Algimantas Nasvytis, collection code VAM-6.1 (united with his brother V. Nasvytis – VAM-6)
He was born in Kaunas on 8 April 1928. A. Nasvytis is a prominent Lithuanian architect, a public figure, actively participated in the activities of the Movement.
In 1946 he studied at Vilnius State Art Institute (now Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts), where he acquired a diploma of artist – architect. He started his career as an architect in Republican architectural workshop (since 1952), Republican restoration scientific workshop (from 1955 to 1959), later was an architect in technical design office of Vilnius Executive Committee for a couple of years (1959-1961). From 1961 till 1990he worked at Urban Construction Design Institute; since 1962 he was a senior project architect. Since 1993 he worked in UAB “United Architects workshop”. In addition to the designer’s activities he taught at the Department of Urban Planning (since 1993 – professor) at present Vilnius Gediminas Technical University since 1978. During the period 1993-1996 he led the Architects Association of Lithuania.
A deep imprint in architect’s work was left by search for “national” architecture transfused by the lecturer Simonas Ramunis during his study times. Its imprints may already be found in early works by duet of architects A. and V. Nasvytis: in Lithuanian Pavilion during Soviet Union Agricultural Exhibition in Moscow in 1952, hotel “Neringa” with café included in the register of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Lithuania. In parallel, V. Nasvytis and his brother sought to reflect modern architectural trends in their creative works thus turning away from the predominant Stalinist – soc. realism – architecture. Their architecture is courageous, close interface between the art and architecture, attention to details determines the completeness of their designed buildings as well as high artistic level. The main feature of creative work is that rational content is filled with artefacts of organic or geometrical forms. Determining creative tool – the light, highlighting the rhythm of graphical elements with the help of light-dark, reveals plasticity of indoor spaces of buildings. We can bravely agree with opinion of A. Mačiulis that the hotels “Neringa” and “Lietuva”, Central Post Office, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre designed by V. and A. Nasvytis is the “gold fund” of our country’s architecture. [1]
Attention to the context is a constant attendant of architects in their creative work. Vigilance of brothers unclosed in their proposed urban Vilnius concept vision – they first suggested the idea of growing an architectural hill on the right bank of the Neris, the reminiscence of green hills surrounding the centre of the capital.
Later, after creative paths of brothers had diverged, A. Nasvytis showed himself up as urbanist who has created more than one (implemented) plan of areas, urban strategy, participated in urban competitions (e.g. Kernavės street – White Bridge route in Vilnius programme and building proposals (with D. Ruseckas et al.), for which the team was awarded the exhibition diploma of “Vilnius architecture 2002”).
Public spirit and activity of A. Nasvytis (a member of initiative group of Lithuanian Reform Movement in 1988; in 1988-1990, member of the Council of the first Lithuanian reform movement Seimas) made his presence felt: he was appointed Minister of Construction and Urban Development in the first government of independent Lithuania in 1990-1992.
The most famous works carried out together with twin brother Vytautas Nasvytis.
In 1952–1954, Interior and exhibition of Lithuanian pavilion at Soviet Union Agricultural Exhibition in Moscow (A. Nasvytis, V. Nasvytis with arch. S. Ramunis). (In 1955-1956 A. Nasvytis worked as the chief artist of the exhibition);
In 1956, Architectural part of the monument to poet A. Pushkin in Sereikiškių Park in Vilnius (with A. Nasvytis, sculptor B. Vyšniauskas)
In 1956-1959, Café “Neringa” interior, Vilnius (with V. Nasvytis);
In 1959–1960, Reconstruction of hotel “Neringa“ in Vilnius (with V. Nasvytis);
Since 1965 through 1990 designed Song Festival (with V. Nasvytis) – chief artists of events;
In 1965, Experimental large-block residential house in Žemaitės str. in Vilnius (now – V. Pietario str. 2, with E. Tamoševičius)
In 1966–1967, Planning and building project of public shopping centre on the right bank of the Neris in Vilnius. A. Nasvytis (with V. Brėdikis, V.E. Čekanauskas);
In 1965–1969, Central Post Office in Vilnius (reconstruction) (A. Nasvytis, V. Nasvytis);
1970 Architectural part of the monument to writer Žemaitė in Gediminas av. square in Vilnius (with V. Nasvytis, sculptor P. Aleksandravičius);
In 1972–1973, final version of detailed planning and building project for Vilnius city centre (V.E. Čekanauskas, A. Nasvytis (with presence of A. Alekna, E. Stasiulis, L. Plumpa));
In 1976, Domestic service complex on the right bank of the Neris in Vilnius (with A. Samukiene);
In 1966-1981, Lithuanian National Academic Drama Theatre (now Lithuanian National Drama Theatre). Vilnius (A. Nasvytis, V. Nasvytis);
In 1970-1981, LSSR Supreme Council (now Seimas) Palace in Vilnius (with V. Nasvytis, R. Stasėnas);
In 1965-1983, Hotel “Lietuva“. Vilnius (with V. Nasvytis)
In 1984, Central Stadium competition of Vilnius City. I prize. (Construction started in 1989 but was stopped due to termination of funding; the project was renewed in 2006), with A. Gučas, R. Krištopavičius, J. Rusteika, R. Stasėnas.
In 1984, Planning project – now Independence Square, together with western part of the left bank of the Neris. Vilnius;
In 1995, The White Bridge with a café, Vilnius (with J. Fišeris);
In 1996, Reconstruction of AB Vilniaus Bank interior. Vilnius (with A. Bučas);
In 1999, Naujamiestis Development Programme for the centre of Vilnius city (with R. Pakalnis and R. Druskienė)
In 1999, Conceptual design proposals for National Cultural Centre (“Tautos namai”) on Tauras Mount in Vilnius;
In 2002, Kernavės street – The White Bridge route in Vilnius programme and building proposals (with D. Ruseckas et al.), awarded the exhibition diploma “Architecture 2002”;
In 2003, King Mindaugas monument in Vilnius (with R. Krištopavičius, I. Alistratovaitė, sculptor R. Midvikis);
In 2004, Reconstruction – development of “Vilnius” hotel in Gediminas str. 20 through its application to commercial and residential function, in Vilnius;
In 2006, Residential block of flats in Jakšto and Kaštonų streets in Vilnius (with J. Alistratovaitė, O. Kiznyte);
In 2007, Reconstruction second and third chambers of the Seimas in Vilnius (with V. Nasvytis, J. Balkevičius, A. Burba);
Author of architectural part of many monuments and sculptures.
Awards:
In 1965, honoured builder;
In 1965, Lithuanian State Prize for the development of construction of large-block residential houses (together with others)
In 1971, Lithuanian State Prize for reconstruction of public buildings;
In 1982, name of people’s architect;
In 1969 and 1977, prize of the USSR Council of Ministers;
In 1982, was granted the name of Lithuanian people’s architect;
In 1983, the USSR State Prize (for the Lithuanian National Academic Drama Theatre);
In 1991, prize of Olympic Committee president A. Samarančas;
In 1998, Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, IV Class
In 1998, Order of Architecture Knight;
In 2000, Lithuanian Independence Medal;
In 2003, Art Prize of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania;
In 2007, St. Christopher Award.
References:
Algimantas Mačiulis. Architects Algimantas and Vytautas Nasvyčiai. Vilnius, 2007.
Algimantas Mačiulis. Vytautas Nasvytis. Universal Lithuanian Encyclopaedia, V. XVI (Naha-Omuta). – Vilnius: Science and Encyclopaedia Publishing Institute, 2009.
http://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algimantas_Nasvytis
