Architects’ Journal: Designing Vilnius’ Next Landmark

Architects’ Journal, the UK’s leading architecture and built-environment trade publication, recently spotlighted Vilnius through a Q&A with Laura Kairienė, Chief Architect of the City of Vilnius, alongside a printed feature on the international architectural competition for the new Vilnius Congress Centre.

In the interview, Kairienė outlines Vilnius’s ambition to position itself as a leading international conference destination in Central and Eastern Europe. Central to this goal is the development of a congress centre that meets the highest international standards and can compete with similar venues in major European capitals. According to Kairienė, launching an open international competition ensures both architectural excellence and a transparent, professional selection process, while allowing the city to learn from global best practice.

The future congress centre is planned for a highly sensitive and symbolic site next to the Lithuanian Parliament. As Kairienė explains, the project must balance respect for its historic surroundings with the demands of a contemporary public building. Beyond its architectural expression, functionality is key: flexible spaces, efficient logistics, and clear internal organization are essential to hosting international-scale events.

The competition invites experienced, multidisciplinary teams with expertise in complex public buildings, emphasizing collaboration across architecture, engineering, landscape, and sustainability. More than a single building, the project is framed as a long-term investment in Vilnius’s economic, cultural, and social life — and as a statement of the city’s openness, ambition, and forward-looking vision.

Read the full Q&A and feature in Architects’ Journal
Vilnius Congress Centre