The Baltic Material Assemblies

Architectural Association (AA), Gallery and Bar
36 Bedford Square
London WC1B 3ES

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Practice Space
66 Portland Place
London, W1B 1AD

To mark the centenary of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian independence, the Baltic Material Assemblies presents architecture of the Baltic states, exploring the material, infrastructural and cultural connections that have persevered despite the political borders and conflict lines that have been laid throughout the region. The exhibition investigates futurity through its inscription into the region’s geology, infrastructure vand architecture. Presented at the AA and RIBA, it reveals built space as a common ground for European unity.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are the only former Soviet states to have become members of the European Union. An overwhelming majority of the energy networks, mining operations and urban layouts that were instruments of the soviet industrialisation of the Baltic States remain functional today. The reconfiguration or dismantling of this vast space demands a new relationship between society and its environment. The transformation of the Baltic States is incremental, synchronised, negotiated on many levels and in many cases only made possible through the support of other members of the EU.

Electricity grids, fossil fuel pipelines, nuclear assemblies, geological sections, minerals, landform buildings, insulation materials, and landscape photographs are assembled in this exhibition and outline the background to the new architectural commitments of the Baltic States.  
 

Curated by Jurga Daubaraitė and Jonas Žukauskas

With contributions by David Grandorge and Jonathan Lovekin, Eglė Rindzevičiūtė, Jonas Žukauskas, Litgrid, Elering AS, Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas, Klaipėdos Nafta, Geology Service under the Ministry Environment of Republic of Lithuania, Agata Marzecova, Maroš Krivý, Emilija Škarnulytė, PMscreen, Kārlis Bērziņš, Niklāvs Paegle, Dagnija Smilga, Laila Zariņa, Selim Halulu and Stavros Papavasiliou, Jüri Okas, Kadarik Tüür Arhitektid, Raine Karp and Riina Altmäe, Johan Tali and Karli Luik (molumba), Oleksiy Radynsky, Ines Weizman, Hardijs Lediņš and Imants Žodžiks.

Special thanks to Territorial Agency (John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog), Vanessa Norwood, Meneesha Kellay, Justė Kostikovaitė, Sandra Šlepikaitė, Gailė Pranckūnaitė, Marek Voida, Marija Olšauskaitė, Gemma Lloyd, Sandra Šlepikaitė and all the project contributors.

Related Events:

Geologies and Infrastructures, Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 12pm, AA
The event will expand on the themes of the exhibition by inviting contributors to walk through the gallery and talk about their work within the framework of the show before breaking off into a session with presentations by Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas, Eglė Rindzevičiūtė, Oleksiy Radynsky, Maroš Krivý and Agata Marzecova, Ines Weizman.
This talk is supported by Lithuanian Culture institute and Embassy of Estonia in London.

Talk: Europa 7: Baltic States, Tuesday, March 20, 2018, 7 to 8:30pm, RIBA
 

Coordinator: 
Vaida Stepanovaitė

Produced by: Architecture Fund

Supported by: The Lithuanian Council for Culture and Lithuanian Ministry of Culture, Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia, The Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Real Is Beautiful – Lithuanian Tourism Board, Finnfoam