Architect Rolandas Palekas reveals where he concealed the Tetris structure and which therapy inspires his creativity

Nemunaičiai began with the Newman urban concept for the entire left bank of the Nemunas River. An architectural practice was also involved in its development, and the first neighbourhood to emerge here reflected the very principles of that concept.

„We proposed a strict, Kaunas-style, clear street grid for the neighbourhood. The 3 hectares of the first phase are divided into small functional blocks, and fellow architects will continue to apply this principle. It was important to us that the new streets were designed not for cars, but first and foremost for people,“ says Rolandas Palekas.

All the streets in the district are different and have their own functions. The inner street serves as a commercial centre, yet at the same time is a quieter urban thoroughfare; running parallel to it is the busy H. and O. Minkovskių Street, while on the other side lies the peaceful, cosy Nemunas promenade. Crossing streets connect all three of these. According to Rolandas Palekas, they also reflect the logic of Kaunas’s streets – a simple, logical street network that everyone can understand.

The architect, together with the SBA Urban team, has created more than just square metres in Nemunaičiai. Every structure here has its own character, personality and an angle from which it is best viewed.

„For example, as you walk around the Hermanas business centre, you should see a jigsaw-like, uneven Tetris structure. Each side of the building is arranged differently. Every other floor here has its own unique terrace, of varying sizes and each facing a different direction; and each has its own advantages. The south-facing terrace, whilst not overlooking the water, faces the green slopes of Aleksotas. Even here in winter – in February on a sunny day – you should already feel a pleasant warmth. The other two terraces face one side or the other of the Nemunas River. Although the river is in the background, it is still visible, which in itself is an advantage,“ says Rolandas Palekas, explaining the ideas behind the business centre’s design.

According to him, even the lobby of Hermanas was inspired by the river:

„The Nemunas River is right there, ducks are quacking, reeds are swaying somewhere; we wanted to bring the lively atmosphere of the river into the interior, which is why a large island of plants was created there. Meanwhile, when designing the Pasaka residential complex, it was important to make the most of its unique location right on the banks of the Nemunas River. The courtyard of the U-shaped building faces south, but we also wanted to ensure that the water could still be seen from the courtyard. That is precisely why a gap was created – a raised structure that opens up a view of the Nemunas River even from the other side of Pasaka. Here, too, the apartments are designed to offer views of the river. As for the apartments with unobstructed views – when you look out of the window there, you really do feel as though you’re on a cruise ship – all you can see is the water and the opposite bank.“

It might seem that a car park is merely a functional structure, but even it has its own role to play within the neighbourhood:

„The building is entirely rational; it does not attempt to hide or disguise the fact that it is a car park. It is open – a hub of movement, with cars constantly moving inside, becoming part of the architectural expression. In developing the ‘city within a city’ concept, we and SBA agreed that even a car park building should feature distinctive commercial spaces along the streets, as the whole idea of the neighbourhood is about the vitality created by businesses and residents.“

And finally, Rolandas Palekas shares the therapy he uses, which he tried out himself right at the start of the Nemunaičiai project:

„If you visit here, I’d recommend simply walking alongside the water. The closer you get to the water – right next to the fish and ducks – sit down on the terrace and spend 9 minutes just watching the flowing water. It’s important to look not at the city, but only at the flowing water. Your thoughts will clear like nowhere else in Kaunas. We created this neighbourhood inspired by this – simply the act of looking at the water.“