East-East is a multiplex architectural event jointly held by the Lithuanian and Japanese architects and students of architecture.
History The concept of the Lithuania-Japan architectural event was conceived and its implementation coordinated by Dainius Kamaitis, a Lithuanian diplomat and former ambassador to Japan. He paved the way for the bilateral exchange in architecture domain by approaching both sides with a proposal to establish links which had not existed before. The idea was successfully implemented in Kaunas in cooperation with the Kaunas City Municipality and the Kaunas Section of the Architects Association of Lithuania in 2002. As the event enjoyed a considerable acclaim on both sides, following new initiatives by D.Kamaitis, subsequent architectural forums were implemented in Vilnius, Tokyo and Kaunas, in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2022, accordingly. All the events received full support from the Architects Association of Lithuania and Japan Institute of Architects.
In 2019, the Government of Japan awarded D.Kamaitis with The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, in recognition to his contribution to strengthening and promoting friendly relations between Japan and Lithuania.
Origin of name The name East-East is derived from the concept that Lithuania is located in the east of Europe, while Japan lies in the east of Asia. It implies mutual understanding, close cooperation and harmony.
Objectives and structure The initial target of establishing the links between the Lithuanian and Japanese architects has been achieved already. The long-term objectives are to strengthen the ties and make the joint events into a tradition, in order to foster continuous interaction not only between architects, but between students of architecture as well. The students' exchange is recognized by both sides as bearing particular importance to developing the future relations.
East-East spans almost a week and is built on three pillars: exhibition of architectural works public forum students workshop.
East-East 1 The first event was held between July 30 and August 1, 2002, in Kaunas, at Mykolas Žilinskas Art Gallery. The Japanese delegation was led by the 1993 Pritzker Prize (often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture) winner Fumihiko MakiMaki and Associates and included seven leading Japanese architects Taro Ashihara,Taro Ashihara Architects Chiaki Arai,Chiaki Arai Urban & Architecture Design Tetsuo Furuichi, George Kunihiro,T-Life Environmental Lab Koh Kitayama,architecture WORKSHOP Hidetoshi OhnoAPL Design Workshop and Kengo Kuma.Kengo Kuma and Associates
The keynote presentation by Fumihiko Maki who was awarded with the honorary membership of the Architects Association of Lithuania, aroused considerable public interest. On behalf of the host side, Linas Tuleikis, Chairman of the Kaunas Section of the Architects Association of Lithuania, gave a lecture on the contemporary Lithuanian architecture.
Exhibition
Joint exhibition of works by the Lithuanian and Japanese architects kicked off at the very outset of the event. It was honoured by the very presence of Valdas Adamkus, President of Lithuania. Besides the works of the Japanese architects present at the event, those of Nobuaki Furuya,Studio NASCA Kazuo Iwamura,Iwamura Atelier Inc. Atsushi Kitagawara, Hiroshi Naito,Naito Architect & Associates Tadasu OhePlantec Inc. and Ken YokogawaKen Yokogawa Architect & Associates were exhibited as well. On the Lithuanian side of the exhibition, the works of Vilius Adomavičius,Vilius ir partneriai Audrius Ambrasas,Audrius Ambrasas Architects Artūras Asauskas,Vilniaus architektūros studija Gintaras Čaikauskas,Architektūros linija Darius Čiuta, Gediminas Jurevičius, (late) Algimantas Kančas,Kančo studija Audrys Karalius, Šarūnas Kiaunė,Šarūno Kiaunės projektavimo studija Kęstutis Kisielius, Sigitas Kuncevičius,a.s.a Saulius Mikštas, Gintautas Natkevičius,G.Natkevičius ir partneriai Rolandas Palekas,R.Paleko ARCH-studija Saulius Pamerneckis,SP architektų grupė Kęstutis Pempė, Ramūnas Raslavičius were presented.
Public forum
A public forum was held on July 30–31. It was divided into the following five sessions: New program New building type New order New material East meets East.
A broad and interesting discussion on the above topics evolved. The Japanese architects presented their ideas featuring their own practical applications, while their Lithuanian counterparts Tomas Grunskis,aexn studio Jūratė Tutlytė, Vytautas Petrušonis and Jonas Audėjaitis were more concerned with theoretical generalization.
Students workshop
The workshop was held between July 27 and August 1 at Kaunas Art Institute of Vilnius Academy of Arts, dealing with the acute issue which Kaunas is facing in relation to adjacent rivers. During the Soviet period of the Lithuanian history, rapidly developing industry in Kaunas city left a significant trace in its urban fabric. After the restoration of independence, most of the bigger industrial plants built on the bank of Nemunas river were closed. As a result, and also due to the transport reorganization scheme implemented during the Soviet period, despite its unique location on the confluence of two rivers, the city has virtually lost any contact with them.
The workshop groups were given the task to find effective points and propose a unique architectural concept which would facilitate the return of picturesque but desolated riverside areas back to the city.
A group of 17 Japanese and 19 Lithuanian students were split into 6 mixed teams. Design named "Tunnels" (by Io Kato, Shunsuke Tomida, Hiroaki Kishimoto, Tomas Kučinskas, Aurėja Leskauskaitė, Eivaras Rastauskas) was selected as the winning entry. "Parasite" was awarded with the second prize, and the third award went to "Magic Box".
