The competition aims to select the most suitable architectural proposal for Vilnius, with the main question being how a modern railway station and its surrounding areas should look like. This territory is one of the most important developments in the city of Vilnius: it is significant for the image of the whole country and especially for the identity of Vilnius. The renewal of the station is an integral part of Rail Baltica, which connects the capital of the region.
The participants of the tender that was announced in March were asked to create an iconic and recognizable international railway station project; to offer public transport service infrastructure that would represent Lithuania and Vilnius and meet highest quality standards; to form an attractive station square and to present a vision of a vibrant and connective station district urban center.
“I hope that it will be difficult for the commission to choose the best competitive work, because there will be just a lot of good ones,” said Remigijus Šimašius, mayor of Vilnius. “The most important thing is that after the best work has been done, the station area is not only recognizable from its own signs, but also comfortable and vibrant.”
According to LTG CEO Mantas Bartuška, the vision to transform the territory of Vilnius Railway Station into a modern mobility, business and leisure centre is slowly becoming a reality.
“Three years have passed between the original vision and the stage we are now at. Titanic preparation and planning work has been carried out, laying the foundation for the entire transformation of the territory. There is a historic change ahead, in which a broad community of architects has already been involved. The great attention to this competition confirms that Vilnius Railway Station has every chance to become not only a new attraction in Vilnius, but also a convenient connection with European capitals,” says M. Bartuška.
The works of the competition participants will be evaluated by an international evaluation committee of 11 members, which consists of Lithuanian and international architects, representatives of LTG, LTG Infra, LTG Link, and Vilnius City Municipality. The commission will be chaired by Chief Architect of Vilnius Mindaugas Pakalnis.
The results of the competition are expected to be announced in August. The prize fund is 120 thousand euros: the winner will be awarded EUR 50 thousand, second place – EUR 30 thousand, third place – EUR 20 thousand, IV and V places will receive EUR 10 thousand each.
The works of the tender participants will be published in the second half of June on the website www.vilniusconnect.lt
The organizers of the architectural competition are LTG, LTG Infra, which manages the railway network in Lithuania, and Vilnius City Municipality. The organizer of the competition is represented by the consulting company Civitta and the Lithuanian Union of Architects.
