Lithuanian National Concert Hall: Tautos Namai

Taurus Hill 

Tauras Hill (Tauros kalnas) has long been a popular recreational and walking destination for residents and visitors of Vilnius. It offers a wide view of the Old Town, the River Neris and the Gediminas Tower – a landscape that must have inspired the Lithuanian intellectuals of the early 20th century. When Vilnius was still a city under the rule of an empire, Lithuanian social and cultural figures bought land on Tauras Hill with the intention of building the House of the People (Tautos namai) – a place to develop Lithuanian language, culture and ideas of national identity.

Historical events delayed this vision from happening. The difficult political circumstances of the inter-war period and the Second World War put an end to the idea altogether. The hill remained a free public space until 1956, when the Soviet occupation authorities chose it as a suitable location for a representative meeting and concert hall. The design was taken from the work of the Russian architect Vladimir Yemelyanov, which had already been implemented in Nizhny Tagil. To adapt it to the local context and the tastes of the time, the Lithuanian architects added functionalist and modernist elements, giving the building a stylistically interesting character that combined ideological force with a more moderate aesthetic.

After Lithuania regained independence, the building was handed over to the trade unions, but its function gradually changed. In 2004, a massive fire severely damaged the right wing of the building, rendering it unusable. However, life continued in the left wing, where various independent cultural initiatives began to use the space. It was home to an electronic music club, queer community events, flea markets and alternative music concerts. Over time, the building became an important landmark on Vilnius’ alternative culture map.

Competition for a new vision

In 2019, the city of Vilnius, in cooperation with the Lithuanian Association of Architects, launched an international architectural competition for ideas for the National Concert Hall. Taurus hill was chosen as the location of the new concert hall, and, symbolically, the new concert hall will bear the name of the People’s House that was once envisioned by the Lithuanian intellectuals.

More than 200 participants from all over the world took part, making it one of the largest architectural competitions in the country’s history. The winner was Spanish architecture firm Arquivio architects, whose proposal is characterised by its harmonious approach – the building is conceived as an architectural ensemble that blends into the landscape and preserves the skyline of Vilnius, while creating a contemporary and spatially diverse cultural centre. The building is clearly divided into three distinct forms, thus emphasising its functionality.

It is noteworthy that none of the shortlisted projects proposed to preserve the former trade union building, even though the project applications also included such proposals. While participants were free to choose whether or not to incorporate the existing former trade union building on the site, one requirement of the competition was the preservation of the original stained glass artwork. Arquivio Architects’ proposal reflects this: although the building itself is not retained, the stained glass is preserved and incorporated into the new design, establishing an architectural dialogue with the site’s layered history.

Thinking about the future

The project for Vilnius’ new concert hall also prompts questions about Riga’s future Philharmonic Hall, which is currently still in the design phase. Although the approaches of the two cities are different, the comparison allows us to see current trends in architecture and urban development in the Baltics.

In both Riga and Vilnius, the context for the development of concert halls is linked to the legacy of the Soviet period buildings that have reached the end of their original functional life and are located close to the historic city centres. In Riga, the concert hall was originally planned for Elizabetes iela 2, but after extensive discussions, the location was changed to the former Congress Hall. Unlike in Vilnius, the building in Riga has been granted cultural heritage status, and its redevelopment has been designed to preserve its original outline while introducing new, contemporary forms that blend organically with the surrounding urban space, particularly the canal-side landscape.

In Vilnius, a similar function was once fulfilled by a building that was not recognised as cultural heritage, so its demolition was carried out without significant opposition. The particular architecture and poor technical condition of the building – including fire damage – further reinforced the need for a new solution. The design of the new concert hall attracts attention with its light, austere architecture, emphasising a modern aesthetic and openness. However, some caution has been voiced: does this minimalist approach sufficiently recognise the architectural heritage and symbolic significance of the city and  Taurus hill? 

The Vilnius Concert Hall is scheduled to open in 2028. Only then will it be possible to fully assess the impact of the project. After all, it is the content – the quality of the architectural design, the cultural programme and the interaction with the urban environment – that will determine the importance this new building will play in Lithuania’s cultural space.