NEXUS - The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum, Vilnius
Vilnius is a city with an enormous historical significance. Before the devastations of WWII, the Holocaust and the subsequent imposition of communism, it was the “Jerusalem of the North” – a city who’s cultural life was an inspiration to people as diverse as the Gaon of Vilna, Marc Chagall, Romain Gary and Jonas Mekas.

aerial view from north with old city in background

The dramatic transformations of the late 20th Century have put Vilnius right back into the living current of the world and its diverse arts. The Hermitage Guggenheim museum is therefore the Nexus connecting Vilnius to its tradition by building a future institution which will reshape public space and build an expressive civic building. This Nexus is articulated in a structure whose wide ­and sweeping arcs embrace the historical and the new, old vistas and new skyscrapers, the city and the Nevis.

model view

The dynamic double movement harmonizes a series of spaces that unfold the landscape and gesture toward the sky. This tension between landscape becoming building and building becoming landscape creates an unprecedented opportunity to make the entire sculptural form publicly accessible. The building becomes the emblem of memory, sustained by the ground yet pointing towards multiple and unexpected horizons. The topographical fusion of building and landscape mirrors the internal functional distribution of galleries, theaters, education, Litvak Center with its symbolic skylights, store, cafe and restaurant. The compact footprint at the terminus of the White Bridge takes advantage of the site while promoting connectivity through a network of public piazzas and gardens.

model view


view from Neris River

By harnessing state-of-the-art technologies and building flexible spaces both intimate and grand, a new relationship between museum and nature emerges. This marriage between art and technology radically reduces energy consumption while energizing the imagination of the public. The Nexus is indeed a renewed connection between the Vilnius of the “golden tradition” in a city poised to regain its rightful place at the cultural heart of Europe.

view of entry plaza

The project proposal is designed with integrated sustainable practices that address issues such as lowering energy use, natural day lighting and solar heating, recycling and waste management, site water collection and reuse, and pedestrian and community activity. We believe sustainable design is a process that needs to be pursued throughout all stages in the design development and must be allowed evolve and adapt to new technologies, client needs and budgetary constraints.

exhibition panels

exhibition in Jonas Mekas Center, Vilnius

The building is situated on the site and formed as an emerging part of the landscape to create synergy between architecture and its environment. It is sited on axis with the White bridge, which links the historic city fabric and the new city center. The building reconnects the site, making it continuous in the east-west direction, while creating an attractive experience along the north-south axis. The museum becomes another destination on the axial route and encourages the public to interact in open plazas and the green park spaces along the Neris River. The project fills the void between the two city fabrics creating a draw to the new commercial center.

site plan

The main segment of the White bridge, spanning over the Neris River, remains intact and is made more prominent as it is aligned with the front façade and main entrance of the museum. Throughout the proposed park will be extensive plantings and groves trees that will increase biodiversity. Circulation paths meander across the site and encourage recreational uses such running, walking and bicycling. Several pools across the site are also proposed across this landscape to both enhance the environment and act as water retention areas. These collection pools can provide additional irrigation for the park and function as natural filters for the surface runoff before it is discharged into the Neris River. This extended site proposals, beyond the confines of the museum proper, is conceptual at this stage and will be further studied with the client and city authorities alike.



ground level plan

first level plan

second level plan

third level plan

The site is made fully accessible to pedestrians, bicyclist and wheel chairs thereby reducing the visitors’ dependency on motorized vehicles. There is no additional parking provided on the site. Existing parking fields are to be shared and street parking is utilized. Loading and services are located below grade allowing the green of the landscape to be continuous at the pedestrian level.


north-south sections

east-west sections


A green roof system is utilized over a large percentage of the roof structure. This green roof will increase the thermal insulation quality of the overall roofing section. Irrigation and rainwater is collected into a storage container for reuse. Grey water reuse reduces the demand on potable water and the city’s storm water system.

Energy use in the building is reduced through the implementation of a holistic approach. A combination of heat exchange strategies are proposed such as using the Neris River and/or geo thermal piles as heat exchange agents. Skylights bring controlled natural light into the interior spaces and provide opportunities for natural ventilation which can also be used to reject heat naturally at night. All of the glass clad facades make use of high performance and reflective coatings, thermal insulation, and automated solar shading devices. The western façade and the façade around the Litvak Centre have limited transparency, approximately 25%, to be responsive to the uses beyond and limit energy use. The south facing glass façade allows for low angle winter sun to light and warm the interiors. The main air distribution is through raised floor plenums with a low velocity system. This allows the mechanically controlled air to be supplied at the point of use rather than forcing the air down form above. Light control sensors are coordinated with day light to provide optimal light conditions and reduce electrical loads.

interior view of lobby

interior view of galleries with lobby below

Natural materials will be from renewable and local sources. Manufactured materials are will be from local sources and will be specified to be green. During construction, a recycling and waste management program will be implemented. These strategies reduce the consumption of raw materials and energy use in production and transportation.

park view from east

evening winter view from park

The project was a proposal for the new Guggenheim Hermitage Museum in Vilnius Lithuania in an invited architectural competition including Studio Daniel Libeskind, Zaha Hadid Architects and Massimiliano Fuksas. Zaha Hadid was pronounced the winner on April 9, 2008. Popular vote selected Daniel Libeskind.

Project Team: Studio Daniel Libeskind
Lead Design: Daniel Libeskind
Principal in charge: Yama Karim
Project Architect: Michael Ashley
Design Team: Sascha Manteufel, Jared Olmstead, Kristian Foshalt, Alvin Sewe, Matthew Young, Injune Kim

Structural and MEP: ARUP

Renderings and Animation: Studio AMD