A colourful object welcomes visitors at the main entrance of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design (FMED) at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU): the K-Totem sculpture. Just before the New Year, the object was renewed once again, unveiling a new visual “skin” that celebrates the shared modernist heritage of Kaunas and Kortrijk (Belgium).
United by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Kaunas and Kortrijk are also connected through their modernist architecture and, more broadly, through their urban identities. The new façade of the sculpture features recognisable yet non-specific modernist motifs – round windows, clear architectural lines, and… a human in a spacesuit travelling between a city’s valuable past and its creative future. This illustration, linking the philosophies of the two cities and raising questions about the role of heritage, was created by Belgian illustrator Ann-Sophie De Steur.
Part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network
It is often overlooked that Kaunas received the title of UNESCO City of Design in 2015 – well before its modernist architecture was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. As a member of the UNESCO Cities of Design network, Kaunas can use design as a strategic tool for shaping its future, whether in business and economic development, strategic thinking, communication, or education.
According to Dr Jūratė Tutlytė, Head of the Kaunas Design Network association, the greatest challenge begins once the title is awarded: if it is not embedded in a long-term urban strategy, the title risks remaining merely symbolic. She emphasises that while the UNESCO designation gives the city the freedom to define its own direction, it also comes with responsibility and the need for concrete action.
“When used purposefully, creativity and culture can become powerful drivers of transformation, helping a city grow and achieve sustainable development. This is why the role of design in Kaunas’ future must be fundamentally rethought,” says the art historian.
