Lithuanian architect, born in 1962, Vilnius. A. Ambrasas’ generation of architects graduated and began their creative path in the Soviet era, but their creative work bloomed (and continues to bloom) in the already independent Lithuania.
The studies at the Faculty of Architecture of Vilnius Institute of Civil Engineering in 1980-1985 could be referred to as a combination of early vocational activity and individual work. The first serious projects began in the senior years of the university at the creative group curated by the famous architect and lecturer Vytautas Dičius. On the other hand, this did not prevent him from becoming one of the initiators of SIKON competition of students’ ideas (jointly with G. Čaikauskas and A. Karalius). A. Ambrasas was not only the organiser of the first SIKON competition My House, but also its participant, awarded with the 3rd prize of the jury and the 1st audience choice prize.
After graduation in 1985 he began working in the creative group together with A. Trimonis and G. Čaikauskas at the Monument Restoration Institute. During that time he and his colleagues realised 2 prominent objects with a hint of post-modernism in Vilnius Old Town. Both objects indicated a fresh attitude towards architecture in historical environment: smaller scale, more complex composition, application of historical elements and cinematographic interior micro spaces.
After the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, he founded a creative studio and began his work as an individual architect. The first decade of independence didn’t bring much to him or his colleagues. Large and ambitious projects remained on paper, while the greater share of realised projects consisted of residential houses, reconstructions and interiors. Construction works used to take long (V. Kudirka Museum, a house in Riešė), while interiors were destroyed by posterior
Accelerating Lithuanian economy at the beginning of the 21st century brought a number of interesting, larger and prestigious projects: office buildings and shopping centres. Coinciding business and political ambitions culminated in the huge project of Europa commercial-public centre on the right side of Neris River. A. Ambrasas’ group not only designed the (former) Vilnius County Administration Building, but also the shopping centre, the highest office building in Lithuania and the public square. A decade later we could conclude that the greatest impact of the huge pace of development could be felt on the choice of finishing materials rather than the general composition, which dictated further development of the new city centre.
This development also includes the new Swedbank central building, completed five years later and, consequentially, much more impressive. The major aspects of the building, which is probably the most famous of A. Ambrasas’ works and has also received the largest number of awards, is its unique public space — an outdoor panoramic terrace, predominating wood finishing and transparent internal space (being possibly the largest atrium-style building in Lithuania).
In retrospect, the architect’s creative work has been rather synced with the development of the cities and architecture of the independent Lithuania: a complicated and slippery start in the early 90s, then the first large ambitions and rapid development of the early 2000s and finally the maturity and magnificence of the late 2000s.
Despite large projects and the title of the architect of banks, it seems that A. Ambrasas is also keen on taking up smaller projects. That is illustrated by a number of residential houses (the majority of the first sketches and drawings were drawn by hand) and one of the recent projects — a relatively small Rupert Art and Education Centre. The latter is a great example of a composition surrounded by nature, using regional finishing materials (heat-treated pine).
Talking of the architect’s expression, it could be noted that after making a start with post-modern experiments (similar to that of the majority of his generation both in Lithuania and abroad), later A. Ambrasas turned towards a more composed modernistic expression. However, we could say that he retained some of his post-modern charge, undoubtedly enriching the traditionally reserved Scandinavian modernism with a certain décor and compositional complexity.
Often very large projects are implemented by a surprisingly small, but well-balanced team of like-minded architects, reminiscent of an artistic studio rather than a corporate entity.
M. Mankus
Some of the more important works
1984-1987 Residential apartment building (built as a dormitory) at Šv. Mikalojaus street 15 / Žemaitijos street 8A, Vilnius (jointly with A. Trimonis and G. Čaikauskas).
1987-1990 Laboratory building of the Monument Restoration Institute (currently Cultural Heritage Centre) at Ašmenos street 10, Vilnius (jointly with A. Trimonis and G. Adlis).
1992-1993 V. Kudirka Museum in Kudirkos Naumiestis.
1990-1993 Individual residential building in Riešė, Vilnius district.
1992-1994 Reconstruction of the building on Gaono street, Vilnius, turning it into Stikliai Hotel.
1993-1994 Individual residential building on Nugalėtojų street, Vilnius (jointly with D. Juškevičius).
1994-1995 Operation hall of Snoras Bank in Vilnius.
2000 Hanner 1 business centre at A. Goštauto street 40, Vilnius (jointly with V. Adomonytė).
2000-2002 Marenta 1 business centre.
2001 – Individual residential building at Pasakų street 3, Vilnius.
2001-2002 Hanner 2 business centre at Geležinio vilko street 18a, Vilnius (jointly with R. Ambrasienė).
2002-2004 Europa administrative-commercial centre on Konstitucijos avenue, Vilnius (jointly with V. Adomonytė, D. Malinauskas, R. Ambrasienė and J. Petkuvienė).
2003-2004 BMS shopping centre on Eigulių street, Vilnius (jointly with R. Ambrasienė).
2005-2007 Vila N residential building on Laurų street, Vilnius (jointly with R. Ambrasienė).
2007-2009 Swedbank central building at Konstitucijos avenue 20, Vilnius (jointly with V. Adomonytė, T. Eidukevičius, D. Malinauskas).
2007-2010 DNB bank central building at Skanstes street 12, Riga (jointly with M. Reklaitis and M. Sriubaitė).
