The small village of Svencelė, situated on the west coast of Lithuania near Klaipėda, has undergone a spectacular transformation over the past decade or so. The former coastal settlement has been transformed into an extensive network of canals, marinas and houses. Today, Svencelė continues to expand, resembling Dutch waterfront settlements in appearance.
The history of Svencelė
For a long time, Svencelė remained an obscure settlement, situated somewhere on the eastern shore of the Curonian Lagoon. A large duck farm operated there, which ceased operations after Lithuania regained independence in the early 1990s. Over time, the abandoned site attracted kitesurfing enthusiasts. Its picturesque location amidst the dunes, as well as the specific wind conditions, meant that Svencelė quickly gained a reputation among sports enthusiasts. For almost the next two decades, the coastal landscape was dominated mainly by campervans, tents and temporary infrastructure. In the early 2010s, however, a major change came that would revolutionise this part of Lithuania forever. At that time, entrepreneur Dainius Šatkus, together with the Do Architects studio, began the first steps to develop the coast. Modified shipping containers were transformed into bars, shops, kitesurfing schools and small hostels. In this way, within a very short time, Svencelė began to function as a recognisable tourist brand.
The birth of a settlement on the water
The first phase of development focused on sports, but over time, the architects at Do Architects began to develop a broader concept for a new Svencelė. Around 2020, the visionary construction of a system of canals, artificial islands and rows of houses built right by the water, each with its own tiny jetty, began. Parts of the emerging development gradually began to change the scale and image of the entire village. As the infrastructure expanded, new residents arrived. Kitesurfers were joined by sailors, nature lovers and people seeking a peaceful place to live in close contact with nature. The development also extended to large areas in the surrounding area. In recent years, the Svencelė region has attracted numerous investors, and further holiday and year-round homes are being built along the new canals.
Svencelė’s water landscape rooted in history
As Lithuanian urban planner Andrė Baldišiūtė points out, life by the water has a long tradition in the Klaipėda region. People have been managing the floodplains here for over 400 years, coping with difficult and demanding conditions. Flood defences were built, polders were created and canals were dug, enabling water levels to be controlled and agricultural land to be utilised. Contemporary Svencelė draws on these experiences, giving them a new function. Today, the canals serve as recreational features and spaces for residential development. In the past, the region’s inhabitants drew on the expertise of Dutch engineers specialising in the development of wetlands. Now, these Dutch inspirations are resurfacing in discussions about water management and the maintenance of land reclaimed from the lagoon.
Future plans for the Lithuanian Venice
The presence of water is setting the direction for the town’s further development. Svencelė, with its own marina and growing network of canals, is making its presence increasingly felt within the Curonian Lagoon’s water tourism system. Sailing routes lead from here towards Klaipėda, Neringa, the island of Rusnė and Cape Ventė. The regional authorities are currently preparing a broader concept for the development of this area. The document aims to organise future development and infrastructure and identify locations for further sections of canals to avoid chaos. The expansion of the historic King Wilhelm Canal is also under consideration. Each new section of the waterway network is gradually transforming the former coastal village into a sprawling settlement linked to the picturesque landscape of the Curonian Lagoon.
Source:DoArchitects
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