13. Guesthouse "Melt in Palanga"

About

At the initiative of the Archdiocese of Kaunas, a modern entertainment complex opened its doors in 2017 in the vicinity of Jūratė and Kastytis Square and the bridge, next to the hotel “Šachmatinė” – this is where “Melt in Palanga” is now located.

The site, a derelict area with a pre-war wellness centre, has been revitalized and transformed into a cozy public space with modern infrastructure. The volume and structure of the development follow the conventions of resort architecture and are reminiscent of the former wellness Centre. The main hotel is visible from J. Basanavičiaus Street, which is located deeper in the plot and is not overshadowed but complemented by the temporary buildings which are aligned with the main building.

The L-shaped building retains the appearance of the main hotel, which is located deeper in the plot, and is not overshadowed by, but complemented by, the temporary buildings that are attached to the main building.

The L-shaped building retains the appearance and height of the burnt-down wellness centre. The reconstructed building creates a historically distinctive courtyard, while the volume itself is divided into three parts by an external staircase to achieve a sense of levity at the points where the volumes meet. The façade of the building uses natural and ethnographic elements from the seaside to create a sober image within the general context of the villas in Palanga. Natural and industrial materials are used for finishing, and the use of painted wood and metal is repeated in the temporary structures near the hotel.

The ground floor of the building is dedicated to commercial units, while the second floor houses the hotel reception and rooms. The interior reflects minimalist concepts and seasonality. The rooms are designed for summer holidays and are therefore small. The main accent of the interior is the colours of the summer sun, which create a feeling of coziness and allow the visitor to have a taste of summer.