Gintaras Stauskis | Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (original) (raw)
Papers by Gintaras Stauskis
Landscape Architecture and Art, 2023
The increasing complexity of urban regeneration issues has recently made multi-stakeholder collab... more The increasing complexity of urban regeneration issues has recently made multi-stakeholder collaboration an important part to solve policy problems. While residents form an important part in a variety of collaborative governance processes, approaches used are often criticized as too formal, and lacking more inclusive participation. Therefore, new informal mechanisms of collaboration are sought, to ensure a more effective engagement and representation of population groups. Although community-led participation is the approach that leads to a more effective collaborative process, issues of power and inequality are a challenge in many places in planning practice [13]. Ways of civic empowerment, communication, and negotiation provide participants with transformative learning opportunities so that not only their arguments change but also the participants of the participation process themselves [6]. In order to test urban development ideas, the notion of "urban experiment" has been developed in recent years as a recognized and effective approach. The urban environment is viewed as a creative laboratory for testing the implementation of diverse initiatives and innovations [8]. The inner-city neighbourhoods in many cities are struggling to ensure vitality and liveability, thus these areas often represent a widespread location of urban experiments. In addition to these questions, the problem of community representation manifests itself in many inner cities. The potential to transform city centre streets and vacant areas into user-friendly urban spaces and the impact of those transformations on the city's liveability were recently tested by Riga municipality. Urban experiments varied in scale and form, resulting in street pedestrianization, urban gardens, and other temporary initiatives, which allowed more space for walking and cycling, street sales, social events and other activities. Thus, the aim of this article is to explore processes of testbed planning with regard to the role of community participation in the designing, implementing, and analysing phases of the experiment. After presenting the findings, the article concludes with a discussion on factors that influence public participation in collaborative governance including communication, the balance of interests, and the degree of resident involvement in decision-making.
Architecture and Urban Planning, 2020
the question of quality of modified landscape is critical for the client and the users and depend... more the question of quality of modified landscape is critical for the client and the users and depends on the quality of projects. After theoretical and empirical research, the paper proposes the framework for quality assessment criteria and corresponding indicators for assessing landscape architecture projects. By thorough analysis of the recent international research and design and implementation practices in Lithuania, the paper gives the flexible and universal set of environmental, socioeconomic , and aesthetic quality criteria and relevant indicators in the context of sustainable performance.
Stop and Think. Book of abstracts, 2021
The European Union (EU) Directive 2013/55/EC amends Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of pr... more The European Union (EU) Directive 2013/55/EC amends Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. The 2013 amendment allows Member States to decide on a common set of minimum knowledge, skills and competences required to pursue a given profession through a Common Training Framework (CTF). Such a
framework must combine training requirements formally documented by at least one third of the Member States.
Qualifications gained under a CTF may be recognised automatically across the internal borders of the EU, but in any case, an agreed CTF for Landscape Architects would usefully act as a benchmark document for both teaching and professional recognition in countries across Europe.
The backbone of the CTF for Landscape Architecture proposed by IFLA Europe and ECLAS is outlined in the body of this paper. The InnoLAND project organised a collaborative process for setting up this CTF as a basis for Landscape Architectural Training. Content is based on educational documents created by IFLA world, IFLA Europe and ECLAS
and texts resulting from the EU-TEACH and the EU-LAND21 projects. Content also reflects evolving policies on urban and rural landscapes, higher education, and the needs of society for sustainable, biodiversity-rich landscapes and land uses, landscape democracy, health, and safety. Furthermore, this proposed CTF for Landscape Architecture responds to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) that call for the explicit integration of thematic issues relating to life on earth, biodiversity, water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanisation, transport, science, and technology. The CTF for Landscape Architecture is based on an Equivalence of Standards in education, training, qualifications,
knowledge, skills, competences, and the professional conduct associated with practice. In addition, InnoLAND has identified 9 EU Member States that formally regulate the profession of Landscape Architecture and are able to meet Equivalence of Standards as required by the EU Commission. The profession is also regulated in the United
Kingdom.
The creation of a CTF for Landscape Architects will support and contribute to the EU’s goals of increasing professional mobility, safeguarding consumers, and ensuring an equitable distribution of skills and expertise across Member States. The content of the proposed CTF provides a template for national professional bodies and/or competent authorities to engage with the EU Commission.
