Vytautas Edmundas Čekanauskas, collection code VAM-4
V. E. Čekanauskas is Lithuanian artist architect, academician and public figure. He was born in Šiauliai on 13 May 1930, in the family of an engineer and a woman of office. He died in Vilnius on 6 July 2010 (at the age of 80). He is buried in Antakalnio. In 1937-1942, he attended the Bishop Motiejus Valančius Elementary School in Šiauliai. In 1942-1949, he learned at J. Janonis gymnasium. In 1949-1955, he studied at the Architecture Faculty of LSSR Art Institute where obtained a profession of an artist-architect.
In 1955-1958, he was an architect at the Urban Construction Design Institute; in 1958-1960 – chief architect; in 1960-1961 – group leader, in 1961-1990 – chief project architect. Those were the most mature years of his creation life. During this period, he created residential block in Lazdynai, Art Exhibition Hall (now CAC), Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics, LCP Central Committee (now the Lithuanian Government) palace, etc. Later, in 1992 – 2000, he worked at the United Architects workshop. Working here, he and his colleagues designed the St. Jono Bosko Church in Lazdynai; performed reconstruction of Vilnius railway station.
In fact, architecture was his life. His designed buildings are distinguished by unimpeachable proportions, harmonious forms and original solutions. He became famous after designing Lazdynai in Vilnius; the greatest achievement of the authors of this residential area is achieving the architectural and natural harmony using the excellent natural conditions and employing them for general idea. For this urban design, the group of authors was awarded top honour in the Soviet Union – the Lenin Prize. Scandinavian regionalism accompanied him in more than one work. Contextuality, rational planning of interior spaces, in particular, seems to buy over in both the Art Exhibition Hall and the Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics or LCP Central Committee cases. According to himself, “Art Exhibition Hall was of very unusual architecture in that case. The wide windows and arcades used to shock. Such decisions were dictated by Vokiečių street itself, where historically was a trading area”. [3] Some of his works are included in the register of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Lithuania.
In addition to his work, V.E. Čekanauskas taught at the Lithuanian Art Institute (now Vilnius Academy of Arts) over thirty years (1967-2006). He started as a lecturer in the Faculty of Architecture; in 1974 he became senior lecturer and since 1990 – a professor; he was elected a member of the Senate more than once. Social activities were not alien to the academician as well. In 1979, he was a member – correspondent of the USSR Academy of Arts; a member of Architects Association of Lithuania; an academic professor of the International Academy of Architecture (IAA).
Projects:
In 1960-1966, Residential area of the Union of Composers in Vilnius
In 1960-1966, Building of the Union of Composers in Vilnius
In 1965-1967, Art Exhibition Hall in Vilnius (now the Contemporary Art Centre)
In 1967, Lenin monument in Moscow
In 1974, Lazdynų residential area in Vilnius (with V. Brėdikis)
In 1976, Lenin monument in Klaipeda
In 1979, Lithuanian Institute of Agricultural Economics in Vilnius
In 1982, LCP CK palace in Vilnius
In 1983, Monument and Square of poet Adam Mickiewicz in Vilnius (sculptor G. Jokūbonis)
In 1998–1999, Reconstruction of railway station in Vilnius (with P. Kijauskas)
In 1999, Administrative and commercial building in Žvėrynas (with V. Gerliakas)
In 2001, St. Jono Bosko Church in Lazdynai in Vilnius (with V. Gerliakas)
Architectural competitions awards:
In 1958, Monument to the victims in Pirčiupis (with V. Brėdikis)
In 1958, Sports Hall of Vilnius city (with V. Brėdikis; III prize)
In 1961, Monument to victims of fascist terror in Paneriai in Vilnius (with V. Brėdikis, J. Burneika; II Prize)
In 1964, Detailed planning project of Vilnius city centre (with V. Brėdikis, A. Nasvytis; II Prize)
In 1969–1970, Central Museum project in Moscow (et al.),
In 1973, Sudervėlės residential area (in Šeškinė), project of detailed planning (I Prize)
In 1973, Justiniškių residential are in Vilnius, project of detailed planning (II Prize),
In 1979, Erfurt city hall (Germany, with G. Pajarskaitė, E.A. Paslaitis, A. Žalys; Encouraging Prize)
In 1983, Arctic and Ethnographic Museum in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland (with S. Jusionis)
In 1989, Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Church (with A. Paslaitis, T. Balčiūnas; Encouraging Prize)
In 1995, Vilnius Theological Seminary (with V. Brėdikis, V. Gerliakas, P. Kijauskas)
In 1998, Memorial in memoriam of victims of the Bolshevik terror in Tuskulėnai Manor area (with A. Umbrasas, L. Masliukaitienė, sculptor G. Karalius, artist – G. Umbrasas; I prize).
Awards:
In 1971, the LSSR State Prize,
In 1971, Prize of the USSR Council of Ministers,
In 1974, the USSR Lenin Prize,
In 1975, the USSR People’s architect,
In 2000, the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas,
In 2000, the Order of the Knight of Architecture awarded by the Architects Association of Lithuania,
In 2000, Title of Honorary Professor of Vilnius Academy of Arts,
In 2008, Prize of St. Christopher statuette
Bibliography:
Architect Vytautas Edmundas Čekanauskas (const. by Eduardas Budreika). – Vilnius: Publishing House of Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, 1998.
Paintings: chapels and belfries. – Vilnius: Publishing House of Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, 2007. – 62 p.: pictures – ISBN 978-9955-624-80-6
Reference:
Mačiulis, Algimantas. Vytautas Edmundas Čekanauskas. – Vilnius: Publishing House of Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, 2011. – 208 p.: pictures – UDK 72(474.5):929Čekanauskas Ma-101
Drėmaitė, Marija. Vytautas Edmundas Čekanauskas – a modernist of romantic soul.// Archiforma, 2006 No 4, p. 33-38.
Čekanauskas, Vytautas. “Architecture is not poetry, it must be seen” [interview with architect V. Čekanauskas / interviewed by] Algis Juozas Kusta // Kusta, Algis Juozas. Silent love: what people told me. – Vilnius, 2004. – P. 105-109,
http://www.architektusajunga.lt/naujienos/netekome-vecekanausko
http://www.vilnijosvartai.lt/personalities/view/?id=127
http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=104226
