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A neighbourhood which is in line with the principles of new urbanism is one where all necessities are within a close reach by walking. There is a trend towards mixed-use developments where residents can work, play and sleep without leaving the neighbourhood. This is considered a sustainable urban planning practice, as it reduces the need to travel, cuts greenhouse gas emissions and promotes a sense of connection to the local community. Spatially disjointed activities in cities make long daily commutes inevitable, however would the residents' behaviour change if such activities were available nearby? This paper puts the new urbanism ideas to test using a case study of a neighbourhood in Vilnius. It examines the extent to which the planning of the neighbourhood creates the necessary conditions for local living, by assessing the local accessibility of services, walkability, and mixed-use zoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important factors, functionally diverse local centres, being in a proper location, are the ones that have an impact on urban functioning. The paper aims to reveal some issues concerning the location and role of local centres in Vilnius. The general purpose of the paper is to introduce the results of case study of the urban structure of Vilnius which were obtained during the internship at the enterprise "Space Syntax Limited". Space syntax is a method for the analysis of spatial structure used in the fields of architecture, urban design and planning and based on the geometrical representation of the spatial pattern. It aims to reveal the effects of spatial layout on social and economic processes in a city. Using space syntax techniques, a spatial accessibility model of Vilnius was created. The measured spatial accessibility values show the importance of spatial features to the formation of local centres in strategic locations as well as their potential vitality and viability. The model of Vilnius created and the results achieved provide for continuing the study at the level of urban blocks which constitute local centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to describe the main principles of the methodology of preparing the first part of Ukmergė Master Plan, evaluating existing situation, and to encourage other planners to present and share this experience. The analysis of urban structure, balance of land use, occupation, street network and categories is given in the paper as well as its influence on possible economic and urban development of the town, estimation of need and possibilities to manage it. As a result of this analysis, specific Ukmergė urban development problems which could be solved by using new planning ideology - a long-term strategy, continuous recommendatory comprehensive planning, implementation (design) projects, evaluation methodology, education of society and politicians and new planning implementation law - are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with Lithuanian urban planning system problematic areas: sef-contained spontaneous processes - spontaneous mutation and forced mutation determined by planned and free market economy. In Vilnius city's central part the dynamics of functional mutations was stimulated by the foundation of innovative centers. The study of relative change in the functions carried out by urban research methodology reveals functional change and factors causing the mutations. The paper discusses the trends of urban functions. The purpose of the paper is to reveal the factors causing mutations of urban functions and possibilities of their research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the issue of high-rise building development and problems related to the formation of city development vision in today's Lithuania. The analysis focuses on the possibilities and problems arising in the process of developing the Special Plan of high-rise building arrangement in Klaipėda and in the formation of the visual image of Klaipėda city. The methodology of this Plan is discussed in two papers by the author. The first paper discussed two initial phases of the Plan preparation: the existing status of Klaipėda city and search for a conception of high-rise building arrangement. The present paper touches upon two further preparation phases: specification of solutions and assessment of their impact from various perspectives. City territories are assessed by the following aspects: forecasted development of the morphostructure buildup in the city's structural elements, forecasted development of the perspective background high-rise of the city's structural elements and specification of development of high-rise construction in the urban structure. This paper presents the results of the Special Plan of high-rise building arrangement. It also provides assessment of the impact of the solutions of high-rise building arrangement on the city's visual image as viewed from specified public viewing points as well as the impact on the general development of the city's silhouette and panoramas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the end of the 18th c, Vilnius city planning conceptions and their realization start demonstrating strong features of rational city structure formation manifesting themselves in the composition based on strict geometry and developed at the level of the entire city. The paper discusses how the classicistic urban formation ideas show themselves in Vilnius city planning conceptions of the end of the 18th c-19th c and tries to highlight some features of realization of the conceptions based on these ideas. The first part of the paper deals with classicistic planning conceptions of Vilnius city and the sociocultural context of their preparation. The second part investigates spread of artistic ideas of Classicism in Vilnius city planning conceptions referring to analysis of combinations of geometric forms. The third part studies how much the newly-adapted urban forms confront with function in conceptions and their realization. Generalizations maintain that rationality and universality are the most distinct features in Vilnius city planning conceptions of the period under consideration. In city formation, classicistic rationalization manifests itself in a strict planned composition, whereas classicistic universality shows itself in application of a standardized colonial city scheme. The most distinct transformations are found in the conceptions of the tsarist period that include strong, although formal city development through transformation of