In Vilnius Old Town, near the former walls of the city, the complex of buildings belonging to the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence is located. Many signs of history can be found in the architecture: there are medieval city walls and pieces of buildings, and an officer’s club built during the period of the Czars. New accents include an office building designed by the famous architect E. N. Buciute.
These buildings were designed over a period of 20 years (from 1977 until 1997). During these years, there were not only changes in the country from Soviet occupation to independence but also changes in the styles of architecture (from modernist to postmodernist) and the political situation (from Brezhnev to the independent Lithuanian President Brazauskas). The purpose of the building also evolved.
With its complicated yet integral designs and signs of old Vilnius which is already in the past, the latest part of the Ministry of Defence will be opened to visitors during the architectural weekend. We invite you to discover the symbols of the recent past from Vilnius Old Town.
