Current Tenders & Competitions

The Infocentre “Vartai į Aukštaitijos nacionalinį parką” is envisioned as a contemporary gateway to Lithuania’s oldest national park, situated in the small lakeside town of Tauragnai, Utena District. Anchored within the cultural landscape of the Aukštaitija ethnographic region, the project seeks to merge architectural modernity with vernacular sensibilities. Conceived as both a visitor centre and an educational hub, it will provide interactive exhibitions, tourism information, and spaces for cultural engagement. The building will serve as a place where visitors can explore the ecological and cultural richness of the region, from the depths of Lake Tauragnas to the enduring heritage of rural craftsmanship, while symbolically opening the “gates” to the wider national park.

The approximately 200 m² infocentre will accommodate a multifunctional programme including a lobby, information zone, exhibition hall, rest area, children’s corner, and facilities for visitors and staff. Designed to be flexible, interior partitions may transform spaces for workshops, educational sessions, or small community events. The proposal encourages environmentally conscious design and emphasises the tactile connection between architecture and landscape through the use of natural materials and references to traditional “wise woman’s house” (žiniuonės namai) typologies. Dedicated displays will highlight the work of herbalist and ethnographer Eugenija Šimkūnaitė, celebrating the relationship between people, plants, and place, an ethos that embodies the spirit of the Aukštaitija National Park itself.