On September 22, the closing event of the project “Santariškių namai”, developed by UAB “Eika” for more than ten years, took place. It was attended by specialists who contributed to the implementation of the project, representatives of the company “Eika”, and the “Santariškių namai” community that was formed during the project development period..
“More than ten years ago, meadows stretched across this vast territory, it’s hard to believe that now it is – like a city within a city – a modern settlement of low-rise houses with a harmonious community, its own traditions and history, a shop and a kindergarten, surrounded by the green Verkiai Park,” says Martynas Žibūda, Development Director of UAB “Eika”. The architects deliberately designed the houses so that the green gaps of Verkiai Park would be visible when walking through the settlement – thus creating the impression of being close to nature.
“The neighborhood of Verkių Park, where the “Santariškių Namai” settlement is located, obliges us to take care of the environment. The settlers of Santariškių also commit to loving and caring for the environment, who willingly tidy up their yards and cultivate flower beds,” says the representative of “Eika”. Outdoor exercise equipment has been installed for the residents of the house to relax, there are many children’s playgrounds, recreation and green areas, and in 2013, a 720 m long pedestrian and bicycle path with lighting was built near Skersinė Street, which improved communication between Santariškių Street and Molėtai Highway.
The project also tried to show respect for the environment through technical solutions. “In cooperation with German manufacturers, we installed environmentally friendly gas boilers with solar collectors in houses Mėta 2, 4 and 7, while houses Mėta 5 and 6 were equipped with gas heating with geothermal energy, saving residents up to 45 percent of heating costs. The project also built the A-class energy-efficient apartment building Gilė 6 with a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. Compared to the Vilnius city average, residents of these apartments pay five times less for heating,” says M. Žibūda.
For its environmentally friendly buildings and sustainable development, the Santariškių namai project has been repeatedly recognized by real estate experts as the best residential project in Lithuania and the Baltic States. In 2009, the Lithuanian Real Estate Development Association selected Santariškių namai as the best residential project in Lithuania, and a few years later, the new type of cottages “Mėta” with installed solar panels won a gold medal in the “Product of the Year 2012” competition. After receiving two more awards in 2013, it was finally recognized as the best in the residential construction category at the 2015 Baltic Real Estate Awards.
“However, we believe that awards, although important, are not the essential thing in this project – the “Santariškių namai” community formed during its development period is what really makes the project exceptional” – says M. Žibūda. After the implementation of the first stage of “Santariškių namai”, a little more than two hundred families settled here, now there are more than 1,200 of them. We are observing an interesting trend – residents who have had their families grow, choose a new home right here – in “Santariškių namai”, only in the newer stage of the project. We view such migration of residents as loyalty to the project and the trust of residents, which was managed to be gained during the development period of “Santariškių namai”.
In order to bring together the community of neighbors, the company “Eika” organizes celebrations for residents, and some of them have already become an annual tradition. For example, the “Santariškės namų” settlement Christmas tree lighting ceremony has been organized for four years in a row. Spring celebrations are also organized, during which the environment of the settlement and Verkiai Regional Park is cleaned, nesting boxes are hung for birds, and at the “Potato Festival” held in the fall, residents baked potatoes with various fillings on coals together, and the celebration included lessons and games for children. This year, a board with the rules of “Santariškės namų” was officially unveiled, which must be followed by every existing and newly joined member of the community. These informally written rules are based on respect and consideration for neighbors and should help to live together in a friendly manner.
It is estimated that in “Santariškių namai” “Eika” has already built more than 85 thousand sq. m of living space, but the company does not refuse to develop low-rise construction in the future – the experience of “Santariškių namai” is being transferred to the new low-rise construction project “Bajorų alėjos”. Construction is already actively underway on the 9-hectare territory of Kalvota – residents of the first house “Liepa” will move in this autumn. It is planned that over the three stages of the project by 2025. more than 1,000 families will settle here. Currently, UAB “Eika” is also developing projects in Pilaitė, Jeruzalė, Žirmūnai, Šnipiškės, Senamiestis and Naujamiestis.
About the Eika group of companies
Founded in 1992, the company “Eika” is one of the largest real estate development and construction groups in Lithuania, successfully developing residential, commercial, public and other purpose building projects, creating a new quality of life and work. The company has already built more than 3,750 apartments and 320 thousand square meters of buildings. “Eika” has been awarded many times as the best real estate developer in Lithuania, and the company’s projects “Santariškių namai” and “Eika namai Pilaitė” have also become the best in Lithuania.