Ragutis Factory Apartment House
(Survived
, k.k.v.r.
29497
)
<p style="text-align: justify;">The four-story apartment house built in 1923 on Savanoriai Avenue was one of the first major structures in the temporary capital. Architectural attitudes of the new Lithuanian state established only several years ago were best described by the statement of the Lithuanian Restoration Commissariat (LRC), whose task was to “rebuild Lithuanian cities and villages in an orderly and civilised fashion”, published in Statybos Menas Ir Technika magazine. It states: “we should not embrace Russian architecture which they have left behind in Lithuania. We need to cultivate the spirit of a good and serious Lithuanian.” This desire to establish oneself and to create the architectural face of the new state manifested in the so called “national style”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Although it is unlikely that a definitive style was ever provided, the “national style” prevalent during the first decade of the independence is usually considered to be Neo-Baroque, represented by the Baroque-style churches in Vilnius and Lithuanian Baroque heritage in general, which is said to be “a beautiful and a common Lithuanian form”. This form was associated with “traditional symbols taken from farmhouses built in the province”. This was a way of “building an architectural bridge to our past”. Ragutis House, designed by some of the most prominent architectural professionals of that time Vladimiras Dubeneckis, Mykolas Songaila and Adolfas Kelermileris (technical maintenance of the construction was carried out by a lesser-known architect J. Levinson), is one of the most obvious examples of the Lithuanian national policy expressed in architecture.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Despite its rather typical function and planned structure, the house became a quite important demonstration of how that “good and serious Lithuanian spirit” should be encouraged. For example, in his fundamental article titled “On Our Architecture”, V. Dubeneckis mentions that the face of Ragutis House “connects us with Kaunas Baroque traditions”. Later Baroque was recurred in many “national style” objects. Besides Baroque, Ragutis House is also enhanced by elements of folk art: “bay windows decorated with tulip ornaments, central windows with patterns resembling wood carvings”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">During the Soviet period in mid-fifties the building was rearranged into Food Industry Technical College, and later into an apartment house for factory’s workers. Nowadays, although declared a cultural heritage, the house is abandoned.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Vaidas Petrulis</em></p>
Adresas: Kauno m. sav., Kauno m., Savanorių pr. 9
Architektūros tipas: Professional
Architektai: Vladimiras Dubeneckis, Mykolas Songaila, Adolfas Kelermileris
Metai: 1922
Laikotarpis: Interwar
Architektūros šakos: Architecture, Separate building, Residential, House, Interior
Medžiagos: Masonry (brick)
Nuotraukos: 55
Susiję objektai
Kaunas central post office
Kaunas central post office
1930 - 1932
Former office of  "Pažanga" company
Former office of "Pažanga" company
1933 - 1934
Office of the Bank of Lithuania in Kaunas
Office of the Bank of Lithuania in Kaunas
1924 - 1927
Vytautas the Great War Museum and M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum
Vytautas the Great War Museum and M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum
1929 - 1936
Hotel "Lietuva" in Kaunas
Hotel "Lietuva" in Kaunas
1925
Kaunas Art school
Kaunas Art school
1922
Officers club Ramovė
Officers club Ramovė
1931 - 1937
The House of Architect Antanas Jokimas
The House of Architect Antanas Jokimas
1925
“Metropolitain” Cinema Theatre
“Metropolitain” Cinema Theatre
1927 - 1928
Faculty of Medicine at Vytautas Magnus University
Faculty of Medicine at Vytautas Magnus University
1931 - 1933
Commerce, Industry and Crafts palace
Commerce, Industry and Crafts palace
1937 - 1939
The Palace of the Bank of Lithuania in Panevėžys
The Palace of the Bank of Lithuania in Panevėžys
1937 - 1938
Former „Tulpė“ Cooperative House
Former „Tulpė“ Cooperative House
1925
VMU Institute of Physics and Chemistry
VMU Institute of Physics and Chemistry
1925 - 1932
Draft project for the Adelė and Paulius Galauniai House
Draft project for the Adelė and Paulius Galauniai House
1930
Juozas Daugirdas Apartment House
Juozas Daugirdas Apartment House
1930
Church of Karmėlava
Church of Karmėlava
1919
Mineral Baths Building of Doctar Jurgis Veckūnas in Aukštoji Panemunė
Mineral Baths Building of Doctar Jurgis Veckūnas in Aukštoji Panemunė
1930
Branch of Lithuanian Bank in Biržai
Branch of Lithuanian Bank in Biržai
1934
Branch of Lithuanian Bank in Tauragė
Branch of Lithuanian Bank in Tauragė
1935
Branch of Lithuanian Bank in Kretinga
Branch of Lithuanian Bank in Kretinga
1938 - 1939
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The four-story apartment house built in 1923 on Savanoriai Avenue was one of the first major structures in the temporary capital. Architectural attitudes of the new Lithuanian state established only several years ago were best described by the statement of the Lithuanian Restoration Commissariat (LRC), whose task was to “rebuild Lithuanian cities and villages in an orderly and civilised fashion”, published in Statybos Menas Ir Technika magazine. It states: “we should not embrace Russian architecture which they have left behind in Lithuania. We need to cultivate the spirit of a good and serious Lithuanian.” This desire to establish oneself and to create the architectural face of the new state manifested in the so called “national style”.


Although it is unlikely that a definitive style was ever provided, the “national style” prevalent during the first decade of the independence is usually considered to be Neo-Baroque, represented by the Baroque-style churches in Vilnius and Lithuanian Baroque heritage in general, which is said to be “a beautiful and a common Lithuanian form”. This form was associated with “traditional symbols taken from farmhouses built in the province”. This was a way of “building an architectural bridge to our past”. Ragutis House, designed by some of the most prominent architectural professionals of that time Vladimiras Dubeneckis, Mykolas Songaila and Adolfas Kelermileris (technical maintenance of the construction was carried out by a lesser-known architect J. Levinson), is one of the most obvious examples of the Lithuanian national policy expressed in architecture.


Despite its rather typical function and planned structure, the house became a quite important demonstration of how that “good and serious Lithuanian spirit” should be encouraged. For example, in his fundamental article titled “On Our Architecture”, V. Dubeneckis mentions that the face of Ragutis House “connects us with Kaunas Baroque traditions”. Later Baroque was recurred in many “national style” objects. Besides Baroque, Ragutis House is also enhanced by elements of folk art: “bay windows decorated with tulip ornaments, central windows with patterns resembling wood carvings”.


During the Soviet period in mid-fifties the building was rearranged into Food Industry Technical College, and later into an apartment house for factory’s workers. Nowadays, although declared a cultural heritage, the house is abandoned.


Vaidas Petrulis