The government of Lithuania’s capital Vilnius, backed by private investors, commissioned Daniel Libeskind to design a new recreational center on the city’s highest point, ArchDaily reports.
Vilnius Beacon will be located at the base of Liepkalnis Ski Hill, between the city's historic center, business district, and airport. The center will be a hub for visitors to enjoy outdoor activities in the area. The project is part of the government's efforts to transform the city into the cultural and economic center of the Baltic region.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2015, and be completed in 2016.
“The Beacon is inspired by the natural beauty of the Lithuanian landscape,” Libeskind explained on his website. “The design is a study in contrasting geometries. At the core of the master plan is a circular plaza that encompasses the open arena/sports center, sited along the periphery are the two main structures, and a zig-zagging canopy spirals around the site creating a dramatic architectural experience, as well as creating a protected pathway between the main areas of the center.”
More from the architect:
The main entrance building appears to rise from the ground on a tilt, with a sloping roofline and sinuous facade that will frame the central arena. Inside, visitors will encounter a large open-air plan that will house the ticket and rental areas as well as retail and public amenities.
Across the site to the northeast, the main lodge is set into the hill side, with a curved roof that is an extension of the natural landscape. The three-storey building will grant stunning panoramic views to the city below. On the ground floor an open lobby includes the Regional Park Information Center, and a multipurpose space to be used for events and conferences year round.
On the first floor there is a bistro for casual dining with an open terrace that provides direct access to the east slope. On the top floor, a gourmet restaurant with wrap around windows will give diners spectacular views of the city and beyond.
Related Stories
| Mar 29, 2011
City's design, transit system can ease gas costs
Some cities in the U.S. are better positioned to deal with rising gas prices than others because of their design and transit systems, according to CEOs for Cities, a Chicago-based nonprofit that works to build stronger cities. The key factor: whether residents have to drive everywhere, or have other options.
| Mar 29, 2011
Chicago’s Willis Tower to become a vertical solar farm
Chicago’s iconic Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) is set to become a massive solar electric plant with the installation of a pilot solar electric glass project.
| Mar 29, 2011
Read up on Amazon.com's new green HQ
Phase IV of Amazon’s new headquarters in Seattle is nearly complete. The company has built 10 of the 11 buildings planned for its new campus in the South Lake Union neighborhood, and is on-track for a 2013 grand opening.
| Mar 29, 2011
Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura wins Pritzker Architecture Prize
Portugese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, whose precisely-honed buildings reflect the influence of the late Chicago modernist Mies van der Rohe, is the 2011 winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the field's highest honor.
| Mar 25, 2011
Qatar World Cup may feature carbon-fiber ‘clouds’
Engineers at Qatar University’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering are busy developing what they believe could act as artificial “clouds,” man-made saucer-type structures suspended over a given soccer stadium, working to shield tens of thousands of spectators from suffocating summer temperatures that regularly top 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
| Mar 23, 2011
AIA adds 13 new contract documents to Documents-on-Demand service
Web-based solution adds 13 popular Architect’s Scope of Services Documents to AIA Documents-on-Demand, providing easy access to documents anytime, anywhere.
| Mar 23, 2011
After 60 years of student lobbying, new activity center opens at University of Texas
The new Student Activity Center at the University of Texas campus, Austin, is the result of almost 60 years of students lobbying for another dedicated social and cultural center on campus. The 149,000-sf facility is designed to serve as the "campus living room," and should earn a LEED Gold certification, a first for the campus.
| Mar 23, 2011
Architecture Billings Index shows nominal increase
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the February Architecture Billings Index score was 50.6, up slightly from a reading of 50.0 the previous month. This score reflects a modest increase in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 56.4, compared to a mark of 56.5 in December.
| Mar 22, 2011
The American National Standards Institute accredits Stantec for greenhouse gas verification
Stantec Consulting Ltd.’s Atmospheric Environment Group has been awarded accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for verification of assertions related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Scope of Accreditation is for verification of emissions and removals at the organizational level for Group 1 – General.
| Mar 22, 2011
Mayor Bloomberg unveils plans for New York City’s largest new affordable housing complex since the ’70s
Plans for Hunter’s Point South, the largest new affordable housing complex to be built in New York City since the 1970s, include new residences for 5,000 families, with more than 900 in this first phase. A development team consisting of Phipps Houses, Related Companies, and Monadnock Construction has been selected to build the residential portion of the first phase of the Queens waterfront complex, which includes two mixed-use buildings comprising more than 900 housing units and roughly 20,000 square feet of new retail space.