Landscape Architecture and Art, 2020
The data bases select the articles from the proceedings for including them in their data bases af... more The data bases select the articles from the proceedings for including them in their data bases after individual qualitative examination. All scientific paper was reviewed by two independent reviewers. Every author is responsible for the quality and the information of his article.
Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 2019
The purpose of the article is to define the material, institutional, and intellectual infrastruct... more The purpose of the article is to define the material, institutional, and intellectual infrastructure of a region and identify the innovative processes that determine its creation. Our main research hypothesis is that the processes that influence the creation of a region's infrastructure determine a region's competitiveness as well. To verify these premises, we conducted a study among the residents and employees of a municipality. The research employed deductive and inductive methods and a qualitative analysis was performed. Pearson's linear correlation coefficient and factor analysis (inference based on the modal and median values) were used in the study. The research verified the hypothesis that innovative processes influence the creation of a region's infrastructure and that innovative processes in the studied region exhibit low dynamics, which is caused by financial and psychosocial barriers. The important role of social leaders in municipalities was identified as well, above all as regards building civic society and social activity. The added value of the article is threefold: the developed model of infrastructure construction in the material, institutional, and intellectual dimensions of a region; recommendations for the investigated municipality; and a structured questionnaire that, together with the model, can be used for research in municipalities.
Sustainability, 2018
Sustainable development by emphasizing on satisfying the current needs of the general public with... more Sustainable development by emphasizing on satisfying the current needs of the general public without threating their futures, alongside with taking the environment and future generations under consideration, has become one of the prominent issues in different societies. Therefore, identifying and prioritizing the key factors of sustainable architecture according to regional and cultural features could be the first step in sustaining the architecture as a process and an outcome. In this paper, the key indicators of the environmental sustainability in contemporary architecture of Iran has been identified and prioritized. This study has been performed in three phases. First, identifying key factors of environmental sustainability according to the experts' point of view and transforming the collected data to triangular fuzzy numbers. Subsequently, the best-worst multi-criteria decision-making method (henceforth BWM) under grey system circumstances has determined the weights and priority of the identified criteria. Eventually, identified key factors were prioritized by the complex proportional assessment method (hereafter COPRAS) under the condition of fuzzy sets. The results indicate that the key factors of creating engagement between buildings and other urban systems has the highest priority in the built environment sustainability in contemporary architecture and proving building management systems has the lowest.
Lietuvos kraštovaizdžio architektų sąjunga eBooks, 2015
Architecture and Urban Planning, 2016
We may see modern urbanism as a collection of many successful developments as well as a series of... more We may see modern urbanism as a collection of many successful developments as well as a series of endless mistakes and repeated failures. The paper focuses on the analysis of existing and former urban planning and design patterns in aspect of efficiency of applied methods to achieve higher quality referring to the philosophy and practice of Landscape Urbanism. The Missionaries Block in Vilnius City serves as a case study for assessing its development in three distinguishable periods by the set of quality criteria derived from Landscape Urbanism theories and practices. The assessment results disclose an evident drop in the overall quality of the selected site’s development in the recent period. The paper discusses if and how one may use the method employed hereby for programming and shaping the future regeneration and redevelopment of existing urban setting.
The article analyses importance of territorial communities in the process of urban development of... more The article analyses importance of territorial communities in the process of urban development of a modern city from the aspect of facilitating public involvement for improving aesthetic, functional and ecologic quality of urban landscape. More sustainable qualities of urban environment are achieved by direct involvement of the local territorial communities into programming, planning, constructing, managing and further modifying the elements of landscape system. The topic is disclosed by the analysis of wide international planning and implementation practices, and by comparative socio-economic research. The article arguments in favour of urban communities in Lithuania to be given a more influential role in developing individually shaped solutions for sustainable urban landscapes. Based on the case study of the selected residential area in Vilnius City, the way of activating the local residents’ groups is presented. The problem of miss-match between the informal setting of urban comm...
