In collaboration with Nida Culture and Tourism information Center “Agila” and Curonian Spit National Park NAC launched a series of free Neringa Forest Architecture tours. After a successful beginning in October, NAC announces the November programme.

The tours take part of the new interdisciplinary residency and research project called Neringa Forest Architecture that among other formats include residencies by international and Lithuania based participants to analyze the broader scope of forest-as-infrastructure including topics such as growth, transformation, policy making, management, technology, art and design in the Baltic-Scandinavian region.     

Guided by forestry and national park experts, and architects living and working in the Curonian Spit in dialogue with pupils from Nida Gymnasium, Neringa Forest Architecture Tours facilitate conversation as well as exploration and education. Discussions will focus on the Curonian forest and its distinct eco-socio-political features including the complex legal and managerial processes behind its picturesque façade: How were the forests of Neringa planted? Why does the Neringa Forest and its pathways look this way? Why do trees need to be cut down? How does the local (human and animal) community participate in the making of Neringa Forest? What state and civic agencies and institutions are responsible in shaping it? What architecture is envisaged but currently not built? What do people in Neringa desire most in terms of infrastructure and why can it not be realised?

Upcoming tours in November: 

Saturday, 7 November 2020, 11 a.m.: In his second tour Everything Started with the Ancient Forest the long-time Nida forester Gediminas Virgilijus Dikšas will continue the story about the shift and growth of Neringa forests over centuries to this day. Dikšas was born in Biržai, grew up in Klaipėda. After graduating from Kaunas Agriculture Academy, he was assigned to work in Nida. Dikšas has been living in Nida for almost 50 years now – since the 1970s. 

Saturday, 14 November 2020, 11 a.m.: During her second tour On Forest Paths Gražina Žemaitienė will continue exploring the old forest paths and their titles, as well as the origin of these given names. Žemaitienė, who was born in Šilutė, studied in Kaunas University of Technology and moved to Neringa in 1989. Žemaitienė’s area of work encompasses the planning and realization of landscape projects in the Curonian Spit as well as recreational objects in the forest and urban areas and preventive work for visitors of the Curonian Spit.

Saturday, 21 November 2020, 11 a.m.: In his second tour Meeting or dialogue places Architect and Educator Anton Shramkov will overview and discuss the typology of existing meeting places and spaces of attractions in Neringa. The tour will focus on the aspects of how and why we use public spaces and how we exploit them? Shramkov was born in Moscow, from Architecture at Moscow Institute of Architecture. He was a lecturer in Russia and Sweden. He has been living in Preila since 2007. 

Saturday, 28 November 2020, 11 a.m.: Architect and Educator Anton Shramkov will guide his third tour What is hidden under our feet or what are our resources in Neringa. It is an introduction and comparison of the usage of previous and current local resources and raw materials in architecture, construction and daily life of a Curonian Spit inhabitant.

The excursions are free of charge but with a limited number of places available. Registration is mandatory by email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or phone 860039972. 

NAC urges all visitors to be mindful of the current protective measures against the spreading of Covid-19: we kindly ask you to wear appropriate face coverings and keep a safe distance from other participants. 

Neringa Forest Architecture is co-funded by NERINGA Lithuanian Capital of Culture 2021, Lithuanian Council for Culture and Nordic Culture Point.