We managed to preserve the value of Kaunas interwar modernism: contractors will have to repair a defect
Residents expressed serious concerns, seeing that the work they were doing did not correspond to the project solutions, and that the valuable plaster itself was already damaged.
After the initial meeting with the residents, the Heritage Commission convened a broader meeting, which was involved in the Department of Cultural Heritage, Kaunas City Municipality specialists, management contractor Audomaras and other interested participants. The aim of the meeting is to listen to all directions and find a way out how to combine the project implementation and protection of the architectural value of the building.
The issue of valuable plaster is not for the first time in Kaunas
Granite plaster – Modernist architecture, technologically complex, expensive and exceptionally aesthetic solution. In Kaunas modernist buildings, it is not just a decorative layer – it is an integral part of the architectural language.
« Granite plaster in Kaunas modernism is one of the most prominent values, and it is its expensiveness that is the aesthetic means of expression, expensive plaster was a measure of expression during this period, the quality of materials emphasized in modernist architecture. dr. Vaidas Petrulis.
Member of the Heritage Commission, Assoc. dr. Vaidas Petrulis. Photo by Heritage Commission
Despite the value of such plaster, there are cases of authenticity in Kaunas, in Kaunas.
« The members of the Heritage Commission recalled that a similar situation occurred with the well -known Palace of the Dairy Centre, when valuable authentic plaster was destroyed. This highlighted the systemic problem of heritage protection – lack of clear regulation and methodology of managing and protecting this plaster, » dr. Vaidutė Ščiglienė.
Agreement has been reached on further action
The discussion has reached important agreements – the agreement between the Department of Cultural Heritage and the Contractor intends to remove the newly sprayed layer to the authentic surface in a small facade area and then decide on further action.
Saulius Rimas, a representative of Kaunas City Municipality, said that Kaunas City Municipality allocated 42.5 thousand. However, these funds will only be paid when the work is properly completed and the act of acceptance of the management work is issued.
A representative of Kaunas City Municipality also pointed out that granite plaster management works are the most expensive in the whole New Town, and their quality is hindered by the lack of skilled craftsmen.
Heritage Commission: Methodology must be prepared
The Heritage Commission finds that this case is systemic: « We will consider what we could recommend, not for the object, but systemic cases, valuable properties, a certain plaster preservation, » said Assoc. dr. V. Ščiglienė.
President of the Heritage Commission Assoc. dr. Vaidutė Ščiglienė. Photo by Heritage Commission
The Heritage Commission also expressed the position that it was necessary to hold a special separate heritage management regulation for granite plaster management. « It would help to professionally deal with granite plaster protection and recovery in buildings and would prevent similar situations in the future, » the President said.
She also stressed that the Heritage Commission thanks E. Ožeškienės str. 33 for residents of the house for initiative and efforts to protect modernism heritage. According to specialists, the activity of the population is an essential factor that promotes responsible heritage protection policy.