Town Planning and Architecture, 2010
Landscape Architecture and Art, 2018
In the light of recent environmental and socio-economic challenges that face the modern urban reg... more In the light of recent environmental and socio-economic challenges that face the modern urban regions, the implication of current needs for education quality has been discussed. Now a further step for practical actions of re-shaping higher education in Europe takes place. The quality of teaching of landscape architects has a direct impact on the quality of the professional services and their contribution to design, planning and management of urban open spaces, heritage sites and objects, parks and gardens and (green) infrastructure. A wide variety of landscape architecture (LA) study programmes across Europe provide education that differ in scope, content and quality.
Two European landscape associations – the European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools [4] and the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) Europe developed guidelines for landscape architect’s education that covers environmental, engineering and artistic competences and soft skills [4] (IFLA 2008). For IFLA the requirements are a tool for the professional recognition of the programmes. The ECLAS Guidance report (2010) focuses on the core, subject-specific and generic competences that students should acquire in the education process.
This framework with requirements, recommendations and guidelines for LA studies aims to increase the quality of the current landscape architecture studies; beyond that, it is used to develop a common tool for assessing the quality of landscape architecture education at several universities in Europe. The results of the assessment reveal the strengths and the gaps of the analysed study programmes and teaching subjects. The outcomes of this inquiry give a clear picture for the schools which study modules and courses should be improved and how to meet the common requirements. At the same time, the method is used to keep and further develop the strong sides of the study programme at each university. Looking at the bigger picture of LA education in Europe, the map of subject-specific competences in landscape architecture training is further developed, by adding cutting-edge competences that are proposed by the participating universities and professional associations.
Landscape Architecture and Art, 2018
Many big, average and even small towns have been dramatically car-invaded through the past twenty... more Many big, average and even small towns have been dramatically car-invaded through the past twenty years in Eastern Europe. That resulted in fragmented open spaces and endangered mobility through the streets and blocks of the city. The paper addresses the issue of comfortable access to urban open space by bringing the multidimensional approach that includes aesthetical, infrastructural and social tools and applications. On the example of Joniškis town in Lithuania, the paper presents a solution toolkit for assessing the existing mobility situation, developing a re-pedestrianising action plan and programming the impact of the applied measures. The results of the multidimensional approach show that by giving priority for pedestrians against cars in urban open spaces and drive-ins cities can achieve multiple environmental and social-economic benefits. Open spaces become safer, more attractive and pleasing and more people visit them. The proposed model serves as a continuous professional development topic for landscape architects researching, teaching and designing in the private, public and non-governmental sectors.
Architecture and Urban Planning, 2016
We may see modern urbanism as a collection of many successful developments as well as a series of... more We may see modern urbanism as a collection of many successful developments as well as a series of endless mistakes and repeated failures. The paper focuses on the analysis of existing and former urban planning and design patterns in aspect of efficiency of applied methods to achieve higher quality referring to the philosophy and practice of Landscape Urbanism. The Missionaries Block in Vilnius City serves as a case study for assessing its development in three distinguishable periods by the set of quality criteria derived from Landscape Urbanism theories and practices. The assessment results disclose an evident drop in the overall quality of the selected site's development in the recent period. The paper discusses if and how one may use the method employed hereby for programming and shaping the future regeneration and redevelopment of existing urban setting.
The research features analysis of user-experiencebased accessibility assessment and progress moni... more The research features analysis of user-experiencebased
accessibility assessment and progress monitoring
of buildings and public spaces; this analysis is used as
a tool for facilitating the development of humane,
socially sustainable and an inclusive urban environment
and architecture. A group of users representing people
with different kinds of disabilities, the elderly and
families with children was created to assess the quality
of physical access to the buildings of different functions
and locations across the cities of Vilnius, Lithuania and
Singapore, Republic of Singapore. A school, two
hospitals, a rehabilitation centre and two offices were
selected for access monitoring in Vilnius City, while a
hotel, a café and two metro stations with public squares
were chosen for access assessment in Singapore
(Fig. 11). The article draws a comparative analysis on
accessibility of the selected buildings in Vilnius City and
in Singapore where the same pre-tested method was
applied to assess accessibility in 2000 – 2017. The
results show a definite improvement of access quality
over time and identify the critical aspects of urban
spaces and buildings. The segment of plot planning
represents the lowest quality of access for all assessed
building types as compared to the building segment and
the external–internal element segments. The paper also
draws conclusions that access improvement is a
continuous process of implementing advanced urban
policy instruments, and city planners can contribute to
it by constantly analysing and presenting to public the
monitoring data about the progress in accessibility of
buildings and urban spaces. Comparing the assessment
results between Vilnius City and Singapore – cities that
are located in different global regions and in different
socio-economic environments – provides a practical tool for benchmarking, monitoring and prioritising this
process.
Accessibility of public environment make immense impact on active participation of all citizens i... more Accessibility of public environment make immense impact on active participation of all citizens in different spheres of public life. Quality of access to urban landscapes and buildings for all citizens gains especial importance in the context of recent demographic trends in the developed countries, as ageing communities, decreasing birth rates and continuing urbanisation of natural environment. Creation of a more responsive urban environment is the instrument to facilitate social integration of people into active public life, especially for the ones with limited physical abilities, instead of sheltering them from a society by extending social services. The author presents a research-based methodology for analysing and evaluating accessibility in public areas of a big city. The originality of the method lays in empowering the disabled persons to play the active role of experts in measuring and evaluating accessibility according the developed assessment tool. The used methodology allows evaluating accessibility on different urban scales: in urban landscapes, in buildings, and in their interiors. The presented case study performed in Singapore explores the quality of access that people have to public spaces, metro stations, hotels and café. As a result, the author presents recommendations for improving accessibility in the city by improving the quality of urban environment and architectural design of buildings, updating the building regulations, as well as construction and maintenances of open spaces and buildings. The results of this research provide the comprehensive action plan for eliminating barriers in the specific Singapore's environment and in the other cities. Conclusions present the model of coherent accessibility monitoring tool and improvement programme that facilitates creation of a socially responsive urban environment.
Energy, Sustainability and Society, 2014
Background: Multiple channels of sustainable urban development could be managed in the process of... more Background: Multiple channels of sustainable urban development could be managed in the process of an inter-disciplinary cooperation and creative involvement of all stakeholders. The paper aims to verify how the specific methods of virtual reality simulation could be used as an effective tool for setting an efficient participation platform between the stakeholders to improve environmental, social and energy sustainability of urban development in modern cities. The paper is based on the case study of Vilnius City.
Mokslas - Lietuvos ateitis, 2011
An interest in doctoral studies reflects the overall status of the scientist in the country in ge... more An interest in doctoral studies reflects the overall status of the scientist in the country in general and the role of science in the architect profession in particular. The article analyses the basic channels of how the students of architecture search for and find the ways to transfer themselves from the study area into an academic research environment. In order to figure out general trends and to outline the differences and similarities of doctoral studies that could further facilitate cooperation, the paper presents the thematic outputs of doctoral programmes in architecture schools in Vilnius, Riga, Venice, Jelgava and Weimar. With reference to the example of the Faculty of Architecture, VGTU, the trends towards developing research activities are analysed taking into account three interconnected branches of architecture: urban design, building architecture and landscape architecture. The cooperation and coordination of academic and research activities in wider European space is taking place upon common interest based on the specificities of each school and priorities of the chosen region. The awareness of global and regional processes in architectural research is an important point for the present and coming generations of researchers in Europe as they are building their careers on the basis of investigation into the options of the local applications of global competences in a cross-professional and inter-disciplinary way.
Town Planning and Architecture
ABSTRACT
The article "Identification of Local Territorial Communities in Urban Structure of Vilnius City" ... more The article "Identification of Local Territorial Communities in Urban Structure of Vilnius City" presents the analysis of the general principles of identification of local territorial communities in the urban structure of modern cities and presents a methodology for including the public initiative as a strong factor of urban planning. International perspective on the process reveals that Lithuania is lagging behind of many European countries in empowering urban communities to participate in solving major urban problems of recent days. Based on the example of Vilnius City the way of activating local resident's groups is presented in the research with the basic focus on improvement of urban development strategies and local municipal policies as well as concrete development plans. The wide scope of interest that territorial communities have in the area of their habitat allow to plan development of the most diverse urban systems by getting primary initiatives, planning evaluations and post-occupant evaluation and maintenance of residences, social services, landscapes and the other elements of urban structure. By matching the informal areas of local territorial communities with the legal boundaries of local urban authorities residents would have greater opportunities to contribute to planning and development projects and by that increase the overall quality of urban architecture.
