The actualization and restoration of the wooden cultural heritage in Lithuania in collaboration with Norwegian specialists of cultural heritage applying the Norwegian experience to the landlord house of Pavirvytė manor (the unique code in the registry of Cultural values – 36246)

Wooden objects of cultural heritage is the constituent part of Lithuanian architectural heritage and one of the most important and delicate results of human cultural activity. Integrally intertwined with the professional architecture through the centuries, wooden objects express national identity and due to their unique construction technique and décor forms they became valuable not only on national, but also on European level. Unfortunately, wood as building material is not permanent; therefore wooden objects of cultural heritage are disappearing faster than brick buildings. The biggest problems associated with manors are inability to adapt them to nowadays needs and inability to perform the necessary maintenance works because managers or owners of private buildings get the low income.

Based on the relevance of mentioned issue on the 24^th of July in 2014 the public institution Academy of Cultural Heritage together with the donor country begun to implement international project: The actualization and restoration of the wooden cultural heritage in Lithuania in collaboration with Norwegian specialists of cultural heritage applying the Norwegian experience to the landlord house of Pavirvytė manor (the unique code in the registry of Cultural values – 36246). The project is funded according to the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 Conservation and Revitalization of Cultural and Natural Heritage Program. Duration of the project is 24 months.

MAIN GOALS OF THE PROJECT

The aim of the project is to actualize the problems of Lithuanian wooden heritage and to restore it when collaborating with Norwegian specialists of cultural heritage by sharing their experiences and applying it to Lithuanian Pavirvytė manor house (the unique code in the registry of Cultural values – 36246).

MAIN ACTIVITIES

• Restoration of the main house at Pavirvytė manor, which illustrates a unique type of building construction and has a huge historical importance (applied research, projecting, restoration works).

Landlord dwelling house, outbuildings and foundation of the Manor house remain to these days at the Pavirvytė manor. Dwelling house distinguishes itself with many authentic details: almost the whole wooden planking of exterior survived untouched, all the boards are nailed with blacksmith‘s handmade nails. There are lots of authentic windows with shutters, doors inside, two tile heating furnaces. Also, there is a unique construction of ceiling, which, according to architects, nowhere was seen in Lithuania: wooden logs are wrapped with hard-twisted rye-straw braids, nailed to each other and plastered with thick layer of lime plaster on the bottom. Walls are plastered on the rye-straw mat. Landlord dwelling house is not used today because of its bad condition, but it is under the supervision and the environment, park and the roof are maintained by the owner‘s funds.

• Tutorials for the masters of traditional crafts or persons who want to become ones and tutorials for the public.

Tutorials for the masters of traditional crafts. Practical and theoretical seminar lasting for 14 days will be organized at the landlord dwelling house for masters of traditional crafts or persons who want to become ones from different regions of Lithuania. 5 seminar days will be dedicated to theoretical trainings of research and restoration works, the rest days (9) will be dedicated to practical trainings. Two craftsmen from Norway (partner country) will be participating at the seminars (giving the lectures and leading the practical trainings).

Tutorials for the public. There will be organized 3 seminars to the public during the implementation of the project. Duration of 1 seminar will be 3 days. Theory will be combined with practical trainings, which will be held at the landlord dwelling house.

Target group of the project. The masters of traditional crafts as well as people who want to become ones from different regions of Lithuania, specialists of cultural heritage and craftsmen from Norway, communities of Mažeikiai district, owners of wooden cultural heritage objects, society members, people from heritage preservation institutions, municipality, communities from Telšiai area and other public legal persons (researchers, restorers, builders, architects, cultural managers, people from tourism organizations).

PARTNER OF THE PROJECT

Stiftelsen Buskerudmuseet, Sigdal museum – Folkemusikksenteret in Buskerud.

Sigdal open-air museum in Norway was established in 1940. Today the exposition consists of 14 wooden log houses, which represent and reflect unique architectural traditions of the region. Exhibitions, educational programs and other events are constantly held here in order to draw attention to the importance of wooden heritage and issues of its preservation.

More information: Kunstnerdalen kulturmuseum website.

In the autumn of 2014 photographer Raimondas Urbakavičius visited all 19 cultural heritage objects funded by the EEA Financial Mechanism’s resources.

We kindly invite you to see the photos of this shoot and to explore the Pavirvytė manor here: http://eeagrantsheritagelithuania.pixieset.com/pavirvyte/

Moments from first practical meeting:

More information about the project: project’s manager Indrė Rutkauskaitė, tel./fax (370 5) 2619886, mob.tel. +37068413902, e-mail: indre.rutkauskaite@vda.lt