Stauskis, G., 2010, Architectural Development of Historic Health Care Institutions in Vilnius City, in: Urbanistika ir architektūra, NULL, 1
- Author : Stauskis, G.
- Year : 2010
- Title English : Architectural Development of Historic Health Care Institutions in Vilnius City
- Journal/Series : Urbanistika ir architektūra
- Volume Number (ANNUAL: Counting Volumes of the Year shown above) : 1
- Volume Number (CONSECUTIVE: Counting all Volumes of this Journal ever published) : NULL
- Pages : 54-63
- Abstract in English : For centuries health institutions have been the most traditional community-oriented providers of public services. The paper focuses on the initial steps of urban development of health facilities in Vilnius city. Historic health institutions are analysed as a specific prototype of what is understood today as a “hospital”. In the paper special attention is drawn to the process of emerging of “a hospital” as an independent public institution, its connections to other public buildings, its urban integrity with adjusting and surrounding development as well as its architectural importance for Vilnius city. Having emerged as a consistent part of religious and sacral complexes, health institutions (špitolės – in Lithuanian) occupied a part of space in traditional convents, located throughout Vilnius Old Town. In early years (around the 15th–16th c) health and treatment spaces were based in ordinary rooms of convents and monasteries. Later in the 17th–18th c they were transferred to specially designated blocks and houses within a convent territory and occupied a major part of spaces there. In late the 18th – 18th c health facilities gradually were disconnected from convents and churches to separate building complexes and finally became completely a new and independent type of public institutions. During the historical periods of development health complexes changed their functional layout and so their planning from initial missions of “separation” and “isolation” to “care” and developed finally to “healing” and “cure”. Analysis of selected cases in Vilnius Old Town reveals that as long as changes in urban location of health complexes took place, it was followed by their functional evolution. Making an integral part in numerous sacral complexes, usually consisting of a church, convent, healing centre, garden and cemetery, health institutions were a part of important “architectural hills” that are clearly notable as vertical and spatial landmarks in the surrounding townscape of Vilnius city. Artistic spatial arrangement and architectural expression are the other specific traits that distinguish health complexes – hospitals – in the context of surrounding development. Health complexes have always played the most important public role in Vilnius city as centres of social aid, community life, religion, culture and health services for local neighbourhoods. Research on the development of health institutions in historical run is a strong foundation to build up the perspectives for architectural and municipal policies for the future of these complexes. The issue gains special importance in the recent situation of essential transformation of the public health care system in Lithuania and in Vilnius city.
- Contents in English : GINTARAS STAUSKIS Dr (since 1994), Assoc Prof ( since 2000), Dept of Urban Design, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU), Trakø g. 1/26, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania. E–mail: gintaras.stauskis@ar.vtu.lt The author is engaged in international and European research projects on the topics of future development of diverse elements in modern urban systems. Research interests: humanization of urban environment, future development of networks of health and social services, development of non–engine mobility in cities, accessibility of buildings and facilities.
- Comments/Notes : Full text at: http://www.tpa.vgtu.lt/lt/1/NR/23319