Landscape Architecture and Art, 2023
The increasing complexity of urban regeneration issues has recently made multi-stakeholder collab... more The increasing complexity of urban regeneration issues has recently made multi-stakeholder collaboration an important part to solve policy problems. While residents form an important part in a variety of collaborative governance processes, approaches used are often criticized as too formal, and lacking more inclusive participation. Therefore, new informal mechanisms of collaboration are sought, to ensure a more effective engagement and representation of population groups. Although community-led participation is the approach that leads to a more effective collaborative process, issues of power and inequality are a challenge in many places in planning practice [13]. Ways of civic empowerment, communication, and negotiation provide participants with transformative learning opportunities so that not only their arguments change but also the participants of the participation process themselves [6]. In order to test urban development ideas, the notion of "urban experiment" has been developed in recent years as a recognized and effective approach. The urban environment is viewed as a creative laboratory for testing the implementation of diverse initiatives and innovations [8]. The inner-city neighbourhoods in many cities are struggling to ensure vitality and liveability, thus these areas often represent a widespread location of urban experiments. In addition to these questions, the problem of community representation manifests itself in many inner cities. The potential to transform city centre streets and vacant areas into user-friendly urban spaces and the impact of those transformations on the city's liveability were recently tested by Riga municipality. Urban experiments varied in scale and form, resulting in street pedestrianization, urban gardens, and other temporary initiatives, which allowed more space for walking and cycling, street sales, social events and other activities. Thus, the aim of this article is to explore processes of testbed planning with regard to the role of community participation in the designing, implementing, and analysing phases of the experiment. After presenting the findings, the article concludes with a discussion on factors that influence public participation in collaborative governance including communication, the balance of interests, and the degree of resident involvement in decision-making.
Architecture and Urban Planning, 2020
the question of quality of modified landscape is critical for the client and the users and depend... more the question of quality of modified landscape is critical for the client and the users and depends on the quality of projects. After theoretical and empirical research, the paper proposes the framework for quality assessment criteria and corresponding indicators for assessing landscape architecture projects. By thorough analysis of the recent international research and design and implementation practices in Lithuania, the paper gives the flexible and universal set of environmental, socioeconomic , and aesthetic quality criteria and relevant indicators in the context of sustainable performance.
Stop and Think. Book of abstracts, 2021
The European Union (EU) Directive 2013/55/EC amends Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of pr... more The European Union (EU) Directive 2013/55/EC amends Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. The 2013 amendment allows Member States to decide on a common set of minimum knowledge, skills and competences required to pursue a given profession through a Common Training Framework (CTF). Such a
framework must combine training requirements formally documented by at least one third of the Member States.
Qualifications gained under a CTF may be recognised automatically across the internal borders of the EU, but in any case, an agreed CTF for Landscape Architects would usefully act as a benchmark document for both teaching and professional recognition in countries across Europe.
The backbone of the CTF for Landscape Architecture proposed by IFLA Europe and ECLAS is outlined in the body of this paper. The InnoLAND project organised a collaborative process for setting up this CTF as a basis for Landscape Architectural Training. Content is based on educational documents created by IFLA world, IFLA Europe and ECLAS
and texts resulting from the EU-TEACH and the EU-LAND21 projects. Content also reflects evolving policies on urban and rural landscapes, higher education, and the needs of society for sustainable, biodiversity-rich landscapes and land uses, landscape democracy, health, and safety. Furthermore, this proposed CTF for Landscape Architecture responds to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) that call for the explicit integration of thematic issues relating to life on earth, biodiversity, water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanisation, transport, science, and technology. The CTF for Landscape Architecture is based on an Equivalence of Standards in education, training, qualifications,
knowledge, skills, competences, and the professional conduct associated with practice. In addition, InnoLAND has identified 9 EU Member States that formally regulate the profession of Landscape Architecture and are able to meet Equivalence of Standards as required by the EU Commission. The profession is also regulated in the United
Kingdom.
The creation of a CTF for Landscape Architects will support and contribute to the EU’s goals of increasing professional mobility, safeguarding consumers, and ensuring an equitable distribution of skills and expertise across Member States. The content of the proposed CTF provides a template for national professional bodies and/or competent authorities to engage with the EU Commission.
