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The paper presents and analyses in detail the content and significance of the new definition of architecture "as the art and science of designing the environment (space)" for contemporary architecturology and architectural practice. It discusses in greater detail the social and ecological tasks of architecture in contemporary society as well as the responsibility of the architect and new research trends in architecturology. The paper also focuses on the importance of regionality trend in the context of modern globalization and touches upon the questions of architects' professional training specialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the recent decade, the number of architectural competitions organised in Lithuania has been continuously growing. Analysis and inventory of the competitions reveal the essential features of the period, qualitative and dynamic changes in this field, and at the same time may be useful for improvement of the competition organisation system in the nearest future. The paper deals with the legislation changes that influence the competitions as well as introduces quantitative and typological analysis of the competitions of 1999-2009 comparing it with that of other periods. Achievements of the Lithuanian architects at international competitions, participation of foreign architects at creative contests of Lithuania are described. New manifestations of architectural criticism of competitions, the theme of plagiarism, gaps in competition organization, "commercialization", the tendency of strengthening pragmatic ambitions are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to make a review of reasons for the use of colour, bringing together the guidelines for the analysis of colour in architectural composition and analysing the use of colour in the new Vilnius architecture during the first years of the 21st century. The overview of colour usage in Vilnius architecture was based on the methodical scheme proposed by I. Araujo. As far as the relation between colour and architecture is concerned, he suggests employment of the following closely intertwined components: volume and surface, colour and light. Light in the Araujo's scheme is not solely a physical or metaphysical factor; it is an equivalent compositional constituent part in terms of colour. The foregoing allows including the stages of achromatic modern architecture into the research of chromatic composition. Having carried out an overview of colour usage in today's architecture of Vilnius, it must be stated that the peculiarities functioning in the city are not based on holistic or global principles. Different chromatic conceptions are simultaneously applied in the city. One of them pursues a contemporary achromatic line in architecture. The other conception makes an attempt at continuing the tradition of colour usage in architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]