Jews’ Bank in Kaunas
<p style="text-align: justify;">Permission to build the Central Jews’ Bank, which at that time was “one of the bigger banks with developed network of offices around the country”, was given in 1924, when Kaunas was recovering from the Independence fights. Instead of a wooden single floor house, which the Construction Commission of Kaunas City declared to be “outdated and dangerous in terms of fire hazard”, one of the most ambitious buildings of that time was built in the temporary capital. Due to a long narrow plot, with the main building on its end, the place was started to be called as <em>arcade</em>. Even though the architecture of the building is a clear example of historicism, known for the simplified neo-classicistic forms of European commercial institutions, the ornamental building’s dictionary was full of playful <em>art deco</em> elements: outside lamps in zigzag forms, layered dome of the central staircase, decoration elements, etc.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Though the main purpose of the building was the bank, as it can be seen from the project, here a poly-functional city society’s center was established: on both sides of the arcade small shops were being established, one café opened its doors, an open summer movie theater opened on the second floor. It all suggested a rapidly growing entertainment services in the temporary capital. The fact that it was tried to follow the most advanced examples in Europe can be confirmed from movie theatre owner’s request, in which apart from everything else it is noted that “In the cities of Europe such movie theatres are already established”. During the Soviet times, in 1948, the object was transformed into a Zoology museum. Soon, after slightly more than 50 years since the beginning of construction, the museum began to be renovated and the arcade was destroyed. Instead of it, new museum building was built (architect – A. Keturka), which opened its doors in 1981.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Vaidas Petrulis</em></p>
Adresas: Kauno m. sav., Kauno m., Laisvės al. 106
Architektūros tipas: Professional
Architektai: Grigorijus Mazelis, Mikas Grodzenskis
Metai: 1924
Laikotarpis: Interwar
Architektūros šakos: Architecture, Separate building, Administration, Commercial, Shop / tally-shop, Cafe / Restaurant / Canteen , Bank
Medžiagos: Masonry (brick)
Nuotraukos: 17
Susiję objektai
Bank Employee Residential House in Kaunas
Bank Employee Residential House in Kaunas
1925
Cinema theater "Romuva"
Cinema theater "Romuva"
1938 - 1940
Office of the Bank of Lithuania in Kaunas
Office of the Bank of Lithuania in Kaunas
1924 - 1927
Former Cinema „Pasaka“ in Kaunas
Former Cinema „Pasaka“ in Kaunas
1939 - 1940
Hotel "Lietuva" in Kaunas
Hotel "Lietuva" in Kaunas
1925
Kaunas Art school
Kaunas Art school
1922
Palace for Firefighters in Kaunas
Palace for Firefighters in Kaunas
1929 - 1930
“Metropolitain” Cinema Theatre
“Metropolitain” Cinema Theatre
1927 - 1928
The Palace of the Bank of Lithuania in Panevėžys
The Palace of the Bank of Lithuania in Panevėžys
1937 - 1938
VMU Institute of Physics and Chemistry
VMU Institute of Physics and Chemistry
1925 - 1932
Kaunas Metropolitan seminary reconstruction
Kaunas Metropolitan seminary reconstruction
1928 - 1930
Former Gymnasium named after Adomas Mickevičius
Former Gymnasium named after Adomas Mickevičius
1928 - 1931
Russian Gymnasium in Kaunas (now Kaunas Teacher Training Centre)
Russian Gymnasium in Kaunas (now Kaunas Teacher Training Centre)
1925
Blessed Virgin Mary's Assumption to Heaven Church in Palanga
Blessed Virgin Mary's Assumption to Heaven Church in Palanga
1897 - 1907
House of architect Feliksas Vizbaras in Kaunas
House of architect Feliksas Vizbaras in Kaunas
Mausha and Nathan Feinberg‘s house
Mausha and Nathan Feinberg‘s house
1929
Jewish gymnasium in Panevėžys
Jewish gymnasium in Panevėžys
1927 - 1928
House built by Romanas Polovinskas, Italian envoy
House built by Romanas Polovinskas, Italian envoy
1926 - 1927
1 18

Permission to build the Central Jews’ Bank, which at that time was “one of the bigger banks with developed network of offices around the country”, was given in 1924, when Kaunas was recovering from the Independence fights. Instead of a wooden single floor house, which the Construction Commission of Kaunas City declared to be “outdated and dangerous in terms of fire hazard”, one of the most ambitious buildings of that time was built in the temporary capital. Due to a long narrow plot, with the main building on its end, the place was started to be called as arcade. Even though the architecture of the building is a clear example of historicism, known for the simplified neo-classicistic forms of European commercial institutions, the ornamental building’s dictionary was full of playful art deco elements: outside lamps in zigzag forms, layered dome of the central staircase, decoration elements, etc.


Though the main purpose of the building was the bank, as it can be seen from the project, here a poly-functional city society’s center was established: on both sides of the arcade small shops were being established, one café opened its doors, an open summer movie theater opened on the second floor. It all suggested a rapidly growing entertainment services in the temporary capital. The fact that it was tried to follow the most advanced examples in Europe can be confirmed from movie theatre owner’s request, in which apart from everything else it is noted that “In the cities of Europe such movie theatres are already established”. During the Soviet times, in 1948, the object was transformed into a Zoology museum. Soon, after slightly more than 50 years since the beginning of construction, the museum began to be renovated and the arcade was destroyed. Instead of it, new museum building was built (architect – A. Keturka), which opened its doors in 1981.


Vaidas Petrulis