Cinema theater "Romuva"
(Survived
, k.k.v.r.
32115
)
<p style="text-align: justify;">The building for a cinema theatre in Laisvės avenue first came into being in 1940 only, right before Lithuania lost its independence. Before that, two wooden buildings, one- and two-storied, and warehouses were situated in the yard of the land plot that belonged to Gechtmann family; a brick building was facing the street. It was concluded in 1924 that the state of the objects was especially poor, and therefore they should be demolished. It was written in 1928 that the said buildings "are in such a state that they pose fire threat and they need to be demolished immediately, or otherwise it may lead to a terrible catastrophe". However, on 20 April 1929 the buildings still stood as they were, and the commission again concluded on their state of emergency: "they are in a state of collapse and pose the threat of fire because a number of wooden beams rest on furnaces". There was also a "brick one-storey building with mezzanine in the yard".</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In 1930, two brick buildings were mentioned, whereas in 1932 the land plot already belonged to Ipas family. In 1935, a project of one-storey brick warehouse with a garage was prepared. An approval for the construction of a concrete fence was issued the same year, which, as we can see in the project, was designed as an architecturally expressive city element. The technician J. Gastila is the author of both projects.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">As illustrated by the situational plan, there were two brick buildings and one wooden building, as well as several wooden warehouses in the land plot in 1937. Apparently, a brick warehouse with a garage was not built; wooden warehouses to be demolished were still marked on the site projected for construction. In 1938, Antanas Steikūnas and Petras Steikūnas bought the land plot, and on 29 December 1938 they submitted an application to Kaunas City Construction Commission for the construction of a cinema theatre. The estimated construction price was 200,000 litas. On 3 February 1939, a permit for the construction of a 687-seat cinema theatre was issued, and the cinema theatre was already built on 13 April 1940.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The layout structure of the building is dominated by slightly rounded shapes, which remind of the streamline aesthetics characteristic of the US cinema theatres at that time; nevertheless, there are certain hints to historical architecture in the interior (e.g. cornice). The modernity and contemporary trend of the building are even more highlighted by a turret underlining the glazed entrance, which had become one of the symbols of interwar architecture. A decorative entrance solution slightly reminds of the quests of the "national style" typical of the interwar period. However, the urban solution of the object was probably most important to the city. When the cinema building was retracted to the depth of the land plot, a small and cosy public space enlivening a perimeter distribution of buildings along Laisvės avenue in Kaunas was formed. It is interesting that the basement space was designed to accommodate the apartment for a security guard, thus reflecting the interwar tradition to design residential premises in public buildings. The first floor was adjusted to administrative and technical premises.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Vaidas Petrulis</em></p>
Adresas: Kauno m. sav., Kauno m., Laisvės al. 54
Architektūros tipas: Professional
Architektai: Nikolajus Mačiulskis
Metai: 1938
Laikotarpis: Interwar
Architektūros šakos: Architecture, Separate building, Culture/ Sport/ Leisure/ Other, Cinema
Medžiagos: Masonry (brick), Ferroconcrete
Nuotraukos: 21
Susiję objektai
Telšiai Žemaitė (Former M. Valančius) Gymnasium
Telšiai Žemaitė (Former M. Valančius) Gymnasium
1935 - 1936
Kaunas central post office
Kaunas central post office
1930 - 1932
Dormitory for the victims of war
Dormitory for the victims of war
1934 - 1935
Jonas Vileišis House in Kaunas
Jonas Vileišis House in Kaunas
1930
M. Bruskienė Residential House in Kaunas
M. Bruskienė Residential House in Kaunas
1932 - 1933
Kaunas County Municipality Palace
Kaunas County Municipality Palace
1932 - 1934
Borisas Goldbergas Residential House in Kaunas
Borisas Goldbergas Residential House in Kaunas
1937
Vatican Diplomatic Mission (Nunciature) in Kaunas
Vatican Diplomatic Mission (Nunciature) in Kaunas
