Inžinierius architektas Vladas Bitė. Užmirštas ir Lietuvoje, ir Melburne

LTApie statybos inžinierių Vladą Bitę (1901-1969), kurio didžiausi darbai buvo įgyvendinti Šiauliuose, iki šiol beveik nerašyta. Sovietmetyje šis darbštus inžinierius buvo neparankus, nes gyveno ir dirbo emigracijoje. Bostone leistos "Lietuvių enciklopedijos" autoriai jį taip pat praleido. "Lietuvos architektūros istorijos" III tome jis paminėtas tik prie vieno objekto (Palendrių oratorija), nors suprojektavo daug dėmesio vertų pastatų. Šiuo straipsniu siekiame supažindinti skaitytoją su šio kūrybingo inžinieