16. Administrative buildings of the Klaipėda Stevedoring Company BEGA / former part of the Klaipėda Cellulose Factory Complex

About

Five hundred years ago, the area now known as Klaipėda was a small fishing village called Amber Swamp. By the 18th century, it had grown into a thriving timber handling and trading port. At the end of the 19th century, the construction of the cellulose factory Zellulosefabrik Memel A.-G. began. It required administrative buildings and therefore, at the beginning of the 20th century, two buildings – outwardly contrasting but nevertheless both perfectly reflecting the architectural trends of the time – were erected. 

Today, this pair is an architectural gem that combines functional industrial design with decorative Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) elements. The timber framing of the façade adds a sense of lightness, while the turrets, pediments, a gabled upper storey, and an asymmetrical design create a dynamic impression. Inside, some authentic floor tiling with patterns typical of the period remain. 

The second building (2A Nemuno Street) is larger and a more conservative example of Jugend style, typical of the residential houses in the region. The geometric patterns that break up the façades, rounded pediments with relief decoration, and an octagonal turret topped with an intricately shaped two-tiered spire rising from the corner contribute to its distinctive character. Both buildings exemplify the new architectural trends of their era. 

Together, they form an iconic façade for one of Lithuania’s most impressive industrial heritage sites – the Cellulose Factory complex – and today house the Klaipėda Stevedoring Company BEGA.