On 10 November. On 10 November, Filipe Magalhães – one of the founders of the internationally acclaimed Portuguese architecture studio Fala – will visit Vilnius at the Do Architects office, located in the former Concrete Factory (16 Betono Aklg.).
The event is organised by the National Institute of Architecture, an institution under the Ministry of Culture that began operating this year. Its main objective is to, by 2028, in the former establish the country’s main centre for architectural art and history.
Fala is currently regarded as one of the most compelling contemporary architectural practices in the Western world. Their work has been presented at the Venice and Chicago Architecture Biennials and published in leading publications including The Architectural Review, Domus, A+U, 2G, Bauwelt, Arquitectura Viva, Daidalos, and others.
“One of the goals set by the National Institute of Architecture is to throw Lithuania’s architectural and urban solutions into the global pool, so that we can continually see ourselves in a broader cultural context We can find quite a few parallels with cities in Portugal, for example, “the intensive – and not always responsible – commercialisation of historic buildings,” says the event organiser, Ieva Davulytė, Reading Room Curator at the National Institute of Architecture.
Working with reconstructions and the transformation of existing buildings, Fala’s architects challenge the idea that reconstruction is a second-rate process – on the contrary, it becomes a way of creating a new architectural language.
Their view that even small changes can give a space new meaning is particularly relevant in contemporary Lithuania, where increasing attention is being paid to the renewal and reinterpretation of existing buildings.
“Adaptive reuse is something we need to talk about, but at the same time we must not lose sight of architecture itself: we need to question the role of the architect, recognising that reusing spaces is a field for developing architectural language, experimenting with materiality, and refining spatial expression. “The Fala lecture is particularly timely, as it will give us an opportunity to listen, discuss, and think together about how an architect can navigate today’s reality shaped by tourism and commerce, and how we can give more attention to the playfulness of everyday architecture,” the organiser continues.
The National Institute of Architecture is headed by Kęstutis Kuizinas, who won the open competition for the position a year ago. He is best known as the founder and former Director of the Contemporary Art Centre, under whose leadership the institution became one of the leading contemporary art organisations in Eastern Europe, helping to shape the international careers of several generations of Lithuanian artists, curators, and art historians.
The lecture begins at 19:00. (doors open at 18:00). The event will be held in English, is free of charge, and open to all. Event partners: Do Architects. Sponsors: Kauno nealkoholinis.
