Architectural visions for Klaipėda’s Bastionų Namai development unveiled

Residents are invited to vote for their favourite project

The organizers of the architectural competition for the new residential and commercial district Bastionų Namai in the Lithuanian port city of Klaipėda have revealed the visions for the planned development submitted by participating architects.

According to Darius Juozapavičius, director of competition organizer Klaipėda FEZ Project Management, six works have been received - two of them by Vilnius, two by Kaunas, and one each by Klaipėda and Copenhagen-based companies. However, only five projects have been greenlighted, as one has been presented without detailed visualizations.

Now the city government is inviting local residents to vote for their favourite project. The shortlisted entries can be examined at the project’s website.

In the footsteps of the Norwegians

The derelict area next to Jonas Kalnelis (Jonas Hill) has long whetted the appetite of investors. As reported by atviraklaipeda.lt., in 2007, Norwegian investment banking group Verdispar announced plans for a residential-commercial development worth EUR 50 million consisting of houses with sloping roofs by the river, 5-9-storey apartment buildings towards Gluosnių Street, and two 3-storey commercial buildings with offices, a sports centre and catering facilities towards Jonas Hill. The project however flopped after the outbreak of the global financial crisis.

Now, investment company DIFF Invest, which acquired the company managing the plot UAB Verdispar Gluosniai, plans to bring the neglected area spreading across nearly 4 hectares, to a new level of revival.

Construction is planned to begin in the first quarter of 2022 and the preliminary amount of investment will reach about EUR 45 million. The project will be implemented in 5-7 stages over 8 years and, following the completion of construction works, the population of Klaipeda Old Town is expected to increase by about 2 000 residents.

Pedestrian and cycle paths, river access points

Following public consultations, the evaluation commission made up of six experienced architects and two representatives of the investor will meet to determine the winner of the architectural competition for Bastionų Namai. Competition participants have also been required to ensure integration of pedestrian and bicycle paths and access routes to the Danė River.