Landscape Architecture and Art, 2020
The data bases select the articles from the proceedings for including them in their data bases af... more The data bases select the articles from the proceedings for including them in their data bases after individual qualitative examination. All scientific paper was reviewed by two independent reviewers. Every author is responsible for the quality and the information of his article.
Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 2019
The purpose of the article is to define the material, institutional, and intellectual infrastruct... more The purpose of the article is to define the material, institutional, and intellectual infrastructure of a region and identify the innovative processes that determine its creation. Our main research hypothesis is that the processes that influence the creation of a region's infrastructure determine a region's competitiveness as well. To verify these premises, we conducted a study among the residents and employees of a municipality. The research employed deductive and inductive methods and a qualitative analysis was performed. Pearson's linear correlation coefficient and factor analysis (inference based on the modal and median values) were used in the study. The research verified the hypothesis that innovative processes influence the creation of a region's infrastructure and that innovative processes in the studied region exhibit low dynamics, which is caused by financial and psychosocial barriers. The important role of social leaders in municipalities was identified as well, above all as regards building civic society and social activity. The added value of the article is threefold: the developed model of infrastructure construction in the material, institutional, and intellectual dimensions of a region; recommendations for the investigated municipality; and a structured questionnaire that, together with the model, can be used for research in municipalities.
Sustainability, 2018
Sustainable development by emphasizing on satisfying the current needs of the general public with... more Sustainable development by emphasizing on satisfying the current needs of the general public without threating their futures, alongside with taking the environment and future generations under consideration, has become one of the prominent issues in different societies. Therefore, identifying and prioritizing the key factors of sustainable architecture according to regional and cultural features could be the first step in sustaining the architecture as a process and an outcome. In this paper, the key indicators of the environmental sustainability in contemporary architecture of Iran has been identified and prioritized. This study has been performed in three phases. First, identifying key factors of environmental sustainability according to the experts' point of view and transforming the collected data to triangular fuzzy numbers. Subsequently, the best-worst multi-criteria decision-making method (henceforth BWM) under grey system circumstances has determined the weights and priority of the identified criteria. Eventually, identified key factors were prioritized by the complex proportional assessment method (hereafter COPRAS) under the condition of fuzzy sets. The results indicate that the key factors of creating engagement between buildings and other urban systems has the highest priority in the built environment sustainability in contemporary architecture and proving building management systems has the lowest.
Lietuvos kraštovaizdžio architektų sąjunga eBooks, 2015
Architecture and Urban Planning, 2016
We may see modern urbanism as a collection of many successful developments as well as a series of... more We may see modern urbanism as a collection of many successful developments as well as a series of endless mistakes and repeated failures. The paper focuses on the analysis of existing and former urban planning and design patterns in aspect of efficiency of applied methods to achieve higher quality referring to the philosophy and practice of Landscape Urbanism. The Missionaries Block in Vilnius City serves as a case study for assessing its development in three distinguishable periods by the set of quality criteria derived from Landscape Urbanism theories and practices. The assessment results disclose an evident drop in the overall quality of the selected site’s development in the recent period. The paper discusses if and how one may use the method employed hereby for programming and shaping the future regeneration and redevelopment of existing urban setting.
The article analyses importance of territorial communities in the process of urban development of... more The article analyses importance of territorial communities in the process of urban development of a modern city from the aspect of facilitating public involvement for improving aesthetic, functional and ecologic quality of urban landscape. More sustainable qualities of urban environment are achieved by direct involvement of the local territorial communities into programming, planning, constructing, managing and further modifying the elements of landscape system. The topic is disclosed by the analysis of wide international planning and implementation practices, and by comparative socio-economic research. The article arguments in favour of urban communities in Lithuania to be given a more influential role in developing individually shaped solutions for sustainable urban landscapes. Based on the case study of the selected residential area in Vilnius City, the way of activating the local residents’ groups is presented. The problem of miss-match between the informal setting of urban comm...
