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Project

The Lost Shtetl Jewish Museum

- Šeduva, Lithuania

The Lost Shtetl Jewish Museum in Šeduva, Lithuania, commemorates a vanished village through minimalist architecture and a reflective landscape.

Modern building with abstract structures and hip roofs in a grassy landscape with stones.

A modern building with a series of minimalist, abstract structures featuring hip roofs, set in a grassy landscape with scattered stones and trees in the background.

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Story

The Lost Shtetl Jewish Museum

A Memorial to a Vanished Village The Lost Shtetl Jewish Museum in Šeduva, Lithuania, stands as a poignant commemoration of a village and its culture that disappeared overnight in 1941. Designed by Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects, the museum embodies the memory of Šeduva through a series of minimalist, abstract structures that evoke the image of a shtetl. These 'houses' with hip roofs form a dreamscape, symbolizing the lost village. The architectural concept is deeply intertwined with the museum's function. The roof design of the galleries reflects the outer shell, with skylights in the roof ridge allowing natural light to filter into the space. This design creates a sense of openness in the upper gallery, while the lower gallery is more intense, focusing on the exhibitions. The entrance floor galleries offer views of the surrounding landscape, echoing the museum's connection to its environment. The museum's facade is crafted from marine aluminium, chosen for its durability and recyclability. The aluminium sheets, reminiscent of wooden shingles, form a scale-like surface that interacts dynamically with light and weather, blending the building into the landscape. This material choice also nods to the weathered farm buildings of the Lithuanian countryside. The museum's surroundings are designed as a memorial park, guided by the idea of the last journey. The park features landscapes that the Jews of Šeduva might have encountered on their way to the nearby forests, including birch alleys, flowering meadows, and an orchard. The project is a testament to international collaboration, involving designers and builders from multiple countries.

Design Highlights

Minimalist, abstract 'houses' with hip roofs Skylights in roof ridge for controlled natural lighting Marine aluminium facade with scale-like texture Memorial park with landscapes reflecting historical journey

Key Facts

Location Šeduva, Lithuania
Year 2025
Size 4,900 m²
Client The Lost Shtetl Museum
Programs Exhibition spaces, multipurpose hall, administration spaces, library, café

Technical summary

Updated 3/8/2026

Finishes

  • Facade: Marine aluminium sheets arranged to form a scale-like surface.
  • Interior Walls: Wood paneling and stone surfaces.
  • Flooring: Light-colored stone surfaces.

Materials

  • Marine Aluminium — Facade
  • Concrete — Structural system
  • Wood — Interior paneling and furniture
  • Stone — Interior flooring and walls

Construction / Systems

  • Structural System: Concrete cast on site.
  • Facade System: Marine aluminium sheets with a scale-like texture.

Products

  • Not specified

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: white, silver-grey, muted, vibrant
  • Lighting: Natural light through skylights and controlled artificial lighting.

Images

Modern building with abstract structures and hip roofs in a grassy landscape with stones.
Minimalist white buildings with hip roofs surrounded by natural landscape and trees.
Modern building with minimalist structures and hip roofs behind a cemetery with gravestones, during a misty morning.
Landscape with white minimalist buildings in the distance, birds on power lines, and a partly cloudy sky.
Aerial view of a modern architectural complex with white buildings and hip roofs, surrounded by landscaped greenery and pathways, set in a rural landscape.
Aerial view of modern buildings with hip roofs in a rural landscape, surrounded by fields and a cemetery.
Modern building with abstract structures and hip roofs, surrounded by landscaped area and tree.
Pathway leading to a modern building with a sloped roof, surrounded by trees and greenery.
Modern building with minimalist structures and hip roofs, surrounded by grass and stone elements.
Modern building with pyramid roofs and a wooden lattice window, surrounded by a garden with grass and pink flowers.
Abstract buildings with hip roofs and shingle-like surfaces, surrounded by wildflowers and grasses.
Minimalist building with white scale-like shingles and wooden arched window cover, surrounded by grasses and trees.
Garden with pond, trees, and a wooden pyramid structure on stilts.
Modern building with abstract structures and hip roofs, covered in scale-like sheets, surrounded by grass and trees.
Modern building with minimalist structures and hip roofs, surrounded by trees and a paved pathway.
Distant view of minimalist buildings with hip roofs in an open landscape under a clear sky with the moon.
Modern building with illuminated grid panels and scale-like tiled roof.
Person walking in a minimalist corridor with a tall window at the end.
Modern interior with staircase, textured wall, and wooden slatted wall with arched doorway.
Modern interior staircase with illuminated steps, glass railing, and skylight.
Interior of a modern building with large windows, wooden paneling, a bench, and a wall-mounted display.
Interior of a modern building with minimalist design, light-colored walls and flooring, staircase with wooden handrails, and ceiling light fixture.
Modern interior with a reception desk, brochure shelves, large windows, and wood paneling.
Interior of a modern space with light stone surfaces and sleek lighting.
Interior room with high ceiling, skylights, wooden flooring, and seating arrangement.
Museum interior with a large black-and-white photograph on the wall and a skylight in the ceiling.
Interior space with wooden slatted walls and ceiling, large window, and minimalist design.
Interior with wooden slats, stone pedestal with book, and large window.
Memorial wall with engraved names and a wooden bench in front.
Colorful glass panels with inscriptions in various languages on a wall installation.
Museum interior with wooden benches, display case, and digital screen showing a 3D model, under a yellow-lit ceiling.
Person walking through an immersive exhibition space with forest imagery on walls and floor.
Architectural floor plan showing various rooms and corridors.
Floor plan showing various rooms and corridors in a building layout.
Floor plan with hip-roofed structures and labeled interior spaces including galleries and offices.
Sketch of a landscape with a path, trees, and a building with a pitched roof.
Sketch of two structures with sloped roofs framing a landscape view with trees and a bench.
Aerial view illustration showing a group of abstract buildings with hip roofs amidst fields and trees.
Sketch of a landscape with abstract buildings and open fields.

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