EXHIBITION “MODER… WHAT? THE MODERNISM OF KAUNAS! AND THE PROFESSION OF AN ARCHITECT“

This exhibition is an invitation to an architectural journey, getting to know some of the most famous interwar buildings of the city of Kaunas, which in 2023 were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the profession of architect. When Kaunas became the temporary capital in 1919, it changed a great deal – from a provincial town to a modern city famous for valuable modernist architecture. The architecture of modernism (also known as the Kaunas interwar period) is an architectural style that prevailed in 1930–1940. During this period, about 6 thousand new buildings were built in Kaunas. It is a unique example of architectural, urban, and historical development that stands out among modernist buildings all over the world.

The exhibition falls into three sections: the Town of Modernism, the Room of a Chief Architect, and the Maquette Room. In the first room we invite you to get acquainted with the architecture of modernism and the interwar period, in the Architect’s Room we wish you to create your own projects, and in the Maquette Room, you will be able to build cities and houses and create maquettes of them. Just like real architects!

The activities here combine playful experience and practical education. Installations, toys, workshop tables will help the participants to get involved in the profession of an architect. Children will be able to feel like architects by creating, building, and engaging in the creative process. The environment will get a child to participate in a play – to make a design and build a house, a road, to explore buildings, geometric shapes, learn the history by playing a role in an ice cream theatre; to create new worlds and spaces for man – just like architects once created the city of Kaunas.

The organizers of the exhibition thank Karolina Paliulienė for sharing the archive of her family.

Author of the idea and organizer of the exhibition – Eglė Januškienė (Mažasis architektas)
Architects – Eglė Januškienė, Vika Pranaitytė (O-D-A . architecture studio), Ieva Stulpinaitė
Consultations – Lina Pranaitytė

Sponsors
Lithuanian Union of Architects
Lithuanian Council for Culture
UAB „Studio Archispektras“
UAB „Eternit Baltic“
UAB „Vaineta and partners“
UAB „Duliuksa“, manager Edvardas Kauneckas

Technical solutions
Installation – Metalo klasika (Metal Classics)
Laser cutting and engraving – Gift4u
Visual communication – Adgo advertisement
Text editor – Ilona Petrovė
Print on wood – UAB “Novakopa”

Partners
M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art
A. and P. Galaunė House-Museum
Paulius Lazauskas (The Kaunas Architector)
Eugenijus Sakavičius (Metal Classics)
Ilona Sakavičienė (JSC “Sunny Tastes”)
UAB J. Arch

The toys were presented by:
The Toy Forest
Children’s Emotions
A Little Architect
Wooden Horse