Gargždai Market – an urban block with a courtyard

In the center of Gargždai, we aim to create the vibrant character of a historic city center with cozy streets, ground-floor retail, public spaces, and human-scale neighborhoods.

We won second place in the architectural competition for the market with the project “Courtyard,” in which we proposed the creation of a market quarter. The market consists of several volumes – a hall and shopping pavilions arranged around an inner courtyard. The hall volume creates a cozy square, while the division of volumes forms an attractive entrance to the courtyard. Large windows and entrances on the ground floor invite visitors inside. The courtyard is accessible from all sides of the site. This market quarter forms streets – connections between the city center and the southern districts.

In the project “Courtyard,” the form of the market – the hall volume and the market stalls arranged around an inner courtyard – creates a separate central block. The market consists of several volumes: the hall and trading pavilions around the courtyard. The higher hall volume forms a cozy square, while large windows and ground-floor entrances invite visitors inside. The bright and light hall volume is divided, creating an attractive entrance to the courtyard, which, with several access points, is visible and accessible from all sides of the site.

The market square is planned to accommodate festive shopping, leisure, and events. Small architectural elements encourage meeting and communication, while the space is adapted for cultural and family activities. New greenery planned for the square and courtyard creates a cozy microclimate and a human scale that is pleasing to the eye. Among the greenery, there is space for artworks and the creative expression of the townspeople. The new market creates an impulse for the renewal of Gargždai’s center.

The market has a rationally organized program – a spacious heated hall, market stalls of various sizes with separate entrances, outdoor sales shelters, enclosed sales pavilions, administrative and technical premises, and mixed-use functions in the basement. The market is economically attractive: small and medium-sized businesses and farmers can trade here, and the different sales premises can operate independently of each other, allowing the market to remain open throughout the week, morning and evening.

Client: Klaipėda district municipality
Location: Gargždai
Plot area: 3850 kv.m.
Market premises area: 1030 sq.m.
Year: 2026
Award: Second place in the architectural competition for the market building
Team: Tadas Jonauskis, Justina Muliuolytė, Gytis Aglinskas, Rokas Jonušas, Aurėja Adomavičiūtė, Aistė Pakamorytė, Laura Norkūnaitė, Lukas Kulikauskas
Renders: Visual Phenomena Studies