ABOUT
Learn the story live
Latvia
Interwar Riga is similar to Paris or Prague. Jūrmala - Baltic Riviera with Dzintari Concert Hall, the acoustics of which is the best in Europe. Liepaja - K. Ulmanis government’s residence on board. Jelgava - also Mintauja – Lithuanians’ cultural centre. Daugavpils – former Dvinsk – schools’ light chain. Well, what does a Latvian say about a Lithuanian? – “A, leitis, nu ... leitis” – shrugs his hand off... And a local expert? - “Lithuanians have their Mindaugas, Jogaila ... We do not have such history, therefore we look at Lithuanians with a certain jealousy.”
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Poland
Krakow - in the city of the kings of Poland and Lithuania, there are modernist buildings. Gdynia - the city of “White” modernism built between the wars - a window to the world. Torun - a colony of Vilnius University’s lecturers, an ethnic Art Deco. Wloclawek - the undeservedly forgotten city of Polish bishops, where Copernicus was born. Lodz - the unofficial temporary capital of Poland, the centre of the textile industry and the residential quarter Paradise on Earth. Katowice - a region of mining and metallurgy. The first skyscrapers in Europe and “Black” modernism. According to the local heritage conservationist, “It was a time when Poland wanted to spread its wings and show itself to the world.”
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Lithuania
From Klaipėda to Zarasai, from Biržai to Druskininkai there are almost 30 Lithuanian cities and towns. Lithuanian architects and searches for a national style. Modernism spread not only in interwar Kaunas but also throughout all Lithuania. And not only architecture but also industry, business, education, politics. The interwar period is a phenomenon of the independent Republic of Lithuania. The thinking of the people of that time also changed: optimism and belief in a better life seemed to be in the air.
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Belarus
In the interwar period - Polish and Soviet. The Polish: Breslau - Zakopane style resort; Druya - the border, the site of the massacre of Jews; in Hlybokaye - monuments with coats of arms Vytis; born in Navahrudak - a US scientist B. Kit, a Yiddish language standardiser A. Harkavy, a writer A. Mickiewicz; Brest - a joint German-Soviet parade.
The Soviet: every 5th litterateur out of 2,000 Belarusian intellectuals shot and deported by the KGB in Minsk; in Mogilev – S. Kirov’s place of residence. S. Kirov’s death served as a pretext for Stalin to begin mass repression. A historian: “The Belarusian language is likely to extinct ...”. A local: “You’re lucky, you’ve made it to Independence, and we’ve not ...”.
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Value of the idea
What you will see
Not only will you see but also understand what to pay attention to when looking at architecture. This vision and cognition will be aided by unique video historical shots and photographs, and the stories of the people who lived there: sincere as personal and summarising when from a bird’s-eye view.
What you will experience
Knowledge of architecture and buildings through the history of a person who lived and worked there. The man of the interwar period is exceptional - educated, free, curious, optimistic, striving for the well-being of his country above all. As a result, new states were emerging at lightning speed. We invite you to an architectural journey - to touch, smell, and feel.
What will you hear
Happy and sad stories, jokes of people who lived in cities and towns and pages of the press. Evaluations of various phenomena by foreign experts. And not only the songs or instruments of the time but also the sounds of buildings.
We wish you unforgettable impressions