Town Planning and Architecture, 2010
Landscape Architecture and Art, 2018
In the light of recent environmental and socio-economic challenges that face the modern urban reg... more In the light of recent environmental and socio-economic challenges that face the modern urban regions, the implication of current needs for education quality has been discussed. Now a further step for practical actions of re-shaping higher education in Europe takes place. The quality of teaching of landscape architects has a direct impact on the quality of the professional services and their contribution to design, planning and management of urban open spaces, heritage sites and objects, parks and gardens and (green) infrastructure. A wide variety of landscape architecture (LA) study programmes across Europe provide education that differ in scope, content and quality.
Two European landscape associations – the European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools [4] and the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) Europe developed guidelines for landscape architect’s education that covers environmental, engineering and artistic competences and soft skills [4] (IFLA 2008). For IFLA the requirements are a tool for the professional recognition of the programmes. The ECLAS Guidance report (2010) focuses on the core, subject-specific and generic competences that students should acquire in the education process.
This framework with requirements, recommendations and guidelines for LA studies aims to increase the quality of the current landscape architecture studies; beyond that, it is used to develop a common tool for assessing the quality of landscape architecture education at several universities in Europe. The results of the assessment reveal the strengths and the gaps of the analysed study programmes and teaching subjects. The outcomes of this inquiry give a clear picture for the schools which study modules and courses should be improved and how to meet the common requirements. At the same time, the method is used to keep and further develop the strong sides of the study programme at each university. Looking at the bigger picture of LA education in Europe, the map of subject-specific competences in landscape architecture training is further developed, by adding cutting-edge competences that are proposed by the participating universities and professional associations.
Landscape Architecture and Art, 2018
Many big, average and even small towns have been dramatically car-invaded through the past twenty... more Many big, average and even small towns have been dramatically car-invaded through the past twenty years in Eastern Europe. That resulted in fragmented open spaces and endangered mobility through the streets and blocks of the city. The paper addresses the issue of comfortable access to urban open space by bringing the multidimensional approach that includes aesthetical, infrastructural and social tools and applications. On the example of Joniškis town in Lithuania, the paper presents a solution toolkit for assessing the existing mobility situation, developing a re-pedestrianising action plan and programming the impact of the applied measures. The results of the multidimensional approach show that by giving priority for pedestrians against cars in urban open spaces and drive-ins cities can achieve multiple environmental and social-economic benefits. Open spaces become safer, more attractive and pleasing and more people visit them. The proposed model serves as a continuous professional development topic for landscape architects researching, teaching and designing in the private, public and non-governmental sectors.
Architecture and Urban Planning, 2016
We may see modern urbanism as a collection of many successful developments as well as a series of... more We may see modern urbanism as a collection of many successful developments as well as a series of endless mistakes and repeated failures. The paper focuses on the analysis of existing and former urban planning and design patterns in aspect of efficiency of applied methods to achieve higher quality referring to the philosophy and practice of Landscape Urbanism. The Missionaries Block in Vilnius City serves as a case study for assessing its development in three distinguishable periods by the set of quality criteria derived from Landscape Urbanism theories and practices. The assessment results disclose an evident drop in the overall quality of the selected site's development in the recent period. The paper discusses if and how one may use the method employed hereby for programming and shaping the future regeneration and redevelopment of existing urban setting.
The research features analysis of user-experiencebased accessibility assessment and progress moni... more The research features analysis of user-experiencebased
accessibility assessment and progress monitoring
of buildings and public spaces; this analysis is used as
a tool for facilitating the development of humane,
socially sustainable and an inclusive urban environment
and architecture. A group of users representing people
with different kinds of disabilities, the elderly and
families with children was created to assess the quality
of physical access to the buildings of different functions
and locations across the cities of Vilnius, Lithuania and
Singapore, Republic of Singapore. A school, two
hospitals, a rehabilitation centre and two offices were
selected for access monitoring in Vilnius City, while a
hotel, a café and two metro stations with public squares
were chosen for access assessment in Singapore
(Fig. 11). The article draws a comparative analysis on
accessibility of the selected buildings in Vilnius City and
in Singapore where the same pre-tested method was
applied to assess accessibility in 2000 – 2017. The
results show a definite improvement of access quality
over time and identify the critical aspects of urban
spaces and buildings. The segment of plot planning
represents the lowest quality of access for all assessed
building types as compared to the building segment and
the external–internal element segments. The paper also
draws conclusions that access improvement is a
continuous process of implementing advanced urban
policy instruments, and city planners can contribute to
it by constantly analysing and presenting to public the
monitoring data about the progress in accessibility of
buildings and urban spaces. Comparing the assessment
results between Vilnius City and Singapore – cities that
are located in different global regions and in different
socio-economic environments – provides a practical tool for benchmarking, monitoring and prioritising this
process.
