Non-standard solutions
Darnu Group CEO Sigita Survilaitė-Mekionienė says that currently, the company has already sold three quarters– 413 – of all the apartments built in the area during the initial stages. Despite the challenges created by the pandemic, the conversion project, which is unique in scope and space, is nearing completion in line with its schedule.
“The living spaces in the final stages will be notable not only for their integration with nature and cosy environments in closed yards but also versatile offerings of residential space. These are some of the main tasks for Paupys – an organic conversion of the old area, complementing the existing part of Vilnius’ Old Town with solutions offered by contemporary architecture,” S. Survilaitė-Mekionienė notes.
All seven blocks were designed by famous and vastly experienced architectural bureaus. The sixth block was designed by architect Gustė Kančaitė’s Kančas Studija. The seventh block was designed by architect Andrius Juodpusis and the team at JP Architektūra.
According to A. Juodpusis, the apartments designed by him and his team will include ones with ceilings reaching up to 5.5 metres in height, but also homes with ‘loggias’ or windows throughout the entire height of the penthouse. To emphasise and making use of the location’s unique connection to nature, some of the homes were designed with terraces facing the Vilnia river.
“During the creative process, we primarily focused on the block’s spaces and how people will feel in them. It was later on that we ‘dressed’ the buildings, formed balconies and terraces in the volumes, exploring whether most of them will feature a view of the Vilnia River. This block will certainly be unique with its large terraces, which will be clearly defined in architectural language and facing the river. I believe that to a significant extent, they will become a recognisable ‘face’ of this part of the city,” A. Juodpusis predicts.
G. Kančaitė, who created the sixth stage of the project, says that she and her team believe that this block will be as if rising up upon its historical roots.
“While seeking historical and urbanistic contextuality, through the building ensemble we created, we continued the historically emerged perimetrical spacing character, and through a new language reflected the former industrial architecture. In an interpretation of the theme, we livened up the facades with various tectonic protrusions, we made the sloping rooves into ‘flying’ ones, and the former historic building construction’s arches were transferred to the complex’s facades, turning them into an essential ‘character key’,” the architect explains.
Expected completion
During these stages, the constructed buildings will be of class A energy efficiency, they will feature CCTV cameras, and the apartments will have heated floors. The new apartments will be sized from 25 to 160 square metres, with prices starting at 2,490 euros.
The sixth stage of the project will be comprised of the building developed at Aukštaičiai str. 7, where 182 apartments, commercial spaces and underground car parking will be built by the company Naresta. Same as in the already completing blocks, here you can also find closed yards with recreational zones, and each one of them will turn into a unique open-air art gallery. For the development of this stage, Darnu Group has allocated 27.5 million euros.
The seventh stage of the Paupys area will be comprised of the new concept block developing in the Paupys str. 50 and Aukštaičiai str. 19 plots, where spaces for commercial and public activities will be created next to residential buildings, and beneath the ground, there will be a spacious car parking lot. The first part of the block began construction in 2019, with the contractor for this stage being UAB Baltijos Pašvaistė, with the second part of the stage being implemented by the company Mitnija.
The seventh stage is due to have 162 apartments, as well as commercial and public spaces. Darnu Group is allocating 32 million euros for this.
The Paupys conversion into a multi-functional area is part of the 2010-2020 Vilnius city municipality’s strategic plan Architecture Park project, which aims to restore the historic territory between river Vilnia, Maironis, Subačius and Pavilnys streets through separate stages, moving out the industrial companies that were located there previously, and integrating the location into a continuous city architecture context.
In total, Darnu Group is investing over 150 million euros into the Paupys area’s conversion project. The construction works in the area are due to be completed in 2022.
