VILNIUS ST. JOSEPH SEMINARY

Vilnius St. Joseph Seminary is a building of exceptional function built on the territory of the current Verkiai Landscape Architectural Reserve.

The idea to build the seminary was born after the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, and an architectural competition was organised in 1995.

This seminary building is described as a postmodern gem, characterised by its adaptation to a specific urban context. Clinker bricks were used for the exterior decoration, which at the end of the 20th century was the predominant motif for building decoration, especially near the Jeruzalė and Baltupiai neighbourhoods. The volumes of the seminary buildings are in harmony with the ensemble of the Kalvarija Church and the monastery, while the dynamic form of the chapel with its raised cross dominates the entire architectural ensemble. Inside, the building’s postmodern interior is continued, with exclusive artistic touches such as a 10-meter-high stained-glass window and fresco, and specially designed furniture by Italian architects.

The building is also unique in its function as a seminary where people live, study and pray together. The building is therefore designed in three blocks: a chapel, a residential block and a learning block with classrooms, a canteen, an auditorium and sports halls. In this way, the architectural planning establishes the interconnectedness of internal and external life – the spiritual and material world.