Memorial square of A. Ramanauskas – Vanagas, Merkine

Project location – territory in Merkine, next to Nemunaitis and Seinių str. intersection. The square is located alongside an active transport section. Two benches, stone wall and a pedestal for A. Ramanauskas – Vanagas sculpture (aut. Gintautas Lukošaitis) are used to form the area.

Contextual material – stone – can be found in the town‘s pavement, the retaining walls, and in the roads of historic streets. As a result, broken stone or boulders are chosen as the main material. A square is formed using clear boundary and solid material that helps to focuse on the space and distinguish it from a surrounding objects and buildings. Bences are made from stone to keep the same materiality throughout the whole site. The benches not just form the space but also are placed so existing oak trees throw a shadow for those sitting. Behind the long bench, a stone wall is designed in order to create a visual and psychological border for the monument space, not obscuring its visibility from Nemunaitis st. The same street square can be accessed by the stairs and ramps. The sculpture of A. Ramanauskas – Vanagas (aut. Gintautas Lukošaitis) is placed on a stone pedestal. It is not centered within the site allowing to create a strong visual axis with Merkine’s Church.