Vilnius has gained a new space where history and modernity go hand in hand. The former St. Jacob’s Hospital, for centuries associated with the activities of the Dominicans and the care of the city’s inhabitants, has undergone extensive modernisation and has been transformed into a vibrant, educational and cultural complex. The project attracted a great deal of interest from the outset, and today attracts attention as an example of the successful adaptation of historic architecture.
St James’ Hospital – the new look
The revitalisation included both historic buildings and public spaces. The quarter included a school, offices, a hotel and leisure facilities. The project, prepared by the DO ARCHITECTS studio, was selected in an international competition in 2019. The architects aimed to ensure that the contemporary functions work harmoniously with the historic urban fabric and create an open space accessible to residents. The new buildings were designed in a restrained form, adapting their scale to their surroundings. Preserving views of the towers of St Philip’s and St James’ Church became an important element. The historic buildings were connected by new, lower segments and the entire quarter was surrounded by a wall reminiscent of the former monastery.
Architecture and functions
The complex is divided into four zones: the church with forecourt, the former monastery with extensions, the hotel complex with inner courtyard and the educational area with public garden. No new buildings have been introduced into the monastery buildings, focusing instead on the restoration of the historic fabric. The hotel part comprises two buildings with more than 270 rooms, a conference centre and an underground car park. Shops and restaurants have been located on the ground floor, and a pedestrian and cycle path and trees have been planted along the street. The education building includes a hall in the form of an amphitheatre overlooking the river and a library in the former courtyard wing.
St James’s Hospital – history of the site
The history of the site dates back to the 17th century, when a small wooden chapel stood on the outskirts of Lukiszki. The Dominicans soon replaced it with a brick church and monastery, in which they ran a school. In time, the first secular hospital in Vilnius was built on the site, considered the most humane in the city. It had 200 beds and provided care not only for the sick, but also for the elderly and those in need of shelter. In the following years, the complex expanded with the addition of more wings. It was surrounded by a brick wall and had a harbour on the Neris River, so it soon became an important centre of the district. It was not until the Soviet period that the space was degraded. At that time, the garden and the entrance to the church were covered up by new buildings, and the historic complex was subjected to numerous modifications, without respect for its value.
One of the buildings before and after renovation. Photo: D. Labutis, M. Morkevičius/ELTA and Vygintas Skaraitis/sa.lt
Conservation challenges
The restoration work proved to be extremely demanding. Unstable foundations had to be reinforced while preserving the historic ceilings and decorations. During the works, unexpected finds were encountered, such as drawings on the walls and cobblestones from centuries ago. The archaeologists present on site made sure that every piece of heritage discovered was protected and incorporated into the new development. One of the most interesting solutions was the restoration of the original stairs discovered at the entrance to the building, as well as the preservation of the wooden roof structures. They were laid with modern zinc sheeting, which cleans itself of deposits over time.
Space for residents
Today, the first offices and a school are already operating in the St. James quarter, and the AC Hotel Vilnius by Marriott will soon open. The courtyard, planted with greenery and made available to passers-by, is becoming a new public space in the centre of Vilnius. The revitalisation of the site took seven years and has become one of the largest projects of its kind in the Lithuanian capital.
Design: DO ARCHITECTS, co-founder, chief architect: Gilma Teodora Gylytė
Investors: Lords LB Asset Management, manager: Anastasija Pocienė
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