AB “LIETUVOS GELEŽINKELIAI” building is located in the Naujamiestis part of the city Vilnius, in the territory of the Central Railway Station. The spaces of the building with a corridor structure are being reconstructed into an open-type office. The spaces of different functions are separated by different finishing materials, lighting solutions, and architectural volumes. Next to the building, a public space, Railway Park, is opened, where spaces for recreation, entertainment and education are installed. All this is for the residents and guests of the city. These spaces encourage community and openness.
| Location | Lithuania, Vilnius |
| Typology | Office |
| Floor area | 3 000 m2 |
| Year (transformation) | 1978 (2022) |
| Architects | DO ARCHITECTS |
| Transformation strategy | Transformation |
The work area is oriented towards the side of the railway tracks, where after removing the partitions between the offices, a long panoramic window is opened, framing the entire territory of the railway station. For maximum comfort, acoustic ceiling panels with linear lighting are installed, ensuring uniform lighting of workplaces. The main floor covering is a segmental carpet, but the lounge and kitchen areas are distinguished by natural wood parquet boards. Lighting in these areas is also solved using a grid of decorative spotlights. Boxes with toilets and meeting rooms are installed in the central parts of the floors. There are also integrated focus rooms for one or two employees. In the darkest part of the building – in the basement – there is a canteen, conference rooms and an amphitheater. The old reinforced concrete and metal structures of the building are exhibited in the interior, their imperfection is seen as an advantage. Also, paintings from the archives of the “LIETUVOS GELEŽINKELIAI” museum are exhibited.
TRANSFORMATION
There is no public space around the building.
Next to the building, a public space, Railway Park, is opened, where spaces for recreation, entertainment and education are installed. All this is for the residents and guests of the city. These spaces encourage community and openness.
Segregated workspaces with long dark corridor and opaque partitions doesn’t encourage collaboration among colleagues.
The spaces of the building with a corridor structure are being reconstructed into an open-type office. The spaces of different functions are separated by different finishing materials, lighting solutions, and architectural volumes.
The existing commonly used spaces discourage unintentional encounters, thus, office workers are not visible to each other.
The variety and the flexibility of common spaces create a democratic experience in the office spaces.
The office building doesn’t have comfortable common spaces for people to meet, discuss and exchange the ideas.
In the darkest part of the building – in the basement – there is a canteen, conference rooms and an amphitheater.
The lack of various spaces to work privately or in a group.
Boxes with toilets and meeting rooms are installed in the central parts of the floors. There are also integrated focus rooms for one or two employees.
The typical and cheap finishing of the inside spaces doesn’t create a comfy atmosphere to work.
For maximum comfort, acoustic ceiling panels with linear lighting are installed, ensuring uniform lighting of workplaces. The main floor covering is a segmental carpet, but the lounge and kitchen areas are distinguished by natural wood parquet boards. Lighting in these areas is also solved using a grid of decorative spotlights.
Project text provided by the project authors
Pictures by Lukas Jusas, DO ARCHITECTS