Residential Block In Paupys / Architektūros Linija

Architects: Architektūros linija
Area: 8000 m²
Year: 2020
Photographs: Norbert Tukaj, Ričardas Čerbulėnas
Manufacturers: AutoDesk, RHEINZINK, Wienerberger, Heliopolis, Marx
Lead Architect: Gintaras Čaikauskas
Engineering: JSC Statybos inžinierių konsultantų biuras
Landscape: Architektūros linija
Consultants: JSC Statybos inžinierių konsultantų biuras
Products Used in This Project: Zinc Roof Systems – Double Lock Standing Seam by RHEINZINK
Category: Apartments
Design Team: Virginija Venckūnienė, Vytenis Raugala, Faustas Lasys
Clients: Darnu Group
Collaborators: JSC Statybos inžinierių konsultantų biuras
City: Vilnius
Country: Lithuania

Residential Block in Paupys residential building designed by Architektūros linija in Vilnius, Lithuania has reinforced the link between urban form and local context through six distinct volumes arranged on a trapezoidal site next to the town square. Part of the Paupys revitalization, the layout follows traditional planning principles, with building masses shaping public space and a stepped height transition from the square to the river. The City House forms a continuous five-story facade with rectangular loggias, while the Garden House defines adjacent side paths with finer architectural expression. Along the Vilnius embankment, three 2–3 story buildings preserve open views, connecting the courtyard to the riverside. Facades use dark ceramics referencing the site’s industrial past, with varied windows and balcony treatments. Roofs alternate between tiles and galvanized copper tin, and engineering systems are housed in ventilated technical enclosures.

Residential block in paupys / architektūros linija

Traditional urban planning principles are linked to the creation of public spaces and the volumes that define them. This approach is embedded in the Paupys revitalization strategy, where streets and arcades leading toward Vilnius converge at the central square. Adjacent to this square, a residential quarter comprising six distinct volumes has been developed on a trapezoidal plot. The composition reflects contextual specifics: the building volumes gradually shrink and lower in height, forming a transition from the city square toward the River. Moreover, the residential quarter, made up of six separate volumes has been realized on a trapezoidal site beside the town square.

Architecture is always about people — and for people. One particularly meaningful project for me was a residential neighborhood in Paupys, Vilnius. It was developed by an incredible team and later recognized internationally — it was shortlisted at MIPIM in the Best Urban Project category. That kind of recognition is rewarding, but it’s the journey with the team that made it truly memorable.
Interview with Gintaras Čaikauskas, Faustas Lasys and Simonas Čaikauskas of Architektūros linija

The urban concept of the composition responds to the specific characteristics of the context: the building volumes diminish in height and scale, establishing a gradual transition from the city square to the river. The boundary of the public space is defined by the continuous and more rigid five-story facade of the City House, marked by prominent rectangular loggias. The side street on the block’s left and the pedestrian passage on the right are emphasized through the lighter, more delicate paving elements of the Garden House.

The buildings feature vertical facades with varied architectural expressions. Along the Vilnius embankment, three individual buildings of two to three stories have been designed with open visual gaps between them, creating visual continuity between the inner yard and the riverside. At the center of the inner courtyard is a children’s playground shaped like a stylized heart, around which pedestrian paths with irregular, curving forms have been laid out. Benches, lighting fixtures, trash bins, and other elements have been installed throughout the area. Ground-floor apartments are equipped with outdoor terraces bordered by planted hedges.

Access to the stairwells is available exclusively from the inner yard, which itself can be entered from all directions through four lockable gates. The vertical and horizontal surfaces across the quarter are finished primarily in dark-colored ceramics, evoking the industrial buildings that once occupied the site. The window arrangement features varied sizes, creating a visually dynamic composition, while balcony designs incorporate diverse decorative elements. Locations for outdoor air conditioning units are visually concealed within the facade. The roof of the City House is finished with tiles, whereas the other volumes feature galvanized copper tin roofing. Engineering systems are housed in dedicated ventilated technical enclosures. An underground parking facility extends beneath the entire residential block.