SMAR Architecture Studio winner to design Science Island in Lithuania

06/04/2018. [Kaunas] Lithuania
metalocus, ANTONIO G DE JUAN

Kaunas City Municipality announced this week the appointment of SMAR Architecture Studio, to design Lithuania’s new National Science and Innovation Centre, known colloquially as Science Island.

Rendering © SMAR Architecture Studio

Competition board. © SMAR Architecture Studio.

Rendering © SMAR Architecture Studio

Overview. Science Island in Lithuania

SMAR Architecture Studio from Australia and Spain was appointed to design Lithuania's new science area, in Kaunas. Organized by London-based Malcolm Reading Consultants, the competition started out with 144 teams from 44 countries.

The other two finalist teams were SimpsonHaugh and Partners (United Kingdom) and Donghua Chen Studio (China) were the two runner-up practices awarded honoraria of €15,000. In addition, five teams received an honourable mention: Amid.cero9 / Elsewhere (Spain); Mark Foster Gage Architects (USA); Alper Derinbogaz, Salon (Turkey); UAB Architektų biuras G. Natkevičius ir partneriai (Lithuania); and Wolfgang Tschapeller ZTGmbH (Austria).

Fernando Jerez, Founder and Creative Director of SMAR Architecture Studio, said:

“We are delighted to have won the project and our team looks forward to realising our vision along with the local team, Kaunas City Municipality and the people of Kaunas. This is a unique opportunity on a fantastic site, not just for Kaunas but for Lithuania and Europe.

“The Science Island competition sparked our imaginations: we were prompted to visit the city, which resulted in an immediate connection with Kaunas that was reflected in our design. We anticipate the finished building will be an invigorating experience, drawing new audiences.

“Our proposal for Science Island follows the island’s topography to find a deep connection with nature and with the city. On the roof, circular access points will work as public stages and natural seating areas, our aim being that the museum spills into the landscape and the park comes into the building.

“The existing landscape gives shape to the Innovation Centre, which is topped by a sloping and reflecting upper disk: a landmark for the city. This will be a new sun for Kaunas, a bright, shining sun – evidence that Science is always awake searching for new answers.”

The appointment completes the Negotiated Procedure without Publication of a Contract Notice – the second stage of the process following the original Design Contest; both processes were run to Lithuanian procurement regulations.

The new €25m science centre is expected to open a year in advance of Kaunas’ tenure as European Capital of Culture 2022. It will be located within a 33 hectare site on Nemunas Island in the Nemunas River, a short walk from Kaunas’ historic Centras district and close to its celebrated universities. SMAR will collaborate with the Lithuanian practice, UAB Architektų biuras G. Natkevičius ir partneriai.

The entries were judged by an eminent jury, comprising: Audrius Ambrasas, Director, Audrius Ambrasas Architects; Jonas Audėjaitis, Dean of Vilnus Academy of Arts’ Kaunas Faculty, and Member of Kaunas City Council; Paul Baker, Director, WilkinsonEyre; Sumit Paul-Choudhury, formerly Editor-in-Chief and now Strategy Director and Editor Emeritus, New Scientist; Povilas Mačiulis, Vice Mayor, Kaunas City Municipality; Rainer Mahlamäki, Professor and Founder, Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects; Rolandas Maskoliūnas, Chief Press Officer, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences; and Christos Passas, Associate Director, Zaha Hadid Architects. The jury was chaired by Malcolm Reading.

The design contest for this exceptional site in the UNESCO designated, and celebrated university city, Kaunas, encompassed the design of the Centre and an urban integration plan for Nemunas Island.