Press conference was attended by Arvydas Sabonis, President of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF), architect Gintautas Natkevičius, author of the Basketball House project, Nick Appelbaum, Vice President of the RAA, Rick Sobel, RAA Project Manager, and other guests.
In Kaunas, the capital of Lithuanian basketball, the construction of the House of Basketball is gaining momentum, and Kaunas residents and guests can already see the rapidly growing walls of the building. The interior design and installation works are approaching more and more rapidly.
Currently, the second stage of construction is in full swing, during which the foundation piles of the building are being forged and work related to the engineering networks is being carried out. Workers are expected to complete the work by March 2020.
The initiator of the idea, LKF President Arvydas Sabonis, confirmed that the construction is going according to plan.
“The building will be finished by March of 2020. Interior works will take from 6 to 9 months to be finished. It all depends on the financial situation. If we collect enough money, we will have a House of Basketball by December 2020. In 1939, people also donated to the Sports Hall (orig. ‘Sporto Halė‘). It is now being renovated. This year marks the 80th anniversary of that. We are a basketball party, so together we can achieve the goal. Hopefully in 50 years, the importance of this “House of Basketball” will become clear”, – said A. Sabonis.
During the intensive works and search for who could equip and design interior of the museum and make it interesting and attractive to people of all ages, representatives of the United States company RAA were selected. What was the reasoning of this choice?
“RAA was founded in 1978 and has completed about 700 projects in 50 different countries of the world (USA, Great Britain, Russia, Germany, China, United Arab Emirates, etc.)”, – said Arvydas Sabonis, President of LKF, who also donated 100.000 euros. – We met with them and agreed that we could try to make it work.”
RAA (Ralph Appelbaum Associates) is a creative agency that plans and designs exhibitions, museums and other various attractions. It specializes in high-level projects working with cultural, business and governmental organizations from around the world.
RAA has a very diverse team of about 200 specialists: designers, architects, historians, technologists, media representatives and researchers who work in special teams of relevant projects and are dedicated to the design and creative process, communication. In order to convey history, key and core customer ideas and values to the public.
The RAA uses a variety of tools: storytelling, design, theater, media, interactive technology, and architecture. The RAA provides a wide range of services for projects that often face complex challenges in the areas of education, public spaces, institution building, as well as the development of new cultural centers and programs.
The famous architect of our country G. Natkevičius shared his thoughts on the impression of the House of Basketballproject, which has no alternatives in Lithuania.
“It is simply a building. We imagine it will be beautiful. We need a script, which Arvydas is trying to implement. We realized the need for a global approach to our basketball history. The way the world sees it. I have been impressed by the RAA with their work around the globe. What they provide in Kaunas is what the city lacks. This is a great addition to the city’s picture. Lithuanian youth will be interested in this. “House of Basketball” is very modern, interesting and is a very high-level multifunctional centre”, – said the architect.
Representatives of the RAA organization take care of the technological problems, concept and main idea of “House of Basketball“.
“This building must be built. Kaunas needs it, Lithuania needs it. In order to honor the past, rejoice in the present and nurture the future. After all, basketball is very popular in Lithuania. This will be a consistent history of Lithuanian basketball”,- said RAA Vice President Nick Appelbaum.
RAA project manager R. Sobel knows what basketball means to Lithuanian people.
“The history of Lithuanian basketball is one of the most interesting and greatest sports stories of the 20th century. The Lithuanian House of Basketball is an innovative tribute to the Lithuanian national sport. We are happy to work together with the Lithuanian Basketball Federation to create ways to perpetuate that extraordinary connection between Lithuania and the popular sport in this unordinary way. This project should attract not only local residents, but undoubtedly also visitors from foreign countries”, – said RAA project manager R. Sobel.
“Lithuanians have proved themselves as a nation in various basketball championships. A small nation, and what a huge basketball state”, – added R. Sobel.
At the press conference, the Americans presented their vision of the “House of Basketball” with video projections, with monuments to the basketball pioneer James Naismith, sculpture of the world’s largest basketball, light, audio and video projections, interactive tables, trophy museum and the champions’ walk to Kaunas Castle.