2007-2014 Baltic Hearts business centre at Ukmergės street 120, Vilnius (jointly with M. Reklaitis, R. Ambrasienė, J. Motiejūnas and V. Pranaitytė).
2007-2016 Residential apartment building at Mickevičiaus street 5, Vilnius (jointly with R. Ambrasienė and V. Adomonytė).
2010-2014 Residential building in Mačiuliškės, Vilnius district (jointly with R. Ambrasienė).
2011-2014 Vila G residential building on Gulbinų street, Vilnius (jointly with V. Adomonytė).
2012-2013 Rupert Art and Education Centre at Meškeriotojų street 33, Vilnius (jointly with V. Adomonytė and M. Reklaitis).
Pedagogical activity
2004-2012 Associate professor at the Department of Architecture of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.
Public activity
2006-2011 Board Member of Vilnius Department of Lithuanian Architects’ Association (LAA).
2000-2014 Member of the Architecture and Urban Planning Council of Vilnius.
As of 2004 Founder and Board Member of public institution Architektūros fondas.
As of 2016 Council Member of the Lithuanian Chamber of Architects.
Awards
1999 Diploma of the 2nd architectural design exhibition.
2001 Architect of the Year, awarded by the readers of Statybų pilotas newspaper and independent experts for projects, implementation and other architectural activity in 2001.
2001 Award for the Best Projects and Implemented Projects in Vilnius City 2001 for the best design, realised in Lino namas individual residential building.
2001 Lithuanian Architecture 2001 Diploma, awarded by the Lithuanian Architects’ Association for Hanner 2 business centre.
2001 Archiforma magazine nomination for Hanner 2 business centre.
2003 Diploma of the 4th Detalė architectural design exhibition for excellent implementation of the façade detail for Marenta business centre in Vilnius.
2005 METRAS 1/5 award of the Lithuanian Looking at Yourself 2003-2005 architecture exhibition for the implementation of Europa square complex.
2005 Diploma of the Lithuanian Looking at Yourself 2003-2005 architecture exhibition for BMS shopping centre.
2009 Archiforma magazine award for the implementation of Swedbank central building project.
2009 Lithuanian Real Estate Development Association Award for Sustainable Development in the category of commercial buildings for the implementation of Swedbank central building project.
2009 METRAS 1/5 award of the Lithuanian Looking at Yourself architecture exhibition for the implementation of Swedbank central building project.
2010 Chicago Atheneum Museum of Architecture and Design award for the implementation of Swedbank central building project.
2011 Annual Riga city architectural award for the best architectural project — DNB bank central building on Skanstes street.
2014 METRAS 1/5 award of the Lithuanian Looking at Yourself architecture exhibition for the implementation of Vila G recreational house.
2014 METRAS 1/5 award of the Lithuanian Looking at Yourself architecture exhibition for Rupert Art and Education Centre.
2014 Honorary award of the Lithuanian Architects’ Association for the activity at the Lithuanian Architects’ Association, input in developing national architecture and educating the young generation.
2014 St Christopher Award of Vilnius city for contemporary architecture.
2014 Archiforma magazine award for the implementation of Rupert Art and Education Centre project.
2015 Award of the Ministry of Environment for the implementation of the Baltic Hearts business centre project.
Sources
Ambrasas, A. (2008)Apie 1991–2007 metų administracinių ir prekybos pastatų architektūrą Lietuvoje. Urbanistika ir architektūra, 32(3), p. 139–152
Garnytė- Sapranavičienė, I. Baltic Hearts Business Centre, http://archmap.lt/lt/objektai/baltic-hearts-verslo-centras/ (accessed on 05-11-2016)
Garnytė- Sapranavičienė, I. BMS Megapolis Computer Shop, http://archmap.lt/lt/objektai/bms-megapolis-kompiuteriu-parduotuve/ (accessed on 05-11-2016)
Garnytė- Sapranavičienė, I. Hanner Administrative Building, http://archmap.lt/lt/objektai/hanner-administracinis-pastatas/ (accessed on 05-11-2016)
Garnytė- Sapranavičienė, I. Commercial building in Žvėrynas, http://archmap.lt/lt/objektai/komercinis-pastatas-zveryne/ (accessed on 05-11-2016)
Garnytė- Sapranavičienė, I. Rupert Art and Education Centre, http://archmap.lt/lt/objektai/rupert-meno-ir-edukacijos-centras/ (accessed 05-11-2016)
Garnytė- Sapranavičienė, I. Vila G, http://archmap.lt/lt/objektai/vila-g/ (accessed 05-11-2016)
Kriščiūnaitė, D., ed. (2014), Ambraso architektų biuras. Vilnius: Lapas.
Lazdynas A. (1996), Audrius Ambrasas, Arkitektas 1, p. 11-13.
Rudokas, K. Europa square, http://www.autc.lt/lt/architekturos-objektai/1007 (accessed on 05-11-2016)
Rudokas, K., Europa Shopping and Business Centre, http://www.autc.lt/lt/architekturos-objektai/998 (accesed on 05-11-2016)
Rudokas, K., Hanner office building, http://www.autc.lt/lt/architekturos-objektai/996, (accessed on 05-11-2016)
Rudokas, K., Swedbank central office, http://www.autc.lt/lt/architekturos-objektai/1293 (accessed on 05-11-2016)