the available city parts, joining of the developed outskirts with the city territory and providing them with the features of the city being transformed as well as planning new city parts in free areas. In the process of planning different city parts, the same set of composition formation tools is applied. Analysis of three objects, i.e. straight lines, intersections thereof and figures formed by them, demonstrates that application of these forms during the tsarist period is confined to quite a minimum quantity of combinations. Usually, an (ir)regular rectangular scheme of a street network is applied. In application of combinations of straight lines, the following three cases are possible: (a) a straight line is applied as an aesthetic measure to solve just aesthetic tasks; (b) a straight line is applied to solve just functional tasks, when an aesthetic aspect remains secondary; (c) a straight line is adapted in compliance with aesthetics and functionality balance, i.e. "aesthetical function". In some places, analysis of realization of city planning conceptions shows a gap between aesthetics and functionality (case "a"), where a paradox of non-universality of classicistic universal or irrationality of rationality is hidden when universal as a rational functional scheme denies itself due to its non-functionality applying rationalized aesthetics by formal tools in a particular context. A few reasons of non-realisation of the conceptions under consideration may be distinguished: (a) private property impeding realization of general urban visions; (b) absence of motivation for actual city development; (c) incompliance of plans with actual topographic basics; (d) resistance of population to irrational change of an urbanistic network. Most likely, this is the active participation of residents in the process of planning and correction thereof that helped to avoid tsarist contradictions between aesthetics and functionality found in Vilnius plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with issues of high-rise building development and contemporary problems related to the formation of city development vision in Lithuania. The analysis focuses on the possibilities and problems arising in the process of developing the Special Plan of high-rise building arrangement in Klaipėda in the formation of the visual image of the city. The methodology of this Plan is discussed by the author in two papers. The present paper is the first one and analyses two stages of the plan development. The first stage is the analysis of the current situation in Klaipėda and possibilities to introduce high-rise buildings into the city morphostructure. This stage comprises 7 aspects: evaluation of the territory development from the point of view of investment possibilities; historical development of the city structure; hierarchy of values of preserved territories; analysis of the territory planning documents regulating townscape formation; evaluation of visual peculiarities; definition of visual identity zones, analysis and evaluation of important mass view points as well as evolvents of views seen from them. The second stage of developing the Special Plan constitutes efforts to define the conception of high-rise buildings arrangement on a city scale, central part scale and old-town scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of democratic society development principles, the origin of the effect of different social groups on the territory development process, its historic sources, professional and emotional relationship with aesthetic city image formation, urban process development are discussed in the paper. Economic, social, political and other informal effect (IfE) consequences in urban development are analysed. Internal social relationship of modes of living in urbanized territories, effects of development planning on the above-mentioned processes are revealed. The paper is based on the author's practical experience, observations and analysis of archives. Statistical data used, answers received through interviews enabled us to draw objective conclusions about the influence of non-governmental public organisations (NGO) on urban development processes in Lithuania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of city's cultural function is discussed in the paper. Different methodological premises modelling the concept contours are considered. The paper discusses three problematic aspects of contemporary urban design: alternations of the city concept, the shopping phenomenon and the dimension of attraction. Factors and strategies, such as urban regeneration, creative industries and public space architecture, ensuring efficient urban structure development, are analysed. On the basis of the principles of monadology the nomenclature of object elements is proposed, and conclusions are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with and emphasizes the problem of changing the identity of Vilnius as a unique place in the theoretical discourse of spatial morphology. Within the globalized context of contemporary urban development, the issue of Vilnius centre formation is revealed and identified as contradictory in the aspect of space morphology. The author analyses how newly-formed spatial structures influence the visual-mental perception of the city and spatial morphology. The present condition of Vilnius centre development is defined in the paper as that influencing the local identity crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the problems of brownfield in Lithuania. The paper overviews Lithuanian and foreign experience of integrating the introduced areas into the urban framework based on social, economic, ecological and cultural contextuality. The main problem, on Lithuanian scale, is the absence of an official definition of urban brownfield. The legal framework in Lithuania does not contain any provisions to be processed. The article is aimed at identifying potential threats to the areas in respect of criteria for urban brownfields, and, according to this review, at revealing possible uses of this land. One of the most effective ways of urban sustainable development is the conversion of former military, industrial and other land accepted as the legacy of the Soviet regime. The authors have established a causal relationship resulting in the emergence of the urban areas of wilderness and developed guidance on using them. The authors have analysed and evaluated the existing real estate developers and current trends towards opportunities for private and public partnership (PPP) in Lithuania. Although PPP is widespread