The students represented the following higher institutions: in Japan – Tokyo University of the Arts, Yokohama National University, Nihon University, University of Tokyo, Kokushikan University, Chiba Institute of Technology and Tokyo University of Science in Lithuania – Kaunas University of Technology, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts,Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.
East-East 2
The second event took place in Vilnius and was held at Vilnius City MunicipalityVilnius City Municipality and Contemporary Art CentreContemporary Art Centre, Vilnius between June 30 and July 4, 2009. The renowned architect Riken YamamotoRiken Yamamoto & FIELDSHOP led the Japanese delegation which included Taro Ashihara, George Kunihiro, Ken Yokogawa, Nobuaki Furuya, Takaharu Tezuka,Tezuka Architects Taira Nishizawa,Taira Nishizawa Architects Manabu ChibaChiba Manabu Architects (in Japanese) and Hiroshi Sambuichi. At the opening of the event, Riken Yamamoto delivered the keynote lecture at Vilnius City Municipality.
Exhibition
Five Japanese architects Takaharu Tezuka, Taira Nishizawa, Manabu Chiba, Hiroshi Sambuichi and Shuhei EndoEndo Shuhei Architect Institute (the latter was not present at the event himself) exhibited their works under the title "New Wave of Japanese Architecture 2009" at Vilnius City Municipality.
Public forum
On July 1, a public forum was held at Contemporary Art Centre, featuring lectures by two speakers from each side, followed by a discussion. Taro Ashihara and Tomas Grunskis presented their views on public space as the focus of life in a city, and the philosophy of the traditional house was introduced by Ken Yokogawa and Gintaras Čaikauskas.
Discussion on architecture was continued on July 3 at the international conference "Architecture: a Part of Culture (?)" held at Vilnius Town Hall. George Kunihiro and Nobuaki Furuya were among the lecturers.
Students workshop
Four mixed groups comprising 10 students each from Japan and Lithuania generated ideas aimed at the recovery of a problematic area. The point at issue – Park of Architecture, an area of about 58 hectares in one of the most beautiful locations in close proximity to Vilnius Old Town. Since the 19th century, noxious and polluting industries were developed there, which resulted in the loss of interface between the area and its natural environment, architectural integrity and broken functional and social links with the city. The workshop was therefore tasked with proposing "hot spots" which would help in resurrecting the Park of Architecture and give new life to this socially degraded part of Vilnius city.
On July 4, during the presentation of works at Cultural Platform KultFlux located next to Mindaugas Bridge, the design named "Valley" (by Hiroshi Yamada, Hiroyuki Nogami, Ježi Stankevič, Marius Ščerbinskas and Rasa Chmieliauskaitė, consultant architects George Kunihiro and Gintaras Čaikauskas) was selected as the winner. The idea of a valley was proposed as a public space, part of which would have to be flooded with water. Thus the once industrial plants surrounded with water would be turned into buildings for public use: swimming pool, theater, cinema etc. Elevated horizontal surfaces would be erected between the buildings in order to link the former plants with the land, serving as public spaces for communication and leisure.
The students represented the following higher institutions: in Japan – Waseda University, Tokai University, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kokushikan University in Lithuania – Kaunas University of Technology, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.
East-East 3
The third event was held in Tokyo at Japan Institute of Architects, Ginza TS Building and Gyoko-dori Underground GalleryGyoko-dori Underground Gallery between May 31 and June 4, 2011. The Lithuanian delegation included ten leading architects Gražina Janulytė-Bernotienė,G.Janulytės-Bernotienės studija Gintaras Balčytis, Linas Tuleikis, (late) Algimantas Kančas, Gintaras Čaikauskas, Linas Naujokaitis, Rolandas Palekas, Marius Šaliamoras, Donaldas Trainauskas,4PLIUS Gintautas VieversysL & G Projektai and 10 students of architecture.
Exhibition
Japanese and Lithuanian architects exhibited their designs at Gyoko-dori Underground Gallery between June 1 and 29. It was a part of an exhibition UIA2011 TOKYO 111 Days Before which kicked off as a pre-event to the 24th World Congress of Architecture in Tokyo (UIA2011).
The Lithuanian part of the exhibition included works by architectural firms, project teams and individual architects. Firms represented:
Kančo studija, Ambraso architektų biuras, G.Natkevičius , E.Miliūno studija, R.Paleko Arch-studija, Architektūros estetikos studija,Architektūros estetikos studija Vilius , Vilniaus architektūros studija, Laimos ir Ginto , G.Janulytės-Bernotienės studija, 4PLIUS, Architektūros linija, Gečia, Dviejų grupė, Urbanistika.
Project teams and individual architects included:
Tadas Balčiūnas, Vytautas Biekša,Processoffice Marius Kanevičius; Jūras Balkevičius, (late) Vytautas Čekanauskas, Lina Masliukienė, Marius Šaliamoras, Algirdas Umbrasas; Kęstutis Pempė, (late) Gytis Ramunis; Darius Čiuta, Gintaras Auželis; Alvydas Šeibokas,Archihalė Gabrielis Malžinskas; Andrius Skiezgelas, Aleksandras Kavaliauskas, Martynas Nagelė; Kęstutis Lupeikis.
Japanese participants displayed their own individual designs: