LITHUANIAN AUDIOSENSORY LIBRARY

Designed in 1996 by architect Andrius Gediminas Gudaitis, the building has retained its original function as a library in three connected volumes. But this is not just any library.

In 2023, the renovated Lithuanian Audiosensory Library opened its doors. The rarely encountered word “audio-sensory” combines two of the library’s main services – audio books (audio) and braille books (sensory).

Today, it is probably the most accessible building in the country for all categories of visitors. The building’s universal design makes it accessible to people with visual, physical or intellectual disabilities. Visitors are greeted from the entrance by guided surfaces, which enable those who find the environment more difficult to navigate to reach a member of staff working at the information desk independently. There is another important element for those travelling to the other floors of the building: the staircases are marked with contrasting strips and are very clearly visible on all levels.

All the interior elements are distinguished by contrast – the floor, walls, railings, and even the key chains of the lockers are coloured differently, so that visitors can observe and move around without disturbance.