Recently, we went through a period when the most popular request for blacksmiths was minimalist glass and steel architecture, but this fashion is already passing - people are increasingly longing for naturalness, says Raimondas Vaitkūnas, head of "Vilniaus kalviai". A craftsman helping to set up modern settlements in the capital notices a growing need for small architectural elements and running water near houses.
"In Lithuania, as usual, this trend is delayed. When fulfilling orders in Western European countries, I noticed a return to the origins already a good decade ago. We are turning back to nature only in recent years", said R. Vaitkūnas.
A man who has been engaged in blacksmithing for more than two decades says that people tend to tell the blacksmith even the smallest of their wishes - every detail is important. So the craftsman has the opportunity to understand what kind of environment they really want to live in. According to him, in many ways we are actively following in the footsteps of the Western world.
R. Vaitkūnas asserts that, if previously the main focus was on the decoration of buildings, and later on modern steel and glass structures, recently Lithuanians are more and more inclined to diversify their living environment with elements of small architecture, the number of such orders is growing rapidly.
The craftsman claims to notice the same trends not only in the orders of individual customers, but also in the orders of real estate developers - the last example is new and already being completed.Užupis embankments" settlement.
"Revival" of fountains
The most popular requests are works decorated with motifs of nature, antiquity and Baltic tribes. Kalvis notes a recent resurgence in popularity of fountains.
"We used to have a lot of them in Vilnius. But gradually they all died out, leaving empty concrete and iron structures that darkened the city. However, the number of fountains created in private estates has recently started to grow again - we are receiving more and more such requests," said R. Vaitkūnas.
According to him, running water is an increasingly frequent motif of customers. This is not surprising to the craftsman: he is convinced that the need for running water is embedded in the nature of every human being, and we have simply been too involved for a long time in the effort to distance ourselves from nature, to advance as far as possible from our origins, to notice it.
"But notice what we look for to escape from work, to relax, to recharge - we look for water." We drive by rivers, lakes, seas. Since ancient times, we have been used to building where there is a brook nearby, and recently I have been hearing this request more and more often. Solid concrete oppresses people, while water symbolizes life," he thought.
R. Vaitkūnas is convinced: a blacksmith must be a psychologist, an artist, and a craftsman in order to be able to understand what his customers really want. As an example, the craftsman mentions the fountain he is currently creating in the capital's "Užupis krantinių" settlement.
"It can't just be a simple fountain. It must become a symbol of the entire neighborhood - to protect and connect it, to bring neighbors together, to introduce them. To calm them down, to inspire them, to encourage them to think, to make them happy", - this is how the blacksmith sees the mission of his new work.
According to him, the style of modern fountains also depends on this. Although even five years ago, they all had to light up in different colors, dance to the sounds of music and be extremely bright, today customers already emphasize naturalness.
"In the same way, this future fountain will perfectly reflect the spirit of Užupis - it will not shine, it will not scream, it will not try to draw attention to itself. It will become a natural part of nature and just quietly, calmly drip like rain from tree branches, reminding of the flow of time, encouraging you to spend every moment as meaningfully as possible," said the craftsman.
Settlers are interested in environmental quality
According to R. Vaitkūnas, a blacksmith with many years of experience, it is important for modern settlers not only to have quality housing, but also an environment where they want to spend their free time, meet and communicate. Therefore, with his works, he aims to create just such an atmosphere: cozy and unifying.
Similar sentiments of home buyers are reported by real estate developers. According to Mantas Umbras, the sales manager of MG Valdas, one of the largest real estate (NT) companies in Lithuania, residents' demands for an exceptional environment, natural motifs, and symbols are constantly growing.
"In every project we develop, we look for unusual, exclusive solutions for setting up the environment. We see this becoming an increasingly important aspect of choosing a place to live. The new settlers are looking for housing in the city where they can feel surrounded by nature, which is reflected very well by the "Užupis krantiniai" settlement," he says.
"Vilniaus kalviai" took care of more than just the fountain in this settlement - they created more than 200 balconies and other metal architectural details. According to R. Vaitkūnas, while working at "Užupis krantine", he noticed that this place is chosen by residents who long for a special, extremely high quality of life.
"Therefore, it is not surprising that we also received a request from the customers to invest a lot in quality. It must be admitted that this is quite rare these days, but it is clear that the changing needs and requirements of the population will force more and more of our customers to raise the quality bar," the craftsman is confident.