1930 - 1931
Residential House of Artist A. Žmuidzinavičius
Residential House of Artist A. Žmuidzinavičius
1928
Apartment House of Company “Butas” in Kaunas
Apartment House of Company “Butas” in Kaunas
1931 - 1932
Antanas Gylys Hospital Building
Antanas Gylys Hospital Building
1932 - 1934
J. Papečkys Residential House in Kaunas
J. Papečkys Residential House in Kaunas
1937
Petras Mačiulis Residential House in Kaunas
Petras Mačiulis Residential House in Kaunas
1935 - 1936
Christ's Resurrection Church in Kaunas
Christ's Resurrection Church in Kaunas
1933 - 1940
Former Cinema „Pasaka“ in Kaunas
Former Cinema „Pasaka“ in Kaunas
1939 - 1940
Elementary School for Jewish Children in Kaunas
Elementary School for Jewish Children in Kaunas
1930 - 1931
Sports Hall in Kaunas
Sports Hall in Kaunas
1938 - 1939
Č. Pacevičius Villa
Č. Pacevičius Villa
1935
Residential House of Architect Stasys Kudokas
Residential House of Architect Stasys Kudokas
1937
Agriculture Bank in Kaunas (now KTU Central Administration Building)
Agriculture Bank in Kaunas (now KTU Central Administration Building)
1933 - 1935
Palace for Firefighters in Kaunas
Palace for Firefighters in Kaunas
1929 - 1930
Grigorijus Gumeniukas Residential House (Adapted to Kaunas 3rd Gymnasium)
Grigorijus Gumeniukas Residential House (Adapted to Kaunas 3rd Gymnasium)
1934 - 1935
Evangelical and Reformed Church in Kaunas
Evangelical and Reformed Church in Kaunas
1937 - 1947
Health Insurance Fund
Health Insurance Fund
1933 - 1935
The Palace of the Common Labourers in Kaunas
The Palace of the Common Labourers in Kaunas
1938 - 1939
Palace of Physical Education
Palace of Physical Education
1932 - 1934
Palace of Klaipeda Pedagogic Institute’s Sports and Gymnastics
Palace of Klaipeda Pedagogic Institute’s Sports and Gymnastics
1937 - 1938
Jews’ Bank in Kaunas
Jews’ Bank in Kaunas
1924 - 1925
“Metropolitain” Cinema Theatre
“Metropolitain” Cinema Theatre
1927 - 1928
Funicular of Žaliakalnis
Funicular of Žaliakalnis
1931
Elementary School (now Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium) in Kaunas
Elementary School (now Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium) in Kaunas
1931
Jonas and Gediminas Lapėnai Apartment House
Jonas and Gediminas Lapėnai Apartment House
1932
The headquarter of milk processing company "Pienocentras"
The headquarter of milk processing company "Pienocentras"
1931 - 1934
Commerce, Industry and Crafts palace
Commerce, Industry and Crafts palace
1937 - 1939
A garage of Amerikos lietuvių prekybos akcinė bendrovė company
A garage of Amerikos lietuvių prekybos akcinė bendrovė company
1929 - 1932
Office of the Bank of Lithuania in Kėdaniai
Office of the Bank of Lithuania in Kėdaniai
1931 - 1932
The Palace of the Bank of Lithuania in Panevėžys
The Palace of the Bank of Lithuania in Panevėžys
1937 - 1938
Office of Former Insurance Company Lloyd
Office of Former Insurance Company Lloyd
1938
Simonas Volpertas Private Clinic in Šiauliai
Simonas Volpertas Private Clinic in Šiauliai
1930
Former Frida Arkusienė Residential House
Former Frida Arkusienė Residential House
1939
Gymnasium named after Petras Vileišis in Pasvalys (former School of Commerce)
Gymnasium named after Petras Vileišis in Pasvalys (former School of Commerce)
1933 - 1935
Residential Houses at 83 and 85 Laisvės Av. in Kaunas
Residential Houses at 83 and 85 Laisvės Av. in Kaunas
1931 - 1940
A project for Culture House in Kudirkos Naumiestis
A project for Culture House in Kudirkos Naumiestis
1939
Draft project for the Mother and Child Museum in Kaunas
Draft project for the Mother and Child Museum in Kaunas
1938
Draft project for the Adelė and Paulius Galauniai House
Draft project for the Adelė and Paulius Galauniai House
1930
Jewish Gymnasium in Kaunas
Jewish Gymnasium in Kaunas
1931
Telšiai St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Telšiai St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
1935 - 1937
Kaunas Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Kaunas Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
1935 - 1938
Raseiniai Old Post Office
Raseiniai Old Post Office
1933 - 1934
House of Vladas Stankūnas in Kaunas, Savanoriu av. 58
House of Vladas Stankūnas in Kaunas, Savanoriu av. 58
1934
Kaunas German Upper Exact Sciences Gymnasium (now A. Puškinas Gymnasium)
Kaunas German Upper Exact Sciences Gymnasium (now A. Puškinas Gymnasium)
1923 - 1930
Juozas Daugirdas Apartment House
Juozas Daugirdas Apartment House
1930
House in Kaunas at 4 L. Sapiegos St.
House in Kaunas at 4 L. Sapiegos St.