Accessibility of public environment make immense impact on active participation of all citizens i... more Accessibility of public environment make immense impact on active participation of all citizens in different spheres of public life. Quality of access to urban landscapes and buildings for all citizens gains especial importance in the context of recent demographic trends in the developed countries, as ageing communities, decreasing birth rates and continuing urbanisation of natural environment. Creation of a more responsive urban environment is the instrument to facilitate social integration of people into active public life, especially for the ones with limited physical abilities, instead of sheltering them from a society by extending social services. The author presents a research-based methodology for analysing and evaluating accessibility in public areas of a big city. The originality of the method lays in empowering the disabled persons to play the active role of experts in measuring and evaluating accessibility according the developed assessment tool. The used methodology allows evaluating accessibility on different urban scales: in urban landscapes, in buildings, and in their interiors. The presented case study performed in Singapore explores the quality of access that people have to public spaces, metro stations, hotels and café. As a result, the author presents recommendations for improving accessibility in the city by improving the quality of urban environment and architectural design of buildings, updating the building regulations, as well as construction and maintenances of open spaces and buildings. The results of this research provide the comprehensive action plan for eliminating barriers in the specific Singapore's environment and in the other cities. Conclusions present the model of coherent accessibility monitoring tool and improvement programme that facilitates creation of a socially responsive urban environment.
Energy, Sustainability and Society, 2014
Background: Multiple channels of sustainable urban development could be managed in the process of... more Background: Multiple channels of sustainable urban development could be managed in the process of an inter-disciplinary cooperation and creative involvement of all stakeholders. The paper aims to verify how the specific methods of virtual reality simulation could be used as an effective tool for setting an efficient participation platform between the stakeholders to improve environmental, social and energy sustainability of urban development in modern cities. The paper is based on the case study of Vilnius City.
Mokslas - Lietuvos ateitis, 2011
An interest in doctoral studies reflects the overall status of the scientist in the country in ge... more An interest in doctoral studies reflects the overall status of the scientist in the country in general and the role of science in the architect profession in particular. The article analyses the basic channels of how the students of architecture search for and find the ways to transfer themselves from the study area into an academic research environment. In order to figure out general trends and to outline the differences and similarities of doctoral studies that could further facilitate cooperation, the paper presents the thematic outputs of doctoral programmes in architecture schools in Vilnius, Riga, Venice, Jelgava and Weimar. With reference to the example of the Faculty of Architecture, VGTU, the trends towards developing research activities are analysed taking into account three interconnected branches of architecture: urban design, building architecture and landscape architecture. The cooperation and coordination of academic and research activities in wider European space is taking place upon common interest based on the specificities of each school and priorities of the chosen region. The awareness of global and regional processes in architectural research is an important point for the present and coming generations of researchers in Europe as they are building their careers on the basis of investigation into the options of the local applications of global competences in a cross-professional and inter-disciplinary way.
Town Planning and Architecture
ABSTRACT
The article "Identification of Local Territorial Communities in Urban Structure of Vilnius City" ... more The article "Identification of Local Territorial Communities in Urban Structure of Vilnius City" presents the analysis of the general principles of identification of local territorial communities in the urban structure of modern cities and presents a methodology for including the public initiative as a strong factor of urban planning. International perspective on the process reveals that Lithuania is lagging behind of many European countries in empowering urban communities to participate in solving major urban problems of recent days. Based on the example of Vilnius City the way of activating local resident's groups is presented in the research with the basic focus on improvement of urban development strategies and local municipal policies as well as concrete development plans. The wide scope of interest that territorial communities have in the area of their habitat allow to plan development of the most diverse urban systems by getting primary initiatives, planning evaluations and post-occupant evaluation and maintenance of residences, social services, landscapes and the other elements of urban structure. By matching the informal areas of local territorial communities with the legal boundaries of local urban authorities residents would have greater opportunities to contribute to planning and development projects and by that increase the overall quality of urban architecture.