Wooden house in the Vilnius district of Uzupis. See also our VilNews slide show “Uzupis spring 2012”.
CLICK HERE to see the show.
Anyone ready to support us in saving the wooden houses in Vilnius and around in Lithuania?
----------------------------------------------
Mr. Myhre;
You hit the bull in the eye by saying that the public’s understanding of the importance of this task is not very high. I have spent a bigger part of my professional life in fundraising and I see the problems ahead. I’d say, the first step is to start a campaign in raising the awareness of the people of the importance of Uzhupis and only when you see that the project is feasible, you roll up your sleeves.
Irena Cade
Amherst, MA
U.S.A.
__________________________
Tatjana Grigorjeva It's a good idea!
Wooden houses like this one, is a heritage of Lithuania!
Carol Luschas Taip!
Jenn Virskus Taip!
Milda Arquer Yes ! Those houses are really among the lithuanian symbols and heritages of the past !
Jurate Kutkus Burns Absolutely! Once they are gone, they cannot be replaced.
Irene Simanavicius What do you need? how can we help? Let's get going!!! :)
Ramute Julia Zukas Yes Aage, what help can we give?
Wyman Brent I guess it is considered progress to destroy the past. What a shame.
Boris Bakunas Yes, yes, and yes again!
Warren Thompson Yes
Danguole Juska heritage...
Rasa Mekuskaite Oho, it's maybe the first time when i can see the same coluor on a house and on a fence. And this light green hue. Where is it?
Aage Myhre It's in your beloved Uzupis, Rasa :)
Rasa Mekuskaite OK:)
Jan H. Hovde Do you have a plan?
Aage Myhre Vilnius Municipality has a plan, but has not been able to implement it due to financial reasons. Also, I have to say that the public understanding of the importance of keeping and maintaining this cultural treasure is not very high. I will now try to apply for EEA/Norwegian Grants and see what can be done, and it's seriously urgent as the majority of these buildings are in very bad conditions.
Linas Johansonas Who owns these houses?
Aage Myhre Private people, families, who simply were 'installed' there during the Soviet years, then given ownership rights to their apartments after 1991. Most of the families are poor people with no means to renovate or take care of their homes, hence public support is necessary.
Tomas Chepaitis Of course, sure, we should save them - some in Zhverynas are already destroyed
Tomas Chepaitis ...but destruction comes mostly from the architectural mafia:) or municipality, isn't it so, Your Excellency Architect of the Universe?
One of the aspects that has interested me in my visits to Lietuva (mainly Panevezys) is the architecture. It is a delight to see modern, old and very old buildings side by side, unlike in Britain where cities have cleared away the very old buldings and either fossilised as Victorian museum pieces or characterless modern estates. New housing here is either small boxes with windows of no architectural merit, or mock Georgian boxes for those with money. Lithuanian modern housing is adventurous. Even your flats have character, unlike those in Britain which are universally hated and are replaced with characterless boxes at the first opportunity. We have nothing like your wooden houses left – don't get rid of them, please.