A unique place in Vilnius that must be preserved – and without delay, because the district is changing rapidly

“Medinės Šnipiškės is a unique place in Vilnius that we want to help preserve. And we have to do it without delay, because this district is rapidly changing, – said Živilė Ratavičiūtė, the chief specialist of the Cultural Heritage Protection Department of the Vilnius City Municipality. – It is important to measure those trees that do not individually have exceptional architectural value, because the uniqueness of this place is not created by individual buildings, but by the whole of wooden buildings.”

Wooden buildings are preferred, but valuable masonry structures will also be able to be measured. Residents of Šnipiškii are invited to register for photogrammetric measurements, e-mail Mr. [email protected].

The participation of residents is not necessary during the measurement, as only the exterior of the buildings will be recorded. Measurements are free, and their data will be available to residents. “I really suggest that residents take advantage of this opportunity. Even if the owners do not plan to restore their buildings in the near future, they will have to carry out such measurements themselves if necessary. And during that time, the valuable properties of wooden buildings can be lost,” says the specialist.

Specialists of the company “ID Vilnius”, after receiving the consent of the owners, take photos of wooden and brick buildings with drones, and perform photogrammetric measurements of their exterior. Measurements are important in the preparation of building surveys and management projects, they provide an opportunity to restore buildings more easily, efficiently and at lower costs or restore what was lost due to fire or other circumstances.

Photogrammetric measurements of wooden buildings are carried out in order to implement the strategy for the protection of wooden architectural heritage and to supplement the funds of the Museum of Wooden City Architecture.

The last value inventory of Šnipiškii buildings was carried out twenty years ago. Since then, the area has undergone many changes.

After updating the data, it will be possible to more accurately determine the valuable features of the part of the cultural heritage area Šnipiškės, which is called Skansen, and the people of Šnipiškės themselves – wooden Šnipiškės, and specify the boundaries of this area.