Historic Homestead Reborn as Contemporary Art Center in Panevėžys by PUPA Life Over Space

The transformation of a historic red-brick manor in Panevėžys, Lithuania, has resulted in a vibrant new landmark for the city’s cultural landscape. Reimagined by PUPA Life Over Space, the former homestead has been meticulously restored and expanded into a contemporary art residency and creative innovation center, blending heritage preservation with thoughtful new architecture.

Located in a scenic city park surrounded by rivers, streams, and lush greenery, the project revitalizes a protected cultural monument while supporting Panevėžys’ long-term strategy to cultivate creative industries. The completed center spans 700 m², offering studios, galleries, and multidisciplinary workspaces that serve both local and international artists.

A Historic Manor Rediscovered

Built in the 1930s, the red-brick estate once belonged to a prominent Lithuanian poet who hosted artists, writers, and intellectuals. This made the manor a cherished cultural hub before World War II. During the Soviet era, however, the building was nationalized and left to deteriorate over decades, eventually becoming a near-abandoned ruin.

In 2017, the municipality initiated a strategic plan to shift from an industrial identity toward creative development. With EU funding prioritized for cultural revival, the restoration of this manor became a key project to anchor the city’s artistic future.

Restoration of the Heritage Homestead

PUPA Life Over Space won the architectural competition with a proposal that honored the estate’s past while preparing it for contemporary creative use. The transformation was executed in two phases:

Phase 1: Architectural Restoration

Extensive historical research guided the careful reconstruction of authentic details. Working closely with conservation specialists, the architects restored:

• Original red-brick masonry
• Traditional roof forms
• Historical wall plaster and decorative painting
• Window proportions and frames
• The surrounding orchard, reinstated to its original layout

This phase ensured that the soul and architectural identity of the manor were preserved with precision.

A Contemporary Extension Hidden in the Landscape

Phase 2: Modern Terrain-Integrated Expansion

To accommodate new artistic functions, the team designed a modern extension embedded into the natural slope between the homestead and a nearby stream. A curving glass volume blends with the trees of the historic park, visually dissolving into the landscape.

Key features include:

• A winding corridor connecting the old and new structures
• Workshops for art, design, applied theater, audio-video, and alternative photography
• A flexible gallery and exhibition hall
• Indoor and outdoor art display areas
• Large glazing that frames nature as part of the interior experience

The design emphasizes material honesty with concrete floors and walls, wood-paneled ceilings, and a restrained monochrome palette that complements the historic manor’s warmth.

Architecture Embedded in Nature

Instead of overshadowing the historic building, the extension gently merges into the terrain. Its low profile, organic curvature, and glass facade allow the greenery of the park to flow seamlessly into the building’s interior.

Visitors experience a unique architectural dialogue between:

• Past and present
• Brick and glass
• Craft and contemporary expression
• Architecture and landscape

The result is a serene cultural space where creativity is nurtured in harmony with nature and history.

The Art Center Historic Homestead Transformation stands as a successful example of sustainable heritage renewal in Lithuania. Through precise restoration and sensitive contemporary design, PUPA Life Over Space has revived a forgotten manor into a thriving cultural and creative destination, an architecture that honors memory while inspiring new artistic futures.

All photographs are works of  Aiste Rakauskaite