Modern heritage conservation does not work without communities, which are the main pillar of cultural heritage conservation. This year, the Cultural Heritage Department of Vilnius City Municipality, in the course of the revision of the cultural heritage records on the basis of research and the inventory of the wooden buildings of Šnipiškės, which have survived to this day and which form a unique urban structure, is focusing on the dialogue with the inhabitants of Šnipiškės, which is also a wooden community. 29 January. A meeting with the interested local community took place at Vilnius City Municipality on January 29, discussing possible activities, listening to the needs and ideas of the residents. The objectives of this year’s activities are: to reinforce the identity of Šnipiškės together with the community; to discuss and make clear the “rules” on how the wooden houses and new development should be protected in the area; to discuss how heritage protection and development can work in a sustainable way with the historic urban distinctiveness of Šnipiškės – the spirit of place. The aim is also to encourage the people living in the wooden houses of Šnipiškės to preserve and cherish them, while taking into account their capabilities and the socio-economic situation of the area. In response to these objectives, the following activities are planned:
- On 7 February at 18:00, a presentation of the Vilnius City Heritage Management Programme will take place at the Vilnius City Municipality (Konstitucijos pr. 3), Room 215. More information about the programme: www.vilniauspaveldas.lt;
- A visual and practical guide to renovating wooden buildings is being developed;
- A workshop with residents is planned for the end of spring, with the aim of creating a possible model for the socio-economic empowerment of wooden Šnipiškės;
- To plan the renovation processes of two wooden buildings that act as practical examples of wooden building renovation. It is planned that one of these buildings will be public (owned by Vilnius City Municipality) and the other private (participating in the Vilnius Heritage Management Programme);
- A Day of Wooden Architecture in Šnipiškės is planned for autumn;
- An artistic-anthropological investigation of the spirit of the place (“Cultural probes”), led by the artist, and carried out by the inhabitants of the wooden Šnipiškės.
A meeting on 29 January gathered 34 residents’ comments and ideas, which will feed into the problem tree that is currently being completed. The problem tree will be public and accessible to all. It will also be open for residents to keep it up to date. The aim of the problem tree is to standardise the problems that can be seen and the possible solutions to them. We invite you to take a look at the presentations that took place on 29 January:
Donata Armakauskaitė, Head of the Cultural Heritage Protection Division of Vilnius City Municipality Presentation (PDF).
“Presentation of BLUMA Bluma_Medinės Šnipiškės (PDF) Residents interested in the activities can subscribe to a newsletter specially designed for this year. This way you will receive once a month news about the project and its results directly to your email inbox. If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, please sign up via this link: https://shorturl.at/fmzP9 News about upcoming events will also be published on the Facebook platforms and websites of Vilnius City Municipality, ID Vilnius and BLUMA. Also on the Facebook platform of Šnipiškės Municipality. Additionally, a temporary notice board is planned to be set up in Šnipiškės, where information about upcoming meetings and activities will also be available.
Project partners: the Vilnius City Municipality, ID Vilnius UAB, Bluma Collective MB.
Cover photo: “Part-time Vilnius”
