Russian Gymnasium in Kaunas (now Kaunas Teacher Training Centre)
(Survived
)
<p style="text-align: justify;">Ever since its establishment in 1847, Kaunas (Carmelites) cemetery became an important urban example of multiculturalism — “the cemetery was divided into three large areas: the Southern was given to Orthodox Christians, the middle (the largest one) — to Catholics, and the Northern — to Evangelical Lutherans [Germans]; the latter had a small piece of land devoted to Muslims”. During the interwar period the cultural value of this territory definitely increased, as Tatars built a mosque on their piece of land and Germans — a gymnasium on theirs. In 1925 Orthodox Christians also built a gymnasium, complemented by Revelation Church in 1935. Nevertheless, “near the gymnasium there were several wooden buildings: Russian elementary school, priest’s house, two-story student dormitory and a shop”. Interesting fact, Polish Adomas Mickevičius Gymnasium was opened on the other side of Vytautas Avenue in 1931. Across the cemetery, on Trakai Street, a modern elementary school for Lithuanian children was built in 1929.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Kaunas Mokslas Ir Šviesa teacher society’s gymnasium building was one of the most magnificent educational objects in Kaunas during the first decade of the independence. “The attempt was to give it a romantic tone. The southern face of the building is accentuated by Neo-Russian style decor (faceted rustication, reliefs), cilindrical-shaped avant-corps on the back end are topped by embattled parapets picked up from Russian defensive architecture.” Although the building gives away a historical look, the functional layout of the school draws our attention to unusually wide corridors on both floors, referred to as the “recreational hall”. Hence, although the layout can hardly be called rational, it allowed having bright and open spaces which at that time was perceived as a clear sign of modernity.  </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Vaidas Petrulis</em></p>
Adresas: Kauno m. sav., Kauno m., Vytauto pr. 44
Architektūros tipas: Professional
Architektai: Aleksandras Gordevičius
Metai: 1925
Laikotarpis: Interwar
Architektūros šakos: Separate building, Education, Gymnasium
Medžiagos: Masonry (brick)
Nuotraukos: 11
Susiję objektai
Jonas Vileišis House in Kaunas
Jonas Vileišis House in Kaunas
1930
Bank Employee Residential House in Kaunas
Bank Employee Residential House in Kaunas
1925
Office of the Bank of Lithuania in Kaunas
Office of the Bank of Lithuania in Kaunas
1924 - 1927
Hotel "Lietuva" in Kaunas
Hotel "Lietuva" in Kaunas
1925
Kaunas Art school
Kaunas Art school
1922
Jews’ Bank in Kaunas
Jews’ Bank in Kaunas
1924 - 1925
State Insurance Company
State Insurance Company
1932
VMU Institute of Physics and Chemistry
VMU Institute of Physics and Chemistry
1925 - 1932
Kaunas Metropolitan seminary reconstruction
Kaunas Metropolitan seminary reconstruction
1928 - 1930
Former Gymnasium named after Adomas Mickevičius
Former Gymnasium named after Adomas Mickevičius
1928 - 1931
Blessed Virgin Mary's Assumption to Heaven Church in Palanga
Blessed Virgin Mary's Assumption to Heaven Church in Palanga
1897 - 1907
House of architect Feliksas Vizbaras in Kaunas
House of architect Feliksas Vizbaras in Kaunas
Jewish gymnasium in Panevėžys
Jewish gymnasium in Panevėžys
1927 - 1928
House built by Teresė and Mykolas Narbutai
House built by Teresė and Mykolas Narbutai
1932
House built by Romanas Polovinskas, Italian envoy
House built by Romanas Polovinskas, Italian envoy
1926 - 1927
1 15

Ever since its establishment in 1847, Kaunas (Carmelites) cemetery became an important urban example of multiculturalism — “the cemetery was divided into three large areas: the Southern was given to Orthodox Christians, the middle (the largest one) — to Catholics, and the Northern — to Evangelical Lutherans [Germans]; the latter had a small piece of land devoted to Muslims”. During the interwar period the cultural value of this territory definitely increased, as Tatars built a mosque on their piece of land and Germans — a gymnasium on theirs. In 1925 Orthodox Christians also built a gymnasium, complemented by Revelation Church in 1935. Nevertheless, “near the gymnasium there were several wooden buildings: Russian elementary school, priest’s house, two-story student dormitory and a shop”. Interesting fact, Polish Adomas Mickevičius Gymnasium was opened on the other side of Vytautas Avenue in 1931. Across the cemetery, on Trakai Street, a modern elementary school for Lithuanian children was built in 1929.


Kaunas Mokslas Ir Šviesa teacher society’s gymnasium building was one of the most magnificent educational objects in Kaunas during the first decade of the independence. “The attempt was to give it a romantic tone. The southern face of the building is accentuated by Neo-Russian style decor (faceted rustication, reliefs), cilindrical-shaped avant-corps on the back end are topped by embattled parapets picked up from Russian defensive architecture.” Although the building gives away a historical look, the functional layout of the school draws our attention to unusually wide corridors on both floors, referred to as the “recreational hall”. Hence, although the layout can hardly be called rational, it allowed having bright and open spaces which at that time was perceived as a clear sign of modernity.  


Vaidas Petrulis


Russian Gymnasium. Author of photography unknown, from Lithuanian central state archive.
Russian Gymnasium. Author of photography unknown, from Lithuanian central state archive.
Russian Gymnasium. Photo by V. Petrulis, 2016.
Russian Gymnasium. Photo by V. Petrulis, 2016.
Project. From Lithuanian central state archive.
Project. From Lithuanian central state archive.
Project. From Lithuanian central state archive.
Project. From Lithuanian central state archive.
Project. From Lithuanian central state archive.
Project. From Lithuanian central state archive.
Project. From Lithuanian central state archive.
Project. From Lithuanian central state archive.
Project. From Lithuanian central state archive.
Project. From Lithuanian central state archive.
Front fascade. Photo by V. Petrulis, 2012.
Front fascade. Photo by V. Petrulis, 2012.
Fragment of fascade. Photo by V. Petrulis, 2006.
Fragment of fascade. Photo by V. Petrulis, 2006.
Side fascade. Photo by V. Petrulis, 2006.
Side fascade. Photo by V. Petrulis, 2006.
Back fascade. Photo by V. Petrulis, 2006.
Back fascade. Photo by V. Petrulis, 2006.