Open AccessVILNIUS CITY – BETWEEN METAPHOR AND PRAGMATIZM
Author(s) -
Algis Vyšniūnas
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of architecture and urbanism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 7
eISSN - 2029-7955
pISSN - 2029-7947
DOI - 10.3846/13921630.2006.10697077
Subject(s) - lagging , contradiction , politics , metaphor , urban planning , capital (architecture) , capital city , sociology , political science , economy , history , law , economic geography , geography , epistemology , economics , civil engineering , engineering , archaeology , philosophy , linguistics , medicine , pathology
Urban solutions in Vilnius were mostly of a practical rather than aestethical character. After World War II architects of urban design, whose activity used to change substantly historically settled cities, became more active. In Lithuania the conception of heritage developed gradually lagging behind dominating European tendencies; therefore, Vilnius city has been strongly influenced by individual creative works. The most obvious materialized conception of that kind is the idea of “architectural hills“. Currently this conception is widely criticized, and at the same time new restraints protecting the old town are set. These restraints often contradict the development of the city, which is inevitable bearing in mind the status of Vilnius city (the capital) and the size of administrated territory.Due to objective reasons political decisions and the activity of energetic private investors have a strong influence on the development of the city. In the chain an investor–administrator–professional there exists uneven proportion of participation thus spoiling the final result.The paper presents the main contradiction between the city development and heritage supporters and ways of solving it.