At the root of the built environment

At the heart of the Lithuanian Pavilion in the Church of Complesso dell’Ospedaletto, an uprooted tree stump stands as an open wound in the urban landscape. It begins a narrative of memory, nature, and transformation, questioning what is lost when development severs local roots. Around it, architectural models inspired by nearby green spaces show efforts to harmonize with the natural context. The journey ends in a white cube where an audiovisual installation evokes deep ties between nature, cities, and human creation. Gintaras Balčytis, curator of the Pavilion of Lithuania, is a well-known Lithuanian architect, honored with the most prestigious awards for architecture and art in Lithuania, and serves as a professor at Kaunas University of Technology. He is a founder of architecture and design studio Balčytis Studija based inKaunas, Lithuania and organizer of Kaunas Architecture Festival KAFe. Lives and works in Kaunas, Lithuania. The participation of Lithuania is promoted by the Architects Association of Lithuania and supported by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.

A large tree root welcomes visitors to the Lithuanian Pavilion at the Church of Ospedaletto. What role does it play in the narrative of the project?
As an architect, I consider the location where I design new buildings to be of the highest significance. The existing context and natural environment serve as a foundation in the design process: I critically observe and historically examine how the place has developed over centuries, containing lasting memories and a distinct, unique value inherent to the setting. In recent years, the rapid development and urban reconstructions in Lithuanian cities have led to the cutting down of many mature trees, dramatically transforming the urban landscape and local environment – one that residents had known for centuries – in a matter of days or weeks. A few years ago, an investor in the center of Vilnius (the capital city) cutdown a hundred-year-old oak tree in order to build several hundred square meters of additional apartments. This brutal act has sparked a massive wave of public protests in the city. People have an understanding that trees in urban areas are more than just an aesthetic concern. First and foremost, trees are linked to the historical perception and memory of the area, as well as the self-awareness of local residents and communities as active participants of this place. Therefore, when creating the concept for the exhibition, I thought that the story of this oak tree and its stump could capture the viewers’ attention and prompt them to consider the true essence of the natural environment, the impact of trees on climate change, and the relationship between people, wellbeing, and new architecture. In essence, the narrative conveyed centers on human and non-human relationships, which are expressed through architecture. The three elements of the Pavilion exhibition – tree roots, building models, and architectural video sequences set within a white cube – create a cohesive architectural narrative about how the spirit of place (genius loci) influences the development of new architecture. The questions we sought to answer: Can contemporary architecture foster empathy to help citizens cope with environmental changes caused by the fast pace of modern life and the loss of urban memory? Is genus loci still a value and one of the most essential factors in understanding and evaluating new architectural projects? What do we lose when we cut off the roots that sustain our lives?

To what extent does Archi / Tree / tecture fit into the debate raised by Carlo Ratti with Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective? And what specific and original contribution do you aim to offer?
Our exhibition highlights the ongoing destruction of trees in cities, the impact of architecture on climate change both locally and globally, and communities’ ongoing fight against corporate interests and conflicting issues. We believe that the answers to these challenges can be found in the architectural process, which involves architects, local communities, investors, and municipalities. The exhibition explores a harmonious, creative relationship in which the living tree becomes an active partner in architectural thinking. The tree is not just a motif, nor is it merely an inspiring source of ideas, but a co-creator that sustains the local ecosystem and preserves the spirit of the place, its memories, and community connections. Rooted in the specific trees growing on the plot and the lessons they offer to architects, this idea ties together the entire exhibition: architectural models, filmed stories, and an installation dedicated to a lost tree. Together, they tell the story One Place, One Solution. In short, the exhibition’s concept is to create added value by preserving existing ecosystems, avoiding destruction, and instead integrating them into new architecture. We believe these points suggest a direction for the future, not just in architecture but also in the public mindset. In this way, this idea responds to the prompt Natural. Artificial. Collective.

What role do you believe architects and contemporary architecture play today? Is the practice of architecture reflected in this Biennale, and if so, to what extent does this edition suggest new or alternative directions?
The role of architects is vital – not only in creating the environment, but also in the relationship between communities and architecture. Architects predict the future through their work – how they conceive and design today will determine how societies live in the future.What I stress here is not just thinking about architectural forms, but also about the values and ideas that will shape people‘s future lives. So, a lot depends on how architects perceive the environment – whether they want to preserve it and build upon it, or create a new narrative that is separate from the existing environment. In my view, contemporary architecture ack now ledges both paths, but the final outcome depends on the artistic quality of the architectural idea, the architect’s professionalism, and responsibility. Most of the Biennale exhibits address current issues, including climate change, sustainability, new materials, collaborative solutions, and the exploration of artificial intelligence. All these are essential and necessary aspects. Still, despite these many innovations, the primary criteria for evaluating architecture stay the same: the concept behind the design, the created space, light, and function remain the essential elements of architecture. In my opinion, the originality of the idea behind the work, respect for the existing environment, and an understanding of architectural traditions are becoming increasingly important for architects and the contemporary architecture they create. However, there is a lack of new creative ideas, and interpretations are often limited to those already seen before.

Tradition as responsibility and sustainable evolution: which indigenous elements can become contemporary and sustainable architectural languages?
Today, life and technological advances are changing very quickly, and the pace is tremendous. You no longer know what is real and what is just worthless glitter. Perhaps traditional things provide a certain sense of security? I have already noted that we are increasingly directing our attention to the naturally built environment and natural elements in architecture. In our pavilion, we also showcase buildings where the preservation of existing trees enabled architects to create innovative architecture in the 1960s, as well as in current and future projects. This confirms that the architect‘s responsibility and the preservation of the natural environment contribute to creating architectural projects of high artistic value, ensuring that true values remain relevant over time. One straight forward principle to follow is: maintaining and reinterpreting traditions is a reliable way to achieve good results. However, if architecture is art, it is not enough to limit oneself to evolution and interpretations. I believe that the primary and most crucial aspect of being an architect is having a strong sense of and understanding for the site, along with the ability to evaluate it accurately. In other words, if you know the genius loci of the location well, you can choose to continue the existing tradition, reinterpret it with the help of new available data and instruments, or create a new architectural narrative.

Natural space and built space: an equation that needs to be redefined. What new parameters are being considered?
The realities of today – including aggressive human activity, environmental pollution, global warming, climate change, and the destruction of the natural environment – likely leave us with no alternatives. Can new architecture (built space) exist without the surrounding natural environment? I think so. But can humans live without the natural environment? I don’t think so. Therefore, there is only one solution: the newly created space cannot ignore or destroy the existing natural environment; architecture must complement, rather than over shadow. This is what we aim to convey with our exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Featured image: © Gvidas Kovėra