Parliament urged to declare 2028 Laurynas Gucevičius Year

Lithuania’s parliament has been asked to declare 2028 the Year of architect Laurynas Gucevičius, LRT reports. The proposal was registered by Social Democratic MPs Lilija Vaitiekūnienė and Roma Janušonienė.

The initiative aims to commemorate Gucevičius’s contribution to Lithuania’s history, culture and society. Its sponsors say a parliamentary decision would encourage public interest, particularly among young people, in the country’s architectural, cultural and statehood history, while strengthening awareness of and attention to Lithuania’s cultural heritage.

Gucevičius is regarded as one of Lithuania’s most prominent architects and a creator of mature Classicist architecture. His designed and reconstructed buildings include Vilnius Cathedral and its bell tower, Vilnius Town Hall, the Verkiai ensemble, the Church of the Holy Trinity in Sudervė, the Church of St John the Baptist in Čiobiškis and the Church of St James the Apostle in Jonava.

The draft resolution also describes Gucevičius as a teacher and public figure. He taught cartography, military engineering and civil architecture, and contributed to the development of architectural studies and the institutionalisation of architectural science at Vilnius University.

According to the draft, his work was characterised by monumental forms, a harmonious relationship between buildings and their surroundings, balanced proportions, interpretations of Classical architectural forms and restrained decoration. His architectural and teaching activities influenced the development of architecture in Lithuania and later generations of architects.

Gucevičius was also active in late 18th century Lithuanian society. He took part in the 1794 uprising and organised and led Vilnius’s civil guard.

In 2028, 275 years will have passed since Gucevičius’s birth and 230 years since his death. He was born in 1753 in Migonys, in Kupiškis district, and died in Vilnius in 1798.

LRT notes that parliament last year designated 2028 as the Year of Lithuanian Scientific Achievements and educator Martynas Počobutas, the Lithuanian Freedom League and its founder Antanas Terleckas, and Antanas Mackevičius, one of the leaders of the 1863 to 1864 uprising.

Those commemorations will mark the 300th anniversary of Počobutas’s birth, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lithuanian Freedom League, the centenary of Terleckas’s birth and the 200th anniversary of Mackevičius’s birth.