Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Vilnius

About object:

In May this year, a new Marriot business class hotel, part of a global chain of hotels, was opened in Vilnius, in the well-known territory of the former Žalgiris stadium. The 2016 design contest was won by the architects of G. Natkevičius ir Partneriai, who proposed an architectural style that was non-traditional not just within the confines of the contest but also in terms of the Marriott hotel chain. As this is the first building on a block that is currently being developed, an expressive, monumental shape was chosen that is sure spark conversations.

The building was designed and built especially fast despite its rather complex structure that must have required hard work from the engineers: a cantilever and a leaning facade. These compositional elements are precisely what makes the otherwise minimalist building rather unique and monumental. As you move uphill along Rinktinės street, the floating cantilever part of the hotel symbolises the beginning of the block like a gate. The cantilever also accentuates its main entrance, welcoming visitors inside. To those familiar with G. Natkevičius’s creative work, monumentality and coded architectural language will be no surprise. The architect has revealed that he felt encouraged to design a sculpture-like building because of the Prosecutor’s Office building (architect K. Lupeikis) located on a nearby block, also being developed, which is one of the most significant architectural creations of the recent times.

Perhaps the largest challenge was posed be the leaning facade. A glass-aluminium system with dark aluminium pilasters was chosen. The divisions it creates particularly accentuate the dynamics of the building and the way it seems to change as you move along the busy Rinktinės street. The minimalist, sculptural facade of hotel Marriott hides not only a cosy and fun interior but also numerous innovations. The building is the first in Lithuania to use a mobile key system. This is new even for the Marriott chain as a whole.

The building does more than just fill up the Rinktinės street elevation. A pedestrian promenade is also being constructed nearby. It was designed by Martha Schwartz landscape architecture studio in London. The promenade should link the newly developed block with Vilnius old town. It should create a modern space, conveniently adapted to the various needs of pedestrians and cyclists.

G. Trapikienė