Vilnius: From car focus to society focus
The Challenge
Car dominance hindering the potential of a natural gathering place
Known for its natural springs, the site of Vingriu square and Pylimo street is located in the heart of Vilnius and served as a community well and gathering place for centuries. But rapid urban development and vehicular dominance in the early 1900s led to the springs being buried and the space transformed into a monofunctional street for vehicular circulation and parking.
The challenge of car dominance hindering quality street life, outdoor activities and safe pedestrian experiences in Vilnius needed to be addressed.
The Solution
Transforming a neglected street into a vibrant and artful public space
A design concept was created to reveal the buried natural springs, bringing the meandering water stream back to the surface to offer play opportunities, a tranquil atmosphere and historical significance. The site was pedestrianised, and vehicular access remains for services and emergencies only.
Making an impact
In 2018, the Modern Art Museum (MO muziejus) was opened on the adjacent site, and the municipality wished to decrease motorised traffic and cars entering the town’s central area. These events catalysed a transformation of the streetscape to promote more vibrant public spaces as meeting places for the neighbourhood.
Designed by architects Paulius Jonys and Lolita Vileikienė, the project serves as a showcase for future streetscape regeneration projects, attracting families with kids for play and passive recreation and offering contemplative enjoyment of greenery, water and outdoor art.
Collaboration with the museum led to the extensive display of existing and newly designed sculptural pieces introduced to the wider setting as an open-air gallery. Artists found their unique ways of integrating their pieces into the streetscape and new pedestrian circulation patterns.
Lessons learnt
Art as a reflection of society
While the project was driven by the need to create a natural gathering space for the neighbourhood, the collaboration with the nearby Modern Art Museum enabled the extensive display of existing and newly designed sculptural pieces as an open-air gallery.
The power of art as a reflection of society, ideas and people gave room for a new kind of involvement and mirroring in public space. The project attracted families with children for play and passive recreation and set a higher standard for future streetscape regeneration projects in the city.