1935
P. J. Krasauskas Residential House
P. J. Krasauskas Residential House
1938
Hospital in Šakiai
Hospital in Šakiai
1933 - 1937
Museum of Samogitians "Alka"
Museum of Samogitians "Alka"
1936 - 1941
Gymnasium in Kėdainiai
Gymnasium in Kėdainiai
1935 - 1944
Villa "Šilelis"
Villa "Šilelis"
1938 - 1939
Villa in Naglis st. 8
Villa in Naglis st. 8
Residential house of Lidija Vaišvilienė and Olimpija Balsienė
Residential house of Lidija Vaišvilienė and Olimpija Balsienė
1939
Meilach Melamed house in kaunas
Meilach Melamed house in kaunas
1938 - 1939
House of Janina Rožanskienė
House of Janina Rožanskienė
1939
House of Dumbriai in Ukmergė
House of Dumbriai in Ukmergė
1933
Church in Biliakiemis
Church in Biliakiemis
1937 - 1940
Lithuanian Riflemen's Union house in Utena
Lithuanian Riflemen's Union house in Utena
1933
Mausha and Nathan Feinberg‘s house
Mausha and Nathan Feinberg‘s house
1929
House of Lionginas Junknevičius
House of Lionginas Junknevičius
1937
Meat Processing and Bacon Factory of “Maistas” company in Tauragė
Meat Processing and Bacon Factory of “Maistas” company in Tauragė
1931 - 1932
Former Petras Araminas primary school in Marijampolė
Former Petras Araminas primary school in Marijampolė
1934
Primary School in Alytus
Primary School in Alytus
1937
Branch of Lithuanian Bank in Biržai
Branch of Lithuanian Bank in Biržai
1934
Railway station in Plungė
Railway station in Plungė
1931 - 1932
Health Insurance Fund in Panevėžys
Health Insurance Fund in Panevėžys
1936 - 1937
Building of the Panevėžys District Municipality
Building of the Panevėžys District Municipality
1933
Former house of notary Jonas Dikinis in Raseiniai
Former house of notary Jonas Dikinis in Raseiniai
1933 - 1936
Former bus station in Raseiniai
Former bus station in Raseiniai
Raseiniai Primary School
Raseiniai Primary School
1933
House built by Teresė and Mykolas Narbutai
House built by Teresė and Mykolas Narbutai
1932
Kėdainiai County Municipal Hospital
Kėdainiai County Municipal Hospital
1935 - 1937
House built by Uršulė and Zigmas Starkai
House built by Uršulė and Zigmas Starkai
1933 - 1937
Primary school in Palemonas
Primary school in Palemonas
1935 - 1937
Former house of Zofija and Leonas Skukauskas
Former house of Zofija and Leonas Skukauskas
1931
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The building for a cinema theatre in Laisvės avenue first came into being in 1940 only, right before Lithuania lost its independence. Before that, two wooden buildings, one- and two-storied, and warehouses were situated in the yard of the land plot that belonged to Gechtmann family; a brick building was facing the street. It was concluded in 1924 that the state of the objects was especially poor, and therefore they should be demolished. It was written in 1928 that the said buildings "are in such a state that they pose fire threat and they need to be demolished immediately, or otherwise it may lead to a terrible catastrophe". However, on 20 April 1929 the buildings still stood as they were, and the commission again concluded on their state of emergency: "they are in a state of collapse and pose the threat of fire because a number of wooden beams rest on furnaces". There was also a "brick one-storey building with mezzanine in the yard".


In 1930, two brick buildings were mentioned, whereas in 1932 the land plot already belonged to Ipas family. In 1935, a project of one-storey brick warehouse with a garage was prepared. An approval for the construction of a concrete fence was issued the same year, which, as we can see in the project, was designed as an architecturally expressive city element. The technician J. Gastila is the author of both projects.


As illustrated by the situational plan, there were two brick buildings and one wooden building, as well as several wooden warehouses in the land plot in 1937. Apparently, a brick warehouse with a garage was not built; wooden warehouses to be demolished were still marked on the site projected for construction. In 1938, Antanas Steikūnas and Petras Steikūnas bought the land plot, and on 29 December 1938 they submitted an application to Kaunas City Construction Commission for the construction of a cinema theatre. The estimated construction price was 200,000 litas. On 3 February 1939, a permit for the construction of a 687-seat cinema theatre was issued, and the cinema theatre was already built on 13 April 1940.


The layout structure of the building is dominated by slightly rounded shapes, which remind of the streamline aesthetics characteristic of the US cinema theatres at that time; nevertheless, there are certain hints to historical architecture in the interior (e.g. cornice). The modernity and contemporary trend of the building are even more highlighted by a turret underlining the glazed entrance, which had become one of the symbols of interwar architecture. A decorative entrance solution slightly reminds of the quests of the "national style" typical of the interwar period. However, the urban solution of the object was probably most important to the city. When the cinema building was retracted to the depth of the land plot, a small and cosy public space enlivening a perimeter distribution of buildings along Laisvės avenue in Kaunas was formed. It is interesting that the basement space was designed to accommodate the apartment for a security guard, thus reflecting the interwar tradition to design residential premises in public buildings. The first floor was adjusted to administrative and technical premises.


Vaidas Petrulis