Lithuanian Museum of Etchnocosmology

About object:

Reconstruction of a tourism complex consisting of Museum of Ethnocosmology and Astronomic Observatory was one of the rare cases in Lithuania, when the architecture was not marginalized.

In 2002, when reconstructing the complex projected by the architect V. Lisauskas as far back as 1990, the architects R.Kristapavicius and A.Gudaitis with the sculptor A.Kuzma used the old composition of the urban complex: an underground gallery connected the premises and led towards two towers with the lifts equipped in them.

There are also new buildings: on the foot of a hill, visitors are now greeted by a streamlined structure – an ellipsoid with portholes placed on a glass stylobate finished with sheets of matte aluminium. Various functions are concentrated in it: these include a waiting room with toilets for visitors, ticket offices, and a 50-seat conference hall, a café and a souvenir shop on the top. A long route through the museum halls starts from the lower ellipsoid as well.

But perhaps the most catchy structure after the reconstruction of the complex is a glass ellipsoid with an observation platform allusive an alien spaceship topping to the height of 50 meters above the heads of trees. It reveals a beautiful landscape of Labanoras woods, lakes and valleys.

The ethnocosmology is an entirety of human relationship with cosmic world, which the authors of the project endeavoured to embody in their creation.

A. Štelbienė