in most of European countries, it is a rare phenomenon in Lithuania, and has no deep-rooted tradition of this kind of investment in urban infrastructure; however, evaluation is one of the most potential ways to revitalize abandoned urban territories. Based on practices of foreign countries, the authors have identified PPP as a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our country has so far not given sufficient attention to the sphere of landscape planning, particularly its methodology. There are still some traditions to avoid and ignore (such as urban planning, engineering planning) or unreasonably restrict the use (such as landscape architecture, forestry, land use) of the "landscape" term, even confuse landscape with the natural environment or plantations, which is especially evident in the field of spatial planning. Therefore unavoidable are such undesirable phenomena as uncoordinated wandering through various options for the landscape concept, lack of effective landscape planning methodology, insufficient integration of landscape planning in an integrated spatial planning, prolonged agony of special landscape planning, flawed methodological as well as legal landscape planning and landscape design churning. Cultural landscape is usually called Home of Nation, its living environment, therefore, for the state and society arises an obligation to develop a variety of ways to use and protect the landscape and to ensure that all types of landscapes are formed from the principles of sustainable and balanced development and would become a quality result of coexistence of human and natural environment, satisfying requirements for residential, work, leisure and environmental quality. Cultural landscape structure optimization guidelines and criteria for the national planning system are recommended to be determined using a paradigm system of landscape forming that comprises: 1) Sustainable and balanced development paradigm, 2) Geographical landscape forming paradigm, 3) Architectural landscape forming paradigm, 4) Cultural landscape structure optimality paradigm, 5) Cultural landscape forming process optimality paradigm. The land management oriented sustainable and balanced development paradigm should be understood as development of society and its activities that includes: 1) assessment of the needs of future generations, 2) compatibility of all currently available interests, 3) security of the priority of the public (community) interest. The third point of the recommended sustainable development paradigm is dictated by the realities of life, illustrating that personal interests do not express common ones guaranteeing the survival of civilization. The common interests cannot be left alone with increasingly destruction-tended individual who is immersed in the environment of growing consumption. On the other hand, it is appropriate to supplement this paradigm with an emphasis on the development of culture. Culture Factor in a modified sustainable development paradigm is seen as a particularly important securing balance of different interests and rationality of human activities. Thus, only the society of a certain high cultural level is capable of realizing sustainable development goals and objectives, what is clearly confirmed by the universal practice of land management. So, there can be the fourth point in this paradigm: 4) achievement of a high level of socio-economic and ecological culture. To summarize the methodological work experience, the following four methodological landscape concept plan directions can be given: 1) Environmental landscape management plan as a planning document, focusing on the various protected areas and buffer zones appointment, bio-ecological communication and geo-ecological stability and quality assurance; 2) Perceptual landscape management plan as a planning document that focuses on visual communication and information, and potential areas of aesthetic interpretation and regulation, environmental psycho-ecological quality; 3) Technocratic landscape management plan as a planning document, focusing on a variety of engineering management measures design, landscape structure fulfilling primarily the technological and economic interests of the formation; 4) Integrated landscape plan as a planning document that combines the above approaches, mainly the first and the second ones. The Lithuanian Landscape Planning System needs to be improved on the basis of integrating both the German (landscape plans are required for all land management sectors) and the UK (providing opportunities to develop a variety of specialized uses of landscape plans) experience in landscape planning and its organization. It is also necessary to separate the landscape planning and landscape design concepts and spheres. The proposed landscape planning system is presented in a special scheme (Figure). For landscape planning perspective it is appropriate to use the recommended outlook of landscape planning documents and content elements presented in the paper, expressing both the process and its results, and the improved benchmark model, i. e. proposals as they could be done in the best methodology. Finally, the Landscape Planning Policy of the Ministry of Environment not complying with the European Landscape Convention and EU attitudes must be changed in the ordinary version of the Territorial Planning Act so that our country would return to normal landscape planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper summarizes the results of geographic research into criminal events registered by police in Vilnius city in 2012. All registered events that amount to more than 20 000 have been localised by their street addresses and categorised by type. The authors propose a concentric criminality model where crime rates in correspondingly public sites, homes and other territories are influenced by the parameters of both society and urban environment that are dynamically related. Statistical grid maps showing relative criminality rates allow for making assumptions on the influence of diverse factors besides population density. They can also be used for prevention planning. Spatial analysis reveals dependence between relative criminality rate and constructive and morphometric characteristics of the territory that is in turn related with the specific social structures (urban communities) inside the city. Statistical grid maps can also be used for prevention planning. They show concentration of criminal activity in central and in densely populated areas, however impact of population density on crime rates is not