Medžio Konstrukcijų Studijos Kaune
Studies On Wooden Constructions In Kaunas

Summary/Abstract: The prepared publication is intended for the initial systematization of the experience of applying wooden constructions in Lithuania. The paper deals with research conducted by the experts in the field from other countries. This part of material cultural heritage in Lithuania has been first introduced by the scholars from Scandinavia, Germany, Russia and partly Poland – the countries representing notable achievements looking into cultural and economic history. The produced works mainly focus on the forms of wooden constructions, the original decoration of different parts of the building, the plasticity of details, style and colours. Scant attention has been paid to structural solutions. More sophisticated and interesting wooden constructions of the local buildings (bridges, churches, synagogues, manors, etc.) were seriously deteriorated or possibly fictitious. The majority of analogical constructions found in the neighbouring countries were described earlier. Later, these investigations were properly completed by the graduates studying in Lithuania. However, they had to be thoroughly trained to become professionals. For this purpose, advanced study programs and first course books in Lithuanian were prepared. From a historical point of view, for the future, gained experience in overcoming earlier backwardness within a short period of time and intercepting valuable elements of European experience are the issues worth paying attention. This is the way of how young and promising graduates were trained. They were good enough at proceeding with works started by their teachers. In the post-war period, a large number of them became emigrants or exiles and lost the possibility of carrying on their works in Lithuania. A. Bistrickas, J. Paulauskas and other graduates from Vytautas Magnus University are those deserved for their significant accomplishments in the field of wooden constructions. They were also the teachers of several following generations of the future engineers. Algirdas Baltrušaitis, one of the graduates from Vytautas Magnus University started developing intensively a new stage in the field of wooden constructions and was probably the first associated professor of Kaunas University of Technology (former Kaunas Polytechnic Institute) who participated in the international conferences and suggested in-depth research on the development of wooden constructions. The introduced publication has been prepared with reference to his anniversary.

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