Urban Ensemble on Raudondvaris street

Urban Ensemble on Raudondvaris street, Kaunas

The ensemble of dwelling houses in Kaunas, built on the Raudondvaris highway, features a dynamic and responsive urban composition on Piešvės street. The irregular shape of the plot and the layout of the administrative and residential buildings posed a difficult task. Nonetheless, the architects applied a rational and space-saving solution by dividing objects into separate structural groups.

A series of sound-absorbing trees covers the street noise. Along with the adjacent parking, they form a curtain that creates a more remote and private space within the plot. Three double-apartment houses face the oblique highway. These buildings serve similar purposes but have different orientations and planned structures. The volumes of neat structure work together with the outdoor spaces, which form the yards, featuring wooden terraces and tree greenery.

The duplex dwelling houses offer a laconic layout. Residents enter the building through a central entrance. At one end, the kitchen connects to the dining area, while a spacious living room with a terrace sits at the other end. The sanitary unit and a wardrobe occupy the center. Upstairs, the bedroom block provides privacy for residents. Both volumes in the overall composition push apart to create privacy on terraces.

The third group house layouts rely on transitional spaces. Since the volumes are square-shaped, the architects placed the entrance in the corner. After passing the closet, residents reach the common space, which leads straight into the bedroom and sanitary unit. Access to the second apartment requires approaching from another corner of the house, and the staircase to the first floor is similarly positioned.

The architects designed the facades with a neat and clear division, orienting the windows toward nature. They applied a mixed material palette, using concrete, wood paneling, and rusted metal plates to create the ensemble’s identity.

The group of residential houses emphasizes context-sensitive urban orientation and cozy recreational spaces. The design focuses not only on the volumes but also on the spaces between them.

Realization Date: 2018
Location: Kaunas, Raudondvario Road
Architects: Laurynas Avyžius, Rytis Račiūnas, Lukas Tarnauskas