AABS is pleased to congratulate Megija Mīlberga for completing her pan-Baltic architectural history project, for which she received the Baumanis Grant for Creative Projects in Baltic Studies.
In cooperation with photographer Filips Smits, Mīlberga set out to contribute to the most extensive academic photo documentation of Soviet postmodern architecture in the Baltic region. As one of the main goals of the project was to make this documentation more widely available, she is pleased to share the resulting photos publicly at this Google Drive link.
Mīlberga’s full report is below, edited and published by AABS with her consent. Enjoy the tale and the photos!
©Megija Mīlberga, 2023
Megija Mīlberga is an art historian. She holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and an M.A. in Cultural Studies from KU Leuven. She is the recipient of the Fulbright Foreign Student Fellowship for M.A. studies in History of Art and Archaeology at The Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. Mīlberga is currently a doctoral candidate at The Institute of Fine Arts, NYU, studying modern and contemporary art and architecture in Eastern Europe. Her dissertation will interrogate site-consciousness as a tool of insurgent citizenship in Soviet-era architecture in the Baltic states.
She has gathered work experience organising Latvia’s participation at the 58th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia; at Kim? Contemporary Art Centre in Riga, as well as Rupert artist residency in Vilnius. Her recent publications include an exhibition text for Sabīne Vernere’s show, as well as reviews and interviews in local press.
An “Invaluable Opportunity”
Baumanis Grant Report from Megija Mīlberga
Lithuanian Martynas Mažvydas National Library Palanga Summer Reading Room, Palanga, Lithuania, 1966. Arch. Albinas Čepys. Photo: Filips Smits, 2024.
Between May 2023 and August 2024, photographer Filips Smits and I set out on an extraordinary journey to capture sites that I hope will one day form the foundation of my doctoral thesis. For two unforgettable summers, we roamed across the Baltic states, delving into hidden corners, meeting with visionary architects, artists, and researchers, and breathing new life into the most extensive academic photo documentation of Soviet postmodern architecture in the Baltic region.
As we conducted interviews, it became clear that this material could be a valuable resource for other researchers in the Baltics. We’ve shared the images with scholars across the region, and they are freely available through this link.
The project consisted of several stages:
- Meeting with researchers from across the Baltics to develop the initial list of architectural sites. In this regard, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to Andres Kurg, professor of architectural history and theory at the Institute of Art History in Estonian Academy of Arts, in Tallinn; Marija Dremaite, Professor in Architectural History and Cultural Heritage at Vilnius University, Faculty of History; as well as Ilze Martinsone, Director of the Latvuan Museum of Architecture. Their insights and expertise were invaluable in developing the initial list of documented sites.
- In order to learn more about the select sites, I met with architects, visited archives and conducted research about the history of the architectural sites in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. I would like to express my gratitude to the representatives of the National Archives of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as Dagnija Smilga, Gustavs Grasis and Igors Malovickis.
- Having conducted the necessary preparatory activities, in June 2024 we embarked on our way to Estonia, making stops in Tallinn, Janeda, Kurtna and Salmistu. This was followed by a trip through Lithuania, where we photographed sites in Palanga and Vilnius. Lastly, we went to Latvia, photographing sites in Riga, Pabaži, Zvajniekciems, Valmiera. We spent approximately three weeks on the road, producing more than 300 images.
Maarjamäe Memorial, Tallinn, Estonia, 1975. Arch. Allan Murdmaa, sculptor Matti Varik. Photo: Filips Smits, 2024.
Lazdynai housing project in Vilnius, Lithuania, June 2024. Photo: Filips Smits, 2024.
Linnahall Concert Hall in Tallinn, Estonia, June 2024. Photo: Filips Smits, 2024.
Far from being a conclusive effort, the project has opened up countless possibilities for future exploration and collaboration. One of the most exciting opportunities is my upcoming participation in the ASEEES (Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies) conference in Boston this November. I was invited by Prof. Marija Dremaite to join her panel, “Landscapes of Memory: Contested Built Environments and Politics in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, 1920s–2020s,” where I will present insights from our photo project and related research, focusing on the case of Latvia. The material created with Filips will also be featured in the conference.
Additionally, we’ve been approached by gallerist Elina Drake to potentially expand the project into a larger exhibition and a public discussion series. This initiative aims to engage a broader audience in the pressing issues surrounding the preservation of postmodern architectural heritage in the Baltics.
I am deeply grateful to AABS for granting me the invaluable opportunity to travel across the Baltics and document some of the most remarkable examples of Soviet-era architecture. The material gathered during these trips will not only enrich my future research but also serve as a valuable resource for the broader academic community interested in the history of contextual and Soviet-era architecture in the Baltics.
Megija Milberga and Filips Smits by Modris Ģelzis’ summer house in Pabaži, 2024.
Residential block on Rīgas st., Valmiera, Latvia, 1965-1974. Arch. Modris Ģelzis. Photo: Filips Smits, 2024.
Hotel Žilvinas, Palanga, Lithuania, 1967-1968. Arch. Algimantas Lėckas, engineer Kęstutis Augustinas. Photo: Filips Smits, 2024.
What is the Baumanis Grant?
The Baumanis Grant is an award made to honor Velta Marija Baumanis of Mount Brydges, Ontario, who left a generous bequest to AABS at the end of her career as an architect. An award of up to $7,000 is available for any creative project (e.g., book, film, exhibit, etc.) that promotes Baltic studies. Preference is given to topics with a pan-Baltic or comparative aspect. Applicants must be members of the AABS at the time of application.
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