VU Botanical Garden‘s Green Building (Plant) in Kairėnai

The laboratory hidden in the Vilnius University Botanical Garden in Kairėnai is an exceptional example of green architecture in Lithuania. A Soviet-era multi-apartment residential building made of silicate bricks has been reborn as a building-plant, becoming not only a fitting part of the Botanical Garden but also a captivating exhibit of exceptional architectural expression.

The compact volume, surrounded by planted columns, impresses with its multifunctionality and variety of technical solutions. The main spaces are dedicated to educational activities and employee laboratories, with a transparent orangery attached to the south wall, where research and plant micropropagation are carried out.

This unique building with vertical green columns was both a challenge and an experiment – there is no analogue of such a construction in Lithuania. These are three rows of columns made of metal mesh and plant substrate, specially prepared for plant growth. The ability of plants to change according to the season was evaluated. During the summer season, the lushness of plants reduces the gaps between the columns, protecting the administrative premises from overheating, while in winter, the composition of the columns maintains the desired architectural image.

And the decoration of the building is a green observation deck on the roof with a breathtaking view of the growing labyrinth and the Botanical Garden.