In the face of the 100th anniversary of the Lithuania Cultural Congress, another important anniversary for Lithuanian culture is remembered: the 100th anniversary celebration of the Lithuanian Union of Architects in October 2024. (True, it was founded under the name of the Lithuanian Union of Engineers and Architects.) Why are these 100th anniversaries important for the state of Lithuania? Why, as the state of Lithuania grew stronger, did the need and opportunities arise to examine the dynamic relationship between the state and society, giving increasing importance to the foundations of the cultivation of a cultural society?

We know from history that every prosperous nation and flourishing city expresses its existence through signs of culture and art. Architectural signs within our country's landscape, cities, and homes are the most resilient to time, and thus carry a message not only for the present but also for future generations. In light of the centenary of the Lithuanian Culture Congress, I would like to examine the relationship between culture and architecture using the example of the city of Kaunas, as this city best fits the outlines drawn by the Congress's anniversary.

The architecture and culture of independent Lithuania were born together and have shaped one another. Understanding their mutual impact is essential to ensure that the definition of the relationship with the country's architecture is not lost from the conclusions of the Lithuanian Culture Congress and the goals of the emerging Cultural Canon. The provisions of the Law on Architecture should be integrated, and the work of architects should be based on the following key principles: respecting the significance of architecture to the country's culture; this means taking into account the important role architecture plays in national culture by contributing to the formation of the state's image and the people's quality of life.