as high as it could be expected - the correlation is only about 0.45. Crimes concentrate around some objects such as airport, railway station and some of the large shopping centres. It is likely that the major part of crimes can be explained by socio-demographic characteristics of different urban communities. Detailed results of the research are available for public view as a statistical grid at www.geoportal.lt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban rivers are highly disturbed ecosystems. Indeed, urban rivers have been dammed and sometimes buried. The aim was to reduce the risk of flooding and solve health problems due to water pollution. In the mid-20th century, many cities have turned banks into parking. Cities and rivers were therefore separated due to urban development. Since the 1960s and 1970s, the water policy was to build or upgrade the wastewater treatment plants and water treatment plants. In Europe and North America, however, the legislation has evolved over the last fifteen years for increased and overall protection of aquatic ecosystems. The hydromorphological river restoration is now a priority of the new water policy in Europe. This is why cities are experimenting with today's renaturation projects of urban rivers: both territorial marketing and sustainable development. This article defines the concept of renaturation. The paper also presents two case studies: Quebec in Canada and Lyon in France to evaluate the advantages and limitations of this concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithuania is not the only country where public contribution to urban planning and urban design processes is highly procedural and formalistic. Unidirectional and inflexible cooperation between participants of urban planning activities is common in various countries. Cross-purposes and conflict situations once boosted emergence of innovative and effective methods for decision making in urban planning processes in developed countries. Now it's time to learn from these examples and creatively adopt them for purposes of long-term optimization of our national urban planning system. Paper describes some marginal activities in urban planning and design processes and disputes a growing impact of public participation in development of cities and urban regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a part of the dissertation work "Urban dynamics of the Lithuanian seaside". This section covers the problems of Klaipėda urban development and assessment of new opportunities under the effect of globalization factors. Klaipėda is compared with the other Baltic seaports in order to investigate its potential for redevelopment and dynamics of the urban structure. The study reveals the most important trend of urban dynamics in the era of globalization - an integrated development of the seaport and city system. Common development of these structures allows to solve the problems of both port and city in the most efficient way. In such a context Klaipėda appears as a seaport city which is changing along the seaside contrary to the natural seaport life cycle. This contradiction occurs because of urban development which is complicated by natural factors, land shortage and difficulties in coordinating different interests of stakeholders. Klaipėda seaport could also be applicable for rational decision-making in the field of urban development. It could be implemented by applying the practice of the other Baltic seaports which is based on analysing the seaside efficiency, using new seaport development models and trends of systematic urban planning. On this basis Klaipėda should become an area of urban development with an integrated planning of the seaport and city system considering the relationship between these still little related parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses several issues related to the formation of new Lithuanian urban practice and theory in the rapidly developing urban environment. Resulting urban mutations and urban implications with problematic areas of contemporary cities are discussed. The authors identify the issues of undetermined and officially unacknowledged aspects and consequences, such as urban mutations, transformations and urban blight, by the inflexible Lithuanian urban planning system. The issue of inertia, lack of ability to adapt to a rapidly changing need of urban, economic fluctuations, and social change of organized development and planning are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remains of the fortifications of Kaunas Fortress represent nonutilized urban and architectural potential at various levels of Kaunas cityscape. Single fortifications and the whole Kaunas Fortress as a system are analysed in the paper within the context of Kaunas cityscape. Analysis is made from the following points of view: urban frame, natural frame, mental city image and four types of cultural symbols of the cityscape-text. Principal suggestions for utilization of the system of former fortifications in Kaunas are presented. The work could serve as a methodological example for similar investigations in other fortresses within urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses territory planning and land reform during the period of the independence of Lithuania since 1990. With the beginning of unplanned land restitution private land parcels were formed chaotically. These parcels were not adapted to any development prospects except farming. So proper planning of these parcels meant a new period of territory planning. An unproper legal system regulating private and state interests in territory planning resulted in such negative processes as fragmentation of farming lands, urban sprawl, unjustified expansion of urban lands. According to this situation, land reallocation principles are suggested that can help to combine private and state interests in the territory planning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses urgent problems of urban heritage assesment and treatment in Lithuania today. Contradictions in the system of listing, lack of fundamental investigations, indeterminate responsibility of authorities, inadequate role of local communities are revealed as the basic factors of low efficiency of urban heritage preservation. The most efficient means of urban heritage preservation are revealed in protected national and regional parks. Historic towns and villages of these areas remain more authentic than registered urban heritage sites in the other territories of Lithuania. The initiative of local administrations could also be