15. The interior of restaurant “Žara”

About

Restaurant “Žara” was opened back 1983 on Salesman Day and was considered one of the most luxurious restaurants not only in Panevėžys but the whole Soviet Lithuania as well. It was set up in a typical Soviet shopping mall designed by The Institute for Planning of the Urban Development. It is one of the few restaurants which not only are still open today but look pretty much the same as they used to. “Žara” is located in the premises of the former shopping mall in Klaipedos street which was built to satisfy all the needs (recreational included) of the local neighbourhood. Vaclovas Andriuška, the interior designer, made sure that the atmosphere in the restaurant would evoke the sense of exquisite luxury. Inner spaces are dominated by the colour red and timber decoration whereas the impression of the glow of the setting sun is achieved through an elaborate lighting composition created by a glass artist Irena Lipienė. Her creation, titled “Saulės pulsavimas” (The Pulse of the Sun), is perhaps the most important feature of the interior.

Back in the 80s, the walls were decorated with natural silk fabric, however, not much of it remains today. “Žara” was not only the centre of entertainment but of the cultural life of the city as well. It was as luxurious as some of the restaurants in Kaunas and those who did not belong to the city’s elite had to book a table at least a week in advance.

Participants of “Pastatai kalba” tours will have the opportunity to not only feel the atmosphere of the times passed but to observe the changes that had already happened in this once extremely lavish location.