Soviet Modernist Architecture - Vilnius, Lithuania Playing Cards

The Palace of Concerts and Sports was built in 1971 in Vilnius, on the right bank of the Neris River — as part of a larger sports and recreation complex in the area of Žirmūnai. Its architects were Eduardas Chlomauskas (with collaborators Jonas Kriukelis and Zigmantas Liandzbergis), while the sweeping cable-stayed roof was engineered by Henrikas Karvelis. Architecturally, the building is a prime example of Soviet-era Brutalist/Modernist style — concrete, glass, and dramatic forms. Its distinctive “wave-like” roof makes it stand out among contemporaneous buildings. The main hall could seat about 4,400 spectators, and the Palace was used for sports (notably volleyball and basketball), concerts, cultural events — basically a multi-use indoor arena. In 2004, the Palace was deemed unsafe and was closed. Since then it has largely stood unused and fallen into disrepair. Despite closure, in 2006 the building was added to Vilnius’s list of Cultural Heritage sites — legally protecting it from demolition or significant alteration.