considered as one of the most important factors in urban heritage preservation. Scandinavian experience in the protection of urban heritage reveals the importance of local inhabitants in the processes of historic town preservation. Recent international documents on cultural heritage protection and changes in the Lithuanian urban planning system enable perfection of urban heritage preservation. The launched reimbursement of expenses for restoration works in Lithuania shows positive changes in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The word "public" has two meanings in the Lithuanian language. It means "useful for society" and "overt" ("nonsecret"). Double- edged meaning of the category is not acceptable in the sphere of practical urban development, where decisions mean the distribution of goods among individuals as well as the distribution of goods among individuals and overall. In general it is not clear whether the development of the city should be only overt or whether it has also something to do with the interest of society, with the interest of the entire population of the city. The language peculiarities require a special approach of the legal system to the term. The Lithuanian legal system makes not very much in this direction, may be rather on the contrary it makes the term "public interest" even more misty. The Lithuanian Constitution mentions societal interest (requires to support useful for society economic activity), however, neither the Constitution nor the Law on Territory Planning describe what the category "society use" (societal interest) means. The Law does not see the difference a person and the entirety of city population. It says that the term "public" ("society") means one as well as more natural or legal persons. This situation has many sequences: the main question of the social system of the state is not clear; the basis of the mission of urban planning is not clear too; the principle of distribution of goods in urban development is not declared; the question of a legal goods distribution can hardly even be raised. The idea of a more precise legal definition of the term "public interest" is raised in the paper. The author thinks that the formula "public goods are goods that cannot be produced by an individual" can be a good basis for elaborating a legal definition of the category "public interest". It allows to divide clearly and logically overall and individual goods. It allows to see what concrete development proposals are useful for. It allows to show the logical place of urban planning in general: public interest in urban development should be the production of goods that cannot be produced by separate citizens; this production should also be accepted as the mission of urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formation of urban structures and systematic evaluation remain one of the most important problems causing reduction of planning efficiency. The main negative factors result from undeveloped and nonsystematic planning system. Formation of structures doesn't gain access to the circle of the greatest interests, comparing with land owners' and developers' interests to increase the variety and value of land use. Procedural participation of sectorial institutions assumes monopolistic and nonnegotiable character in the present practice, and political judgement is the only evaluation form existing in planning system and it doesn't guarantee objectiveness. Land use purposes, types and subtypes don't correlate with urban planning objectives, physical and functional variety of objects. Links between formation of urban structures and principles of land use classification, informational welfare, structure evaluation principles, development intentions as well as correlation of their significance alternation with evolution of communication and informational technologies are analysed in this paper. Suggestions for solving problems in urban structure formation are set forward: to liberalize and transfer comprehensive reasoning of land use types, forms and regulation to the planner's competence, considering that the forms, role and significance of urban structures are changing, and proceed to a qualitatively new systematic evaluation, based on city e-models and identification and monetarization of external effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the changing character of nation / state power and power relationships between state, regions and cities under the conditions of rapid grobalization and postfordist capitalism. European states, regions and cities sustain not only the pressure of globalizational factors and challenges, but they are the targets of Euro- integrational policy, especcially that of Euro- regionalization and urbanization. A part of state power is transmitted up to a supranational level and some part - down to regional and local levels, thus the authorities of a subnational level are empowered to act on their own account for good competitive positions in domestic and global markets. Some peculiarities of Lithuania' s transition to a capitalist system are highlighted and landmarks of urbanization are concidered. Attention is paid to Vilnius urban development from the point of view of European regional and urban development policy trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban Design and Planning, being a significant field of architect's professional activity, science and education, in the Lithuanian classificators of science (1998) and education (2001) is replaced by Land Management which is concerned with another field closely related to engineering management of rural territories. The paper discusses differences in the conception of these disciplines, and need of correcting the classificators is suggested with intention to create reasonable development conditions for the science and education of urban design and planning corresponding to those existing in the other EU countries. Some of the conceptions and incorrectly used concepts of the Law on Territory Planning requiring changes are indicated. It is stated that during 11-19 years an inadequate approach to a complex and socially urgent matter, related with culture, science and art, has brought the urban development of the country to a situation having evident attributes of chaos. Most damage is done to the architecture of towns, where the role of urban design activity, defining the conceptions of built-up morphostructure, urban complexes and the architecture of public spaces, is essential. Sustainable compositional development of a town defining its individual image and