KTU architecturologist about the architectural heritage of immigrants from Lithuania: it is important for our statehood

The Second World War greatly affected not only the destinies of states and people, but also the development of architecture. In occupied Lithuania, design turned in the direction of the general trends of the Soviet Union, while war refugees continued to nurture Lithuanianness in the diaspora. According to KTU architect Vaidas Petrulis, the work of people who were driven outside Lithuania by the destructive Soviet regime is an important part of the history of Lithuanian architecture. It deserves both greater interest and international recognition.

Vaidas Petrulis, chief researcher of the Architecture and Construction Institute (ASI) of the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), who has been researching the history of Lithuanian architecture for more than 20 years, says that the works of expatriate architects can significantly supplement knowledge about the traditions of architectural creation and provide a wider context for the causality of various processes.

The latest work he and his team have done is aimed at exactly that – researching the architectural legacy of Lithuanians in the United States of America (USA) after the Second World War.

Cultivation of national identity abroad

V. Petrulis, head of the KTU Architecture and Urbanism Research Center, reminds us that Lithuanians have chosen the USA as a destination for emigration since ancient times. After the Second World War, as many as 40 thousand Lithuanians came to North America, fleeing the repressions of the Soviet Union. Unlike the previous emigrants, they were war refugees.

“Along with the third wave of emigration, a number of architects who had already started their careers or studies in Lithuania came to North America. The acquired education did not guarantee opportunities for professional practice, so it was necessary to overcome not only the language barrier, but also to obtain local certificates that allow practicing as an architect. It was easier for the younger generation to establish themselves, who enrolled in higher education institutions in the USA or Canada,” says KTU docent.

According to him, the complex professional adaptation significantly contributed to the fact that the new arrivals sought orders primarily from the Lithuanian community, which also formed a political task for architecture – the newly constructed buildings had to contribute to the cultivation of national identity.

“The architecture had to serve not only as a recognizable and attractive place for the community to gather, but also to present the name of Lithuania to the world. It was hoped that the stylistically unique buildings built by Lithuanians would once again remind the world about Lithuania, which has its own culture, language, and history and whose statehood must be restored,” says V. Petrulis about the aspirations of expatriate architects.

The architectural style was influenced by faith

The architects who remained in Soviet Lithuania had to adapt to the realities of the occupation. Immediately after the Second World War, modern architecture, for which, as V. Petrulis reminds, the city of Kaunas in 2023. was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, changed by the Stalinist regime and its architecture.

“Later, it returned to modernism, but its economic version was created under the political slogan – cheaper, more, faster. More often than not, it meant worse. It is not surprising that the architects who left Lithuania felt the obligation to continue the Lithuanian architectural tradition, which was restricted under the conditions of the occupation,” adds KTU SAF docent.

Sharing the results of his research, V. Petrulis reveals that the formed architectural style of the Lithuanian diaspora was influenced by faith: “Most of the Lithuanian diaspora in the USA were Catholics, so it is not surprising that this generation of war refugees built churches, monasteries, and next to them – schools and cultural centers.” .

One of the most striking examples he singled out is in 1956. Chicago St. was built in the MarquettePark area. Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which reflects elements of neo-baroque and ethnic architecture.

“Perhaps the most original solution is the interpretation of Lithuanian wooden chapels in masonry construction. Monumental crowns inspired by wood carving raised on the towers are a unique sign of Lithuanianness, which cannot be found in the architecture of Lithuania or other countries”, the KTU researcher reveals the features of Lithuanian refugee architecture.

The architect adds that the Lithuanian identity is also reflected in the Jesuit Monastery and Youth Center complex in Chicago. According to him, the visual accent – a wall of colored bricks with the silhouette of Vytis does not allow us to doubt the purpose of the building.

Lithuanian emigrants were not the only ones who tried to cultivate their architecture in the USA – the Poles built churches with baroque towers, and in the Ukrainian town in Chicago, the churches were decorated with their typical domes. However, as V. Petrulis points out, the Lithuanians were the most inventive when looking for a unique architectural character.

A reminder of past mistakes

Although the original political purpose of the buildings designed in the Lithuanian diaspora is slowly fading, remembering the current affairs of today, the KTU researcher sees an even greater meaning in the evaluation and recognition of such heritage.

“Today, when the world is once again facing threats, the Lithuanian heritage takes on a new meaning. It is not only a reflection of the past, but also a reminder for the present and future generations,” says the KTU researcher.

As the concept of heritage has expanded in recent decades, it is no longer considered only a collection of the most beautiful or technologically impressive buildings, but also includes evidence of past processes. “Some testimonies reveal humanity’s creativity and progress, while others warn of mistakes,” says V. Petrulis.

Wars and their consequences are one of humanity’s biggest catastrophes, which are not only reminded of destroyed cities, concentration camps or mass graves, but also people’s attempts to survive.

“Being in exile and using creativity in order to send a message about the nation’s right to statehood, even through architectural means, is another significant story. Architecture full of Lithuanian symbolism is like a monument to the Cold War, which should concern not only Lithuanians, but also all of humanity,” the researcher is convinced.

In his own opinion, the legacy of refugees, only Lithuanians or other peoples in general, should be appreciated not only by society, but also included in the UNESCO world heritage list. As V. Petrulis explains, these buildings should be considered valuable not only by the community that created them, but also host country.

“The reception of refugees from Europe should be interpreted as an integral and significant part of American and Canadian history. In this way, this inheritance would become common”, the expert thinks.

Inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List would not only honor the memory of those who survived the trials of exile, but also remind humanity of past mistakes. “Unfortunately, war refugees and their fates in exile remain an actual problem in the 21st century,” says V. Petrulis.

The article “The Architectural Legacy of Lithuanians in the United States during the Post-World War II Era: A Monument to the Cold War” was published in Buildings 2023 magazine, issue 12 and is available here.