Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania

In the Vilnius Old Town, near the former Tatar Gate, an entire complex of buildings is occupied by the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania. The complex shows clear signs of architectural history: fragments of medieval city walls and buildings, and a military officers’ club built during the Tsarist period. The newest addition to this historical “layer cake” is the administrative building designed by architect Elena Nijolė Bučiūtė.

This building was designed for nearly 20 years (from 1977 to 1997), during which not only the times changed – from the Soviet era to Independence – but also the style of architecture – from Modernism to Postmodernism.

The Ministry building designed by the architect combines both Postmodernist and Old Vilnius architectural characteristics – one can see the remains of 14th-15th century Old Town buildings. Due to the discovery of the remains of Gothic houses, the building was redesigned several times, and the fragments of four Gothic houses found during archaeological excavations are clearly marked on the facade of the building by the architect.

Full of symbols and allusions, full of signs of the old Vilnius that has disappeared, the newest corps of the Ministry of National Defense recalls the long history of the city, still preserving the historical Gothic cellars beneath it, while the Postmodernist expression of the building represents the quality of late 20th-century architecture.