aesthetic attraction also depends on the qualification of a participating architect urbanist and his role in a team of planners. A model of positioning urban design and planning in the systematic conception of architect's professional activity, science and education as well as possibilities of supplementing the classificators are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until now and continuously in future communication problems in Vilnius will be caused by residents' mobility and chosen communication means as well as the way of living in urban structure, street network and other type of environment. Regulation (management) of such an entirety would be a clue for solving the problems. In nowadays discussions there are no mentions about such an entirety or tram/metro functional environment. Efforts to find proper development proportions of public and personal transportation systems are one of measures for real problem solution. With this purpose social and political communication system environment, flow de facto and transportation potency, mobility management and importance of urban structure were approached in this work in general and specifically for Vilnius case. Suggestions and arguments for tram system implementation are given in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the heritage of the Lithuanian architecture of the soviet period. It is stated that there is a certain amount of buildings with modernistic features in Lithuania which are unvalued and vanishing. Pecularities of the 20th century architecture are discussed in the work as well as complicated attitude to the heritage of the Lithuanian modernistic architecture and reasons of current situation. Comparing the former and present state of the Lithuanian modernistic architecture, the biggest transformations of its most peculiar buildings are described. A conclusion is drawn that a number of the 20 th century Lithuanian buildings are vanishing and should be acknowledged and preserved as historic architectural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of an environment and its legal basis should make a harmonious whole. However, to realize this idea is not so easy. It can be perceived in the Lithuanian legal regulations. The Lithuanian law gives two different definitions of landscape. It puts designers and planners into a contradictory situation. It is noty the only problem. The terms, used in the Law on Protected Territories (one of the laws, giving the definition) are relatively rare and unusual. The laws do not describe them. The Lithuanian laws do not describe even such an important term as "ecological balance". The task of design and planning of landscape is even more difficult when you try to understand the legal formulations of the tasks of landscape design and planning. All these features of laws open the possibility of different interpretations and discussions. They are especially active in planning practice. It is proposed in the paper to check the language of the laws and harmonize the Lithuanian regulations of landscape design and planning with the European Landscape Declaration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is dedicated to the residential housing development in Vilnius during the years of the Lithuanian independence. Interruption of the natural society development by the aggression of the soviet system has ruined the architectural and building traditions in the city. Economic nationalization and change of property ownership from private to state or public has made a big mess in the land and real estate ownership. On the other hand, many interesting public buildings, built in the soviet period, have lost their actuality and are intended to be sold to private investors. The market economy has money-based urban development rules, so survival of the soviet-period architecture is under a big question too with a great wish of new businessmen to change it into residential areas. New approach to the modern conception of residential architecture development is gradually turning into live reality in independed Lithuania . It will take some time while the new approach to of the architectural image will be turned into an additional price of real estate as an essential value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discuss the basic models of city's cultural function (CF) formed on the basis of cultural potential. It is analysed how they become an accumulative source of CF. According to the CF concept, which defines the term as the complex of places, objects and phenomena that expose in an urban structure as the reproduction of city's power, three basic model groups are educed: enclaves, institutions (cultural centers) and habitats (environments). The author proposes applied model strategy based on combination of historic world paradigms of cultural planning. The premise of urban-cultural framework is brought forward, and the outlines of its spatial and composite arrangement are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prospects of a new century urge us to reconsider the mental legacy of the past century: theories and practices of urban planning that came into existence in a certain intellectual climate and circumstances. The paper is an attempt to reconsider the rhetoric of rationality that manifested in urban design in the second half of the 20th century. Focusing on the legacy of the Greek architect, theorist and urban planner Constantinos A. Doxiadis as well as his relationship with the dominating ideas of his time, the author examines what were the sources of his concepts of entopia and ecumenopolis and in what aspects they are different from cyclical theory of city's growth, articulated by Lewis Mumford. The contexts in which ideology of progress gained strength resulted in the rise of belief of rational and globalising urban planning, introduced by Doxiadis' ekistics. It is shown that despite highly rational rhetoric and the use of scientific data, methods and procedures of research in planning the future global city, the final results were rather modest and limited, despite of the fact that the Greek urban planner succeeded in carrying a vast number of projects in several continents: the belief in the concept of progress faded away and attempts to "export" values of Western liberal democracy with the help of urban planning proved to be far less succesful than was initially intended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. In this paper norms of urban green areas formed by the order of the Ministry of Environment are presented. The current legislation of Lithuanian green areas as a component of urban structure is surveyed. Experience in norm formation for green areas is discussed. Classification of green areas is indicated (separate and dependant greenery). The main principles of normalization and allocation of green areas is introduced. It is proposed to normalize separate green areas, depending on the size of towns and health-resorts (big, middle-sized, small) and depending on their place in a green system (local, in a district or town). Also, it is proposed to calculate the area of dependant green areas as a portion (in percent) of the whole area of a land plot and according to land use of the plot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of city's cultural function (CF) is discussed in the paper. The author analyses the question of CF nominal values and their system. Cultural potential and its forms of expression in an urban sructure are evaluated on the basis of this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a wider overview of the territory (i e the object of territory planning) as a uniform whole the structure and condition of which depends on the course and consequences of self-sustaining processes. It also deals with the issue of society's ability to influence these processes as well as territory development and condition. It gives an analysis of territory structure and projections of self-sustaining natural and social processes. Theoretical statements are illustrated by investigation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declarations on sustainable urban development enforce analysis of the potential and resources of separate Lithuanian towns supplemented with significant improvements of recreational environment quality. People are under the influence of cultural and artistic values in an urban environment. Interaction problems between human beings and environment concern architects, psychologists, sociologists, doctors, artists. Their influence significantly increases in recreational environment. Recently in various Lithuanian towns and cities the quality of recreational environment has not only improved but, unfortunately, it has lost its important qualitative components. A piece of art in post-soviet urban space and in recreational environment is accepted ambiguously. Destruction of environmental values enforces search for planning or organizational means of spaces to reduce negative reaction. In this aspect experience in the West European culture of towns and cities is very important. In this work the author analyses the experience of some European cities in integrating artistic and cultural components into recreational spaces. Concrete suggestions for improving formation of recreational environment are given. The experience analysis of European cities allows to state that the Lithuanian urban recreational environment can be used much more effectively by using artistic means. The paper presents examples of recreational environment formation and suggestions on improving, evaluation and artistic value integration into environment. They could be very useful in planning urban recreational environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban solutions in Vilnius were mostly of a practical rather than aestethical character. After World War II architects of urban design, whose activity used to change substantly historically settled cities, became more active. In Lithuania the conception of heritage developed gradually lagging behind dominating European tendencies; therefore, Vilnius city has been strongly influenced by individual creative works. The most obvious materialized conception of that kind is the idea of "architectural hills". Currently this conception is widely criticized, and at the same time new restraints protecting the old town are set. These restraints often contradict the development of the city, which is inevitable bearing in mind the status of Vilnius city (the capital) and the size of administrated territory. Due to objective reasons political decisions and the activity of energetic private investors have a strong influence on the development of the city. In the chain an investor-administrator-professional there exists uneven proportion of participation thus spoiling the final result. The paper presents the main contradiction between the city development and heritage supporters and ways of solving it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive planning of towns and townships takes a wider scale in the country. Therefore, there appears an urgent need to revise or review some conceptions of planning methodology that should be accepted after various alternatives consideration. According to our opinion, a) classification of centres of a settlement system (towns and townships) requires self-determination and equal understanding which, from one side, should reflect more precisely the existing diversity of development between the centres and their functions and, from the other side, the rank granted to these centres should meet the EU criteria; b) the functional structure of towns and townships, reflected by diversity in the purpose of their territory use and its indefinite character during the process of residential area modernization which takes place under market conditions, forces to give upa detailed setting of plot purpose and look for a more universal model of land-use purpose specification which could be applicable not only for planning of rural agricultural territories but for urban planning of residential areas as well. Proposals presented in the paper (Tables 1 and 2) respect the systematic conception of settlement network, accepted in Lithuania and in the other EU countries and based on the hierarchy of elements and development dependency allowing application of sustainability and balance principles for the system element development. They are prepared taking into account new urban planning conceptions and reflecting the following factors: • changing business and production conditions as well as growing qualitative safety, service and ecological requirements for a residential environment; • increasing importance of economic factors and resulting need for a more rational land use and broader urban internal integration when developing public transportation and urban system for a common space use; • respect to stable urban structural elements of residential areas (urban framework) as well as to local cultural identity and historically formed compositional peculiarities; • advantages of the functional and social diversity and polycentric character of urban structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The questions of classification of urban green areas are discussed in the paper. Both the former and contemporary classifications are described; their weak and strong points are analyzed. On the basis of the mentioned analysis the new suggestions arc presented for improving urban greenery classification corresponding to the legal basis of territory planning. Necessity to prepare legal acts regulating urban greenery planning is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most Lithuanian towns developed spontaneously without any special authors' urban projects. Urban solutions in Vilnius were mainly of a practical rather than aesthetical character. After the World War II architects and urbanists whose work substantially changed historically formed towns, became more active. The conception of monument protection (heritage) in Lithuania varied gradually along with lagging behind the tendencies that dominated in Europe; therefore, the results of authors' works are conspicuous in Vilnius city. The most conspicuous realized conception is an idea of "architectural hills". Presently this realized conception is strongly criticized. Alongside new regulations that protect the Old Town are underdevelopment. These regulations often do not correspond to the development of the city which is unavoidable considering the status of Vilnius city (the capital) and the size of administrated territory. Contradictory opinions supporting urban development and heritage as well as ways of solving the problems are presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inevitability of combining the potential of the two greatest Lithuanian cities of Vilnius and Kaunas as the main „vertebra“ of the country's demographic and urban backbone was declared in the Master Plan of Lithuanian Territory Development adopted by the Seimas (Parliament) in the autumn of 2001. This qualitatively new approach on urban development is based on the teoretical and practical experience of modem world' s metropolitan areas. A survey of numerous statistic data, concerning existing situation in urban, life quality, economic and intellectual development of municipalities belonging to the territory of the above dipolis, is presented in the paper. Some of them are compared with the official data of the European Union. The author's emphasis is put on the inequalities of comprehensive development in various parts of this new combined urban unit. Inclusion of adjacent municipalities into the dipolis is one of the main preconditions of not only equalizing their situation but also improving in this way the development of the entire country, especially of its eastern part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An idea of the dipolis of Vilnius and Kaunas formation is under discussion in the paper with the aim to establish both a metropolitan and recognized centre on an international scale. The first step is completed, i e a strategic plan of the dipolis is prepared following the initiative of both cities' municipalities. This plan is contradictory and controversial. The objective is declared for the first time in order to form a system of factors which could turn the existing polycentric network of the Lithuanian cities to another direction, i e to the concentration of social, economic and demographical potentials. It is not acceptable because it will expand the existing gap of Vilnius and Kaunas from the periphery and reduce the viability of the whole Lithuanian urban system. There is no basis for a bipolar urban structure formation. The potential development in the case of big cities and their non-formal regions do not overlap, the internal links are weak, and there are no indications of linear urban network formation. The progress of the whole Lithuanian urban system due to a low density of population as well as growing emigration should not be interdependent with an artificial development of both the metropolitan and regional physical structures. The idea of the dipolis of Vilnius and Kaunas formation should be assessed as a symbol of the inner cities' co-operation which is under particular shortage. Development of high-speed communication and information technologies as well as integration processes should serve for the above mentioned purpose by evaluating subjects of non-reducing competition of the cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the information about Kaunas and other towns of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 17th century on the basis of cosmographic, travellers' memoirs and the information presented by a popular French newspaper „La Gazette‟. The first part of the article gives information about the most frequently visited and described Lithuania's regions. The second part explains how Kaunas' geographical situation was perceived by foreigners and how differently the city's name was used by them. The majority of travellers who came to Lithuania from Krakow, Warsaw, etc. aimed to visit Vilnius. Consequently, this place got most attention while other cities and towns of the Grand Duchy were scarcely mentioned. Nevertheless, we came across some descriptions concerning Gròdnò, dated by the end of 17th century, when joint Seymsofthe Republic usedto meetaswell asTrakai and Tartar villages round Vilnius. Therefore the readers could have formed the impression that Lithuania was mainly inhabitated by Tartars, and there were only few towns, i.e. Vilnius, Trakai and Gròdnó. Though some authors named Gródnò as one of the most beautiful cities in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the prevailing opinion was that it was a miserable place not suitable for the joint meetings of the Polish-Lithuanian Seyms. All other places and regions, which were far away from the main road leading from Polish capitals to Vilnius, were not mentioned. Kaunas, which was relatively far away from Gródnò-Vilnius road, was not an exception. Despite the fact that this city, situated alongside two main Lithuania's rivers, was an important economic centre, it was little known to Western Europe. Most often it was mentioned that it is situated on the confluence of two rivers - Nemunas and Neris. Throughout the whole 17th century it was called differently by Western authors, e.g. „Lawna‟ or „Kiow‟. There was not even a clear understanding to which administrative-political unit it belonged. Though in the majority of cases Kaunas was mentioned as belonging to Trakai voivode district, some authors attributed it to Samogitia (Lowland Lithuania). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]