fortress. It is a complex of several constructions and engineering installations. The main water reservoir is a transformation of the former gunpowder depository. Frame arches of reinforced concrete and double walls and floors enable the reservoir`s constructions to with-stand high water pressure. on the outside the low, elongated, monolithic expanse is enlivened by a rhythmic colonade performing not just an aesthetic function but also bracing the wall. Higher up inside the pavilion of valves is decorated by the sculpture Water Carrier (Bronius Pundzius). Close to the street there stands a three-storey residential and administrative building, next to it there is a diminutive, decorative hydrofor (water pump). On the other side of Aukštaičių street were three open basins intended for water let out from reservoir during cleaning operations. The water from these basins as well as other Žaliakalnis effluents were collected in the sewage system`s main container, installed under the Kaukas Stairway (1936) connecting Žaliakalnis with Naujamiestis. In the lower terrace a fountain was installed. The broad steps of hewed granite, embellished with decorative plants around them, were the loveliest in Kaunas, and the area around the basins became favorite resting places. Towards the end of the war some of the installations were bombed. Instead of three basins one was reconstructed.

The location of the building was determined by its proximity to a source of water, the Nemunas River; and its curved facade was dictated by the need to have space for fire engines. The main curved part of the building contained the garage bays; above them were the fire-station offices and rest areas; the third storey housed the Pedagogical Museum. Other small buildings were situated around the interior courtyard. The Nemunas street wing had a store on the first floor, an apartment on the second, and a pawnshop on the third. The curbed part of the building is framed by small towers whose purpose is compositional rather than functional.

During the interwar period Šančiai was one of the city districts that faced the biggest modernization. New schools, factories and infrastructure projects were done here. Šančiai firefighters` building is one of such examples.

The most modern building in interwar Lithuania

Territorial disputes, the insecure and changing geopolitical situation of the country and the region, encouraged the state to take care of its security and not to be left out of the armaments process. At the beginning of independence, the Lithuanian state bought weapons, explosives and other military material abroad. Later, due to a lack of currency, high prices and other economic and political circumstances, the government decided to create a local arms industry. In both cases, however, there was a need of a research laboratory to carry out tests on the quality of ammunition and the raw materials and products used in production. “To eliminate the shortcomings of armaments” in 1935 an armaments (research) laboratory was established.

The initiator of the development of the laboratory and its future head became the engineer dr. Juozas Vėbra. To gain experience, he visited as many as 8 of the latest laboratories for similar purposes in Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Spain, but in the end, all the equipment of the Research Laboratory was designed and created by local scientific staff. Competition for the architectural design of the building in 1932 was won by architect V. Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, who prepared an original, practical and flexible project. In addition to the main laboratory building, a guard house, auxiliary buildings with metal, woodworking and glassblowing workshops (architect B. Elsbergas), a gas generator, a water supply station, warehouses, anti-aircraft and anti-chemical shelters, and a library were designed. A basement was designed under the main building, occupying a slightly larger area than the above-ground volume, and laboratories were also installed there. The construction solution was prepared by engineer Anatolijus Rozenbliumas.

The research laboratory is one of the most striking examples of Lithuanian interwar modernism. Its structure is based on a promising system of reinforced concrete frame structures and their expression in the exterior. The most striking functionalist elements of the building: strip windows, flat roofs and decorative chimneys that enliven them. All of these elements were dictated by specific functions related to the purpose of the building: strip windows were designed so that in the event of an explosion, the air wave would only remove the windows and not the walls and structures; flat roofs were adapted for laboratory tests on the outside, and chimneys were nothing more than the outlets of fume cupboards set up in laboratories or simply ducts.

 

Drawing of a research laboratory. Architect Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis. Photo source: Lithuanian Archives of Literature and Art.

 

The most expensive

Technological equipment of the building was taken care of by many companies and representative offices: central heating, water supply, gas pipeline, sewerage and steam networks were installed by A. Ragauskas’ company, electrical equipment by representatives of the famous German company AEG in Lithuania Didžiulis and Ringys. The main laboratory equipment was ordered in France, microscopes, spectrograph, photometers, precision electrical measuring equipment were purchased in Germany. The laboratory had a number of unique equipment, such as: fume cupboards with ceramic fans, which prevented the mixing of generated gases and vapors, as well as explosions in ventilation systems; a special armored fume cupboard for explosives research; constant pressure water system; enamelled Volvik lava laboratory tables, were coming from Iceland. These tables, as well as the ceramic fans, were specially constructed in such a way that it was impossible to dismantle and remove them without destroying the entire reinforced concrete laboratory frame. This helped to protect the laboratory during the occupations, so many pieces of the equipment remained. Even the door locks were special, ordered in France. Each of them could be unlocked with 3 different keys. Windows and doors and other wooden details were made by Kaunas artillery workshops. Although construction work was completed in 1935, the installation of the equipment took until 1937. Aloyzas Zahradnikas, a master from Czechoslovakia, was invited to make glassware for the laboratory, he taught the craft to 5 young people who later worked in both the laboratory and the university.

All in all, 2.3 million Litas were spent on the construction and installation of the laboratory. This building is considered to be the most expensive construction in the interwar Lithuania, but most of the costs were not construction, but equipment and appliances. The laboratory complex was considered the best in the Baltic States and one of the best in Eastern Europe. Unfortunately, the research laboratory only functioned for a few years – after the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania, the Lithuanian army was liquidated, and the Research Laboratory was closed in 1940. It was later transferred to Kaunas University. J. Vėbra’s contacts with the university professors helped to save the laboratory. This building is also associated with anti-Nazi and anti-Soviet resistance, which was attended by Col. J. Vėbra and Adolfas Damušis.

 

View of the research laboratory in the interwar period, 1940s. Photo source: Lithuanian Archives of Literature and Art.

 

Outstanding value

Today, the historic building of Research Laboratory serves for the KTU Faculty of Chemical Technology – it is a building of modernist architecture with the status of a monument of national significance, which has retained its authentic appearance, little changed interior and original function. Students of the Faculty of Chemical Technology of Kaunas University of Technology still works in the laboratories that did not suffer during the war with the preserved authentic equipment. It would be difficult to count the number of times students have worked here since the establishment of the faculty in this building in 1947.

It is also interesting that the exceptional architectural value of this building was recognized already in 1973, when this building was granted the status of an architectural monument. In 2005 this building was recognized as an immovable cultural property protected by the state. In 2008 it was declared a cultural monument by government decree. In 2015 by the decision of the European Commission, 44 objects of Kaunas interwar modernism architecture were included in the list of the European Heritage Label, including the Research Laboratory. In 2019 this building appeared among ten outstanding examples of modernist world architecture that received support from the prestigious Getty Foundation to support projects for the conservation and preservation of modernist buildings. The facade of the building was never renovated since its construction in 1935.

With the recent increase in interest in the architecture of interwar Kaunas modernism, the building has received a lot of public attention. 5 documentary film screenings were created about the building and the historical figures who worked here, and the public initiative “Ekskursas” organized 10 excursions for those interested in interwar architecture, of which 1 excursion was for foreigners. In addition, the building is visited annually by about 5 former graduates and about 5 school tours.

Text by Žilvinas Rinkšelis

Sources of information: 

Kauno technologijos universiteto muziejus. Audronės Veilentienės surinkta informacija.

J. Rudokas, Prarastieji Lietuvos talentai. Vilnius: Lietuvos gyventojų genoicido ir rezistencijos tyrimo centras, 2001 m.

„Kas vyko paslaptingame tarpukario pastate, kuris kėlė siaubą kauniečiams?“. Delfi, 2016-03-08.

V. Petrulis, Krašto apsaugos ministerijos Ginklavimo valdybos Tyrimų laboratorija Kaune. Architektūros ir urbanistikos tyrimų centro duomenų bazė.

Photos by L. Mykolaitis, 2018, M. Plapys („Ekskursas“), 2015 and Kaunas Technological University.

Automatic connection – accurate and fast communication

The construction of the post office and the telephone station next to each other was not accidental. As the post office was being modernized, the need of a modern telephone exchange became apparent. The rapidly increasing number of telephone subscribers made a need to automate manual switch systems. The current generation of mobile subscribers has grown significantly to this day. Fast mobile phone communication for them became a completely common thing and old phones became museum exhibits. So how did those old systems work?

 

First design project of the building. Architect Feliksas Vizbaras. Source: Virtuali paroda „Laikinosios sostinės architektai“, Kauno apskrities viešoji biblioteka, 2015 m.

 

Generally speaking, the automation of telephone communication at that time meant accurate and fast communication – telephone operator manually connecting calls with cord pairs at a telephone switchboard was replaced by automated connection systems. What did this mean in the daily lives of the people of that time? The fact that when one subscriber finished turning the circle of the last number with his finger, the ringing signal was already heard at the other end of the wire almost at the same time.

The finished building in 1940s. Photo source: Virtuali paroda „Laikinosios sostinės architektai, Kauno apskrities viešoji biblioteka, 2015 m. 

 

The new system was installed by the British corporation Automatic Electric Company Ltd of Strowger Works. As it was common for large institutions of that time, the building was used in several ways: the main halls were serving for technical equipment and support, also there were not only offices for staff, but also apartments for them. The Board of Roads and Waterways was also housed in the building. The building suffered during the war and reached our days a bit different. At the beginning it consisted of three volumes: two on the street side (separated by a gateway) and one perpendicular to them in the yard. However, in 1944 it was blown up and has not survived to this day.

 

The building from the yard side. Photo source: Virtuali paroda „Laikinosios sostinės architektai“, Kauno apskrities viešoji biblioteka, 2015 m.

 

The adaptability of the building was proved during time. The printing house “Šviesa” has been operating in it for a long time after the war and in 2014, the building was acquired by the US-based healthcare technologies and services giant Intermedix Corporation.

Text by Žilvinas Rinkšelis

Photos by L. Mykolaitis, 2018 and “Intermedix”.