2nd PRIZE WINNER
STUDIO: VILNIUS ARCHITECTURE STUDIO
TEAM: ARTŪRAS ASAUSKAS, AURIMAS SYRUSAS, DŽIUGAS KISIELIUS, KAROLIS RADIŪNAS, AUŠRINĖ BREDULYTĖ, IEVA SIRIJATAVIČIŪTĖ, EMILIS PETKEVIČIUS

THE AUTHOR'S VISION

Circle is a symbol of perfection, an eye of the mythological Art Muse, and a locus of concentrated force enabling audio and video synthesis. Circle was used to create visions for Old Vilnius city construction (vision of Vilnius by Janusz Tlomakowski, 1932). The circle combines black and white, good and evil, music and silence. Circle is point located on the map of Vilnius.

THE ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT

This building is a circle joining buildings of the Music and theatre academy as a single volume. Separate buildings are located in a circle around the central square, and with the main entrances into its space. Near the administrative building in the central square of the Academy a vertical accent is designed, which is a clock tower- observation deck. Internal paths and squares between the blocks remind of structure and scale typical to Vilnius Old Town.

This building is a scene where the outer shell is “covered” by the metal drape opened at the chamber halls. In that perspective of the opened drape, the view encompasses the inner space of the building as well as the outer space comprising the green meadow formed near the concert hall block, and the restored chapel in the distant area.

This building is a town, a contemporary architectural complex with its exceptional aesthetic characteristics, system of streets and squares, and buildings, dominant objects, and tower of different height.

LINKS OF THE COMPLEX WITH ITS CONTEXT

The project area is located in the very heart of Vilnius – at the historic initial point of this city, which is neighbourhood of the Kalnų parkas (park on the hills), and roundabout of the Olandų street, and T. Kosciuškos street.
At present, the territory includes the Vytautas the Great War Museum, which in accordance to historic data was a place where the gunpowder warehouses were located near Parako Street. The formed relief reflects topography of the czar military fortress of 19th century.
Nearby the block of art institutions has been formed, which consists of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts, B. Dvarionas School of Music, and College of Design.
The designed buildings (dormitory for students) complete formation of the current block construction, and form a separate independent block at the hill slope, which “unites” various lines of the existing neighbouring buildings and directions of paths. The former route of Parako street is reconstructed interconnecting the Olandų street, and T. Kosciuškos street. Thus, the pedestrian Parako Street runs through the newly formed central square. The current relief section allows construction of an open car park under the designed buildings. The buildings are constructed on the existing relief using remaining ground for formation of the particular slopes at the southern part of the plot. Concentrated construction forming the circle allows preserving the existent nature, forming new green areas and gardens around the buildings, and creating recreational spaces nearby the buildings of the Academy.

CONSTRUCTION MODEL, AND PRELIMINARY SELECTION OF MATERIALS

Construction model presents a structure of monolithic reinforced concrete with regular columns mounted by step of 8.0 x 8.0 m. Such a structure allows functional installations of car parking under the buildings, and functional planning of the inside premises. The selected step allows – upon economic/tender estimations – to change the construction model using mounting products, such as columns, slabs, beams. At the places of chambers and larger spaces, the steps shall be expanded in accordance to inner space planning. Walls of the stairs are suggested of monolithic reinforced concrete, which increases stiffness of the buildings. Staircase steps are suggested of the mounted reinforced concrete that does not require additional finishing. Roofs are designed horizontal with adhesive roll waterproofing and crushed dolomite layer.
Facades shall be constructed of prefabricated façade systems with thermal insulation; glass surfaces of aluminium facade systems are designed as double façades. For finishing of the surfaces of inner facades in the "Circle", vertical aluminium planes may be used, which should serve as a protection from the sun elements. The outer "drape" of the circle is designed as made of the woven wire mesh. The cap and lower grounds reaching land are designed with mounted reinforced concrete panels.

TECHNOLOGIES INSTALLED IN THE BUILDING AND ITS MAINTENANCE

The buildings are designed for installation of the latest studies techniques, interactive studies tools. Concert and theatre halls can be equipped with modern sound, lighting and video systems. High-speed wireless Internet should be available at any academy building and outdoor spaces.

SUSTAINABILITY

For the designed building, essential elements of the sustainable, energy saving and environmentally friendly architecture and engineering solutions are provided.
It may be proposed to collect water for irrigation of the plot and WC. Solar energy collection may cover needs for the lighting of the area and buildings. The designed vertical blinds ensure that the premises will not be overheated. What is also designed is smart ventilation responding to a number of people with recuperators providing economical and comfortable indoor climate. Control of the engineering systems of this building may be carried out by a central building management system.
For ventilation centralized recuperative system with indoor CO2 concentration sensors is provided, which ensures variable air volume exactly as required. In this way energy costs associated with ventilation decrease up to 30%, in additions the cost does not grow thanks to the only centralized system. Ventilation units are equipped with rotary ecuperators allowing the heat recovery efficiency in excess of 85%.
For air distribution, fan convectors may be used, and therefore the air distribution diffusers double reduced.
These solutions ensure that the building will be certified as energy class A, and meet the highest international standards of environmental impact