Kaunas Garrison Officers' Club Building () is a building in Kaunas, Lithuania. At construction cost of over 1.27 million Lithuanian litas, it was one of the most luxurious buildings built in interwar Lithuania. Located next to Laisvės alėja, the main pedestrian street, the building features nationalistic symbolism and decorative folk motifs. The second of the four floors has four formal rooms of grand but eclectic design. Their interior pays homage to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and was designed by prominent Lithuanian artists. Built in 1935–1937, the building served as the headquarters of the Officers' Club of the Lithuanian Army and venue for various official events. The building suffered great damage in the Lithuanian SSR (1945–1990). The Lithuanians recovered the building from the Russian Army in 1992 and it was taken over by the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 2000. In the early 2000s, the building underwent major renovation to restore and recreate as much of the authentic interwar decor as possible. In 2015, the building was one of 44 objects in Kaunas to receive the European Heritage Label.
History
The first soldiers' club was established in July 1919. By 1924, this club evolved to the Officers' Club () of Lithuanian military officers, doctors, and chaplains. Its Lithuanian name ramovė was invented by professor Jonas Jablonskis, the father of standard Lithuanian language. He described the club as a peaceful and serene (ramybė and rimtis) shelter from the chaos of the war, just like the Romuva temple was a shelter for pagan Lithuanians. At the time, the club owned a two-floor house on the corner of A. Mickevičiaus street and Laisvės alėja built in 1860. The idea for a dedicated headquarter building was raised in 1930. In 1931, the club held an international competition for the design. It was won by Estonian architects Elmar Lohk and Herbert Johanson. The design was further work on by Vladimiras Dubeneckis and after his death in 1932 by . The project was completed in 1933, but the construction due to financial difficulties did not start until 1935. The location was hotly debated, from outlandish proposals to demolish the Church of St. Michael the Archangel and build the club building in its place or built it on the Napoleon's Hill to more serious proposals to build it outside the city center where it could be accompanied by a park or a garden.
The construction, at a cost of over 1.27 million Lithuanian litas, was completed in April 1937. Part of the required cost was covered by the soldiers from their official salary (2% in 1920s and 1% in 1930s). The remaining 780,000 litas was provided as a loan by the State Savings Bank. The building was built with four floors, covering over with the first floor being made from granite and the remaining floors from masonry bricks. The building used as much local Lithuanian materials as possible. Each floor of the building served a distinct function. The first floor was open to the public and housed a large restaurant. The second floor was the formal floor for various official events. The third floor was the private space for officers with a library, salon, chess room. The fourth floor was a hotel for visiting officers. The basement had a gym and a shooting range. The building also featured technical innovations, such as modern lighting by AEG, ventilation, and elevator.
During the interwar period when Kaunas was the temporary capital of Lithuania, the building was an object of great importance that often hosted military and other official events, including reception of foreign dignitaries by President Antanas Smetona. During World War II, the building was occupied by the Red Army in June 1940. During the German occupation, Lithuanians were allowed to use the building but their activities were limited. When Lithuania was occupied for the second time by the Soviets in 1944, the building was turned into officer's club of the Red Army, its nationalistic symbols were destroyed, and the building fell into the general state of disrepair.
The Lithuanians recovered the building from the Russian Army in 1992. The ownership was restored to the reestablished Officers' Club, but it lacked financial resources to repair the building. Of a particular concern was the leaky roof. The building was taken over by the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 2000 and the building underwent major renovation to restore and recreate as much of the authentic interwar decor as possible. In 2015, the building was one of 44 buildings in Kaunas to receive the European Heritage Label.