DESCRIPTION
The
particular landscape condition of the Nemunas Island and the urban presence of
the Naujamiestis and Aleksotas areas inspire an original and sensible sloped
typology for the Science Centre. Positioned in the heart of the island, the
building is shaped as an inviting podium that blends with the landscape in the
southern side of the location and raises up to become a landmark on the north
side facing the city. Therefore, the building adopts an iconic urban presence
from the side of the city, yet it functions as a modest extension of the
landscape and the public route from the side of the Park. Holding a central
location on the island, the outdoors exhibition spaces of the Science Centre
are fragmented and spread throughout its territory in order to create an
extended public network for the visitors and define its identity as a Science
Island.
The
Science Centre is designed as a spatial device that blends the urban and the
landscape qualities of the site by being housed under a large publicly
accessible sloping roof. The public gesture of the roof makes a strong
statement for the future of the island and at the same time it aspires to
become a strong meeting place and a platform of large scale activities for the
citizens of Kaunas. Expanding the boundaries of contemporary architecture and
building technologies, the Science Centre exhibition spaces are organized under
the roof in an open-plan and flexible continuous space with high ceilings, in
which both large objects can be exhibited and big public events can take place.
As a result, the building performs as a context and program-specific condenser
for science and technology, while at the same time it introduces a modest
landmark in the urban and architectural fabric of Kaunas.
The
program of the building is distributed in three large and two small floors
decreasing in size from the bottom to the top. On the ground floor, the visitor
can find the main entrance and the orientation hall on the north side, the
shops and retail spaces adjacent to the entrance and the cafe and restaurant
extending to the landscape on the western side. On the eastern side of the
ground floor there are located the loading bay and the exhibition preparation
spaces, a large freight elevator, toilets – whereas on the southern part are
located the back of house and the plant spaces organized in an efficient way. By
the use of the escalators of the entrance hall, the visitor can access the
first floor of the permanent galleries housing the three topics of the human,
nature and the machine. This floor is directly connected with the outdoors
exhibition spaces, the landscape and the public roof of the building through a
large bridge. On the second floor, the visitors can find the temporary
galleries and the event spaces, while enjoying direct views down to the
orientation hall and the permanent galleries. The third and forth reduced
floors offer panoramic views to the city and the landscape, while housing
office spaces and meeting rooms for both staff and visitors.
