In the first half of the 19th century, an unpaved road stretched along this part of Vilnius, and a market was open. Later, infrastructure began to develop, buildings were erected, and trolleybuses rolled along. Now, not a trace of trolleybus traffic remains, and the face of this street is being changed by modern spaces. These are the details of the history of Gediminas (formerly St. George) Avenue, which is called the main artery of the capital and is increasingly coming to life.
According to Mindaugas Pakalnis, the chief architect of the city of Vilnius, Gedimino Avenue is a street that represents the city and requires great attention, especially its part from Lukiškės to the Seimas.
“When public transport was cut off and the City Development Department was established, the western part of Gediminas Avenue lost its vitality. Although the Seimas was located in this part, it was not enough. As the city changes, we want to inject more creativity and energy into this part of the avenue. So that it does not turn into a bureaucratic Brussels district, where shops are closed in the evening and it becomes empty. Each new object must give the street dynamics. One of these is the new space of the capital “Live Square”, – says M. Pakalnis.
Aims to connect different people
The open urban space “Live Square”, developed by “Eika” and built over almost two years, combines a business center with a shopping gallery, a 4-star hotel “Hilton Garden Inn” with a conference center, and residential buildings with 88 apartments.
“We aim for different social groups to successfully coexist and complement each other in this part of Gediminas Avenue. Local residents who stop by the café in the evening, city guests who enter Lukiškės Square from the hotel, where children splash in the fountain in the warm season. Cultural institutions, creative people, IT hipsters, startups, freelancers in co-working spaces – “Live Square” and this part of Gediminas Avenue must reflect the multifunctional life characteristic of every metropolis and connect different people,” says M. Pakalnis.
The capital’s new space “Live Square” is always open to Vilnius residents. There is an opportunity to go up to the rooftop terrace – this is especially relevant for those looking for places to take memorable city photos or those who want to capture the panorama of Gediminas Avenue.
“We would like Live Square to create and continue the moderate history of Gediminas, the former St. George’s Avenue. Like a fabric that you continue to weave. If people walk through the new space, the objects or images they see will inspire creativity or important personal changes, then the direction we have chosen is valuable for the city,” says Domas Dargis, head of Eika.
Peculiarities of life on Gediminas Avenue
Justinas Katkus, a businessman who has lived on Gedimino Avenue for more than 20 years, says that one of the most interesting advantages is that he never has to commute to work with most Vilnius residents, it’s like flowing in the opposite direction.
“In the mornings, most people commute to work in the city, and I commute from the city. In the evenings, it’s the other way around. That way, you never have to waste time in traffic jams,” says the businessman.
According to J. Katkus, as in every European metropolis, one has to get used to the greater intensity and songs at night, as well as to fairs or festivals on the main street, which stop traffic. “Historically, the main street of the city is intense and you just have to accept that,” the businessman, who lives on Gedimino Avenue, is convinced.
About the EIKA group of companies
Founded in 1992, EIKA is one of the largest real estate development and construction groups in Lithuania, successfully developing residential, commercial, public and other building projects. The company has already built almost 4,500 apartments and 416 thousand square meters of buildings. EIKA has been awarded many times as the best real estate developer in Lithuania, the company’s projects “Santariškių namai”, “Basanavičiaus 9A” and “Eika namai Pilaitė” becoming the best in Lithuania.