This proposal mimics the natural ascent of the mound without any interference to the topography and constructs itself on the historical foundation of the city with respect to its accumulated culture, music and nature. Through the architectural concept of the proposal, the identity of city intensifies and comes into existence in this building and is strengthened through recognition and use. In the same time, it resembles a focal point where the city’s totality is gathered on top of the Tauras Hill and again spread out in the streets of the city. Moreover, the location of Tauras Hill Park enables the visibility of the proposal from the city. In a way, it solidifies the accumulation of history and culture while being a physical reminder of the city’s and society’s roots through an architectural body. Though the visibility of the new proposal from the city of Vilnius is provided by the location, the architectural concept of the design aims for individuals inside the building to see, observe, and experience the urban texture of the city. With this aim, the proposal is designed as an interactive journey. Individuals start their journey from the bottom parts of Tauras Hill Park and either climb up or are taken to the level of the building. When they reach this level, they can join the “House of Nation” tour3 that takes guests on the journey by ramps to inhibit the limited mobility of some individuals. It circulates through the building and landscape by ramps to make every guest be part of the city and the building in the same way. Also, instead of 600 m2 closed and limited expo-education centre, this tour connects multiple exhibition areas in second floors and the totality of it ensures the square-meter requirement and function of the centre. “House of Nation” tour educates guests on the history of Vilnius through exhibitions and important views of the surrounding historical places such as Vilnius Evangelical Cemetery, Old Town, and Tauras Hill. As guests learn more about the city, they start to reach higher levels on the building. This act of rising both as circulation and the building itself symbolise the rising of Lithuania and Vilnius as a nation and capital. In other words, the proposal highlights the independence, power, and rise of Lithuania and Vilnius while making a remark on the universality and influential effect of music on life. Since this competition consists of both a concert hall and a nation’s house, IA 0810 coded proposal aims society of a nation to find pieces of themselves, ancestors, history, culture, living experiences and nature to feel a sense of belonging in a landmark embracing the whole city. Not only a symbol of a nation but an emblem for European culture. Therefore, guests of the building are welcomed and enfolded in the years and years of accumulation of European music in the concert halls and surrounding open spaces while educated by House of Nation tour. The

architectural concept of the form of the proposal depends on the crucial elements of the city. Vilnius is a halved city by the River Neris into the old and new town. Thus, the building is halved by House of Nation tour imitating the River Neris into two. This tour is associated with the River Neris to attribute the journey generated in the building as a natural flow of information about the city. In these separate two masses, The Grand Concert Hall represents the New Town, whereas, the small concert hall represents the Old Town. With that being said, the form of the proposal metaphorically represents Vilnius as a city. When guests reach the top of the building, feelings of familiarity and belongingness to Vilnius meet with views of the cityscape that they never perceived before. 

There are two suggested ways to circulate this building. One is the Journey, mainly formed through the House of Nation tour and it is comprehensive in a sense that it introduces the building, its functions, and experiences while educating individuals as mentioned before. It is mainly built by ramps to allow every guest to join the tour regardless of limited mobility. The tour consists of every function of the building except the Grand Concert Hall. The other type of circulation of the buildingis more direct because it allows guests straight access into the Grand Concert Hall. The scenario of circulation types is constructed by thinking about occasions.