Kaunas City Museum
Status: Architectural Competition 1st prize 2018, Exhibition Competiton 1st prize 2019, Technical Design Project 2020, Exhibition Project 2021, Realization 2024
Location: Kaunas, Lithuania
Program: Kaunas City Hall building reconstruction for the Kaunas City Museum and the design of the museum's long-term exhibition
Space: 2 200 m²
Competition Architects: Vytautas Biekša, Marius Kanevičius, Rokas Kilčiauskas, Aistė Galaunytė, Martyna Kildaitė, Eglė Matulaitytė, Justinas Malinauskas, Adelė Dovydavičiūtė
Technical Design Project Architects: Vytautas Biekša, Adelė Dovydavičiūtė, Loreta Janušaitienė, Aistė Galaunytė, Justinas Malinauskas, Justina Stefanovič, Viktorija Rimkutė
Exhibition Architects: Adelė Dovydavičiūtė, Rokas Kilčiauskas, Akvilė Girdenė, Aistė Galaunytė, Dovilė Van Haeperen, Marius Kanevičius, Vytautas Biekša, Eglė Šuminskaitė, Rasa Chmieliauskaitė, Valdas Razma, Andrius Ropolas
Content Creative Director: Karolis Kaupinis
Photography: Norbert Tukaj
About Town Hall building. The proposed renovation and reconstruction of the Kaunas Town Hall aim to fully adapt the building for its intended use as a museum and create a modern, engaging exhibition space for the Kaunas City Museum. With a rich history dating back to 1542, the building has undergone several significant renovations, the most recent in 1973. This project seeks to preserve the building’s historical significance while seamlessly integrating modern design elements and functionality to enhance the visitor experience.
Architectural solutions. The reconstruction project focuses on transforming the Kaunas Town Hall into a functional and engaging museum space for the Kaunas City Museum. Key interventions include expanding public access areas and reorganizing the basement and the first floor to incorporate a café, educational facilities, and exhibition spaces.
One of the project’s highlights is the transformation of the previously unused cold attic space into an exhibition area through the addition of a modern glass-and-steel pavilion. This structure not only provides a climate-controlled environment for exhibitions but also allows visitors to experience the historic wooden framework of the attic up close. A newly designed stairway connects the attic pavilion to the rest of the museum, combining functionality with sculptural design to enhance the visitor experience and complement the architectural narrative of the building.
The overall architectural approach balances preservation and innovation, showcasing the building’s historical elements while introducing modern solutions that enhance its usability and appeal.
Exhibition solutions. The museum features 18 thematic exhibition spaces designed to explore what defines a city and what makes Kaunas unique. Each space offers a distinct perspective, encouraging visitors to reflect on Kaunas’ history, culture, and identity. In the basement, visitors are introduced to the city’s districts, each represented by its most important historical and conceptual identities. On the first floor, the exhibition highlights the key components of a city: its people, infrastructure, nature and symbols.
Additional exhibition spaces within the museum bring Kaunas to life by connecting themes to the unique characteristics of the Town Hall’s historic interiors. The exposition is built on the principles of visitor engagement, universal design, high-quality content, and modern presentation methods. It accommodates diverse audiences, ensuring an inclusive and immersive experience for all visitors, regardless of age, background, or abilities.
