From June to September, Kaunas, a UNESCO Creative City of Design, organized a one-stage anonymous design contest to seek a design concept for the city’s new Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis Concert Centre. 117 architectal studios entered contest from 36 countries. The 3 finalists are now revealed and 11 top proposals, including several from studios sited in UNESCO Creative Cities.

Kaunas City Municipality, and competition organizers Malcolm Reading Consultants, announced the 3 finalists in the design contest for the new circa €30m M.K. Čiurlionis Concert Centre, who are:

• Paleko Archstudija and UAB Baltic Engineers (Lithuania) – 1^st Prize winner;
• Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); and
• Adam Khan Architects (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

A further 11 practices also proceeded to the top band of evaluation, as per the previously published Competition Conditions: Tabanlioglu Architects (Turkey); Arquivio Arquitectura SLP (Spain); Ja Architecture Studio (Canada); Mangado Y Asociados (Spain); Studija “Heima”, MB and Vaidas Saveikis (Lithuania); MHN Design Union (Australia); MAKAN Architects (Egypt); SLOT Studio (Mexico); 2xm (Italy); MAMBA (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); Young & Ayata (United States of America).

The Concert Centre will be named in honour of Lithuanian polymath M.K. Čiurlionis, an outstanding painter, composer and writer.