Housing, Heritage & the Housing, Heritage & the Evolving “Cultural/Urban Evolving “Cultural/Urban

Landscape” of an Landscape” of an Ex-Soviet, European CapitalEx-Soviet, European Capital

Terence M. Milstead, Terence M. Milstead, Dept. of Urban and Regional Planning, Dept. of Urban and Regional Planning,

Florida State University, USAFlorida State University, USA2006-2007 U.S. Fulbright Fellow, Lithuania2006-2007 U.S. Fulbright Fellow, Lithuania

Vilnius in 16Vilnius in 16thth Century Century

Vilnius in 21Vilnius in 21stst Century Century

Vilnius’ Old TownVilnius’ Old Town

Vilnius’ Old TownVilnius’ Old Town

Vilnius’ Old TownVilnius’ Old Town

Vilnius’ Old TownVilnius’ Old Town

Gediminas Castle TowerGediminas Castle Tower

Snipiskes QuarterSnipiskes Quarter

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

From what perspectives do residents prioritize From what perspectives do residents prioritize home improvements?home improvements?

Are features of built environment seen as cultural Are features of built environment seen as cultural symbols, perceived positively or negatively, and symbols, perceived positively or negatively, and influential to perceptions/treatment of dwellings?influential to perceptions/treatment of dwellings?

Do housing type, historic character of a quarter or Do housing type, historic character of a quarter or proximity to the historic center matter?proximity to the historic center matter?

MethodsMethods

On-site observations of each city quarter;On-site observations of each city quarter;

Review of archival materials; Review of archival materials;

Interviews with individuals directly involved with Interviews with individuals directly involved with housing, city planning and/or heritage issues; and housing, city planning and/or heritage issues; and

Focus group interviews with residents in different Focus group interviews with residents in different city quarters.city quarters.

Focus Group Finding #1:Focus Group Finding #1:

Residents prioritize home Residents prioritize home improvements:improvements:

partly from a functional perspective; and partly from a functional perspective; and

largely from a financial perspective often largely from a financial perspective often associated with home re-sale valueassociated with home re-sale value

BUT RARELY FROM A HERITAGE PERSPECTIVEBUT RARELY FROM A HERITAGE PERSPECTIVE

Focus Group Finding #2:Focus Group Finding #2:

Residents do not associate changes Residents do not associate changes in “cultural/urban landscape” with in “cultural/urban landscape” with heritage issuesheritage issues

They see these changes also from a They see these changes also from a combination of financial and combination of financial and practical/functional perspectives.practical/functional perspectives.

Focus Group Findings #3 and 4:Focus Group Findings #3 and 4:

Residents do not associate the Residents do not associate the historic “center” of Vilnius with historic “center” of Vilnius with cultural heritage issues cultural heritage issues

New “modern” center of city may be New “modern” center of city may be responsible, and is changing how responsible, and is changing how residents in Soviet housing perceive residents in Soviet housing perceive home home

Focus Group Findings #5 and #6:Focus Group Findings #5 and #6:

Class-based perceptions rooted in Class-based perceptions rooted in globalized symbolism influence globalized symbolism influence residents’ feelingsresidents’ feelings

Heritage concerns are more Heritage concerns are more noticeable among individuals as noticeable among individuals as “citizens” than as “home-owners”“citizens” than as “home-owners”

Recommendation #1Recommendation #1

Expanded Education w/focus on:Expanded Education w/focus on:

Heritage “Cultivation”Heritage “Cultivation”

Combining emphasis on individual Combining emphasis on individual practical benefits of historic practical benefits of historic preservation w/ group social benefits preservation w/ group social benefits

Recommendation #2Recommendation #2

Feelings of security of tenure should be Feelings of security of tenure should be promoted among residents through:promoted among residents through:

Setting planning goals designed to preserve a Setting planning goals designed to preserve a mix of incomes in certain quarters;mix of incomes in certain quarters;

Strict enforcement of planning regulations;Strict enforcement of planning regulations;

Possibility of establishing historic Possibility of establishing historic trust/curatorship programtrust/curatorship program