TOWN RIVER
LOCATION: Panevėžys, Laisvės square, Bus station surroundings and the streets of the oldtown
YEAR: 2017 m.
STATUS: Competition (III place)
CATEGORY: Urban
AUTHORS: Gintaras Čaikauskas, Faustas Lasys, Simonas Čaikauskas
During the urban analysis of Panevėžys's spatial and urban structure, we've noticed very specific quality that is present only in this town: Green area around Senvagė (Old river bed) is right to the central Laisvės (Freedom) square and these two spaces are very close not only physically but visually as well. Specifically tapping, unusually plastic easy to remember form of a water body and a triangle of a Laisvės square are very much alike. So this combination, in our opinion, can become unique landmark, specific symbol of town. Consqueantly, we developed this special town characteristic into the main concept of a composition for a central square. Further, we mirrored an outline of Old river bed into the center of Laisvės square forming an interesting shape in the middle of it.
By using classical composition methods of positive/negative the contour of Old river bed is converted into symbolic Town river, in others words the green core park of Laisvės square which allows to organise the whole character of a space in a modern and original way. Only in this Town river water doesn't flow - people do.
Small streams - walkways branches from the Town River, these are newly developed streets that flows and adapts in the whole existing urban fabric. The specific historical context of Panevėžys is being emphasized. New exceptional space-specific qualities are being created.
Preexisting historical triangular square highlighted with a symbol of Old river bed connects with a preexisting oldtown streets. In an intersection points between streets and central square we propose places for artistic accents (sculptures, monuments, graphics, etc).