Visit to Vilnius by Lionel

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Last week I spent a fabulous 4 days with Ramune and her staff at terrafirmaLT Landscape Architects in Vilnius, catching up and celebrating their second anniversary. In that time they have managed to secure projects as varied as private gardens, public parks, commercial plazas and historic infrastructure interventions as well as far reaching masterplans for public realm and green infrastructure. These have been throughout the country and its different cities but much in the capital itself. This includes a continuous 5kms of terrafirmaLT designed projects leading directly into the city centre from the east.

LF selfie over the city from Gedimanas Castle.
LF selfie over the city from Gedimanas Castle

Their offices are located centrally in the city and are the workplace of the current 5 strong staff; Ramune, Emilija, Giedre, Lina and Linas as well as outside admin support and occasional freelancers and interns. It was good to review current projects and visit a good few of them under construction.

terrafirmaLT staff at Smetonos Street office, Vilnius May 2016
terrafirmaLT staff at Smetonos Street office, Vilnius May 2016
Boksto project under construction. An enormously complex mix of heritage and contemporary design, levels and detailing at the heart of the old city
Boksto project under construction. An enormously complex mix of heritage and contemporary design, levels and detailing at the heart of the old city

 

Quadrum project completing in the city’s CBD. 10m plus Pines imported from Germany. Granite plaza just laid and timber seating soon to be installed onto metal framework in foreground.
Quadrum project completing in the city’s CBD. 10m plus Pines imported from Germany. Granite plaza just laid and timber seating soon to be installed onto metal framework in foreground

I also accompanied Ramune to a Muncipality presentation for Birstonas Park, the green centrepiece to a wonderfully located popular spa town just over an hour east of Vilnius, passing through Trakai on the way back – a great foray into the wider landscape of the country as well as a good opportunity to see a successfully executed presentation with the desired outcome of winning the next stage of work.

Birstonas Park from the mount
Birstonas Park from the mount

 

Presentation to the Mayor and Municipality, Birstonas Park
Presentation to the Mayor and Municipality, Birstonas Park
Lunch with Ramune on way back at Trakai
Lunch with Ramune on way back at Trakai

As well as reviewing progress and planning the logistics for future growth we did have time to thoroughly celebrate the firm’s birthday opposite the University where many of the staff, including Ramune, once studied – appropriately a library; ‘The Beer Library’!

terrafirmaLT second anniversary celebration at ‘The Beer Library’ Vilnius, May 2016
terrafirmaLT second anniversary celebration at ‘The Beer Library’ Vilnius, May 2016

I cannot recommend a visit to Lithuania strongly enough and Vilnius has to be one of the Europe’s best kept secrets with such a huge area of unspoilt old town with parks, greenspaces and woodland permeating its centre. We are very proud to have an office there, pioneering Landscape Architecture in this beautiful country and wish to publicize our congratulations on such an extraordinary first 2 years and wishing it every success in the years to come.

View over Vilnius from the air, shortly after take-off, through rather grubby aircraft windows. Some tfLT projects and office highlighted
View over Vilnius from the air, shortly after take-off, through rather grubby aircraft windows. Some tfLT projects and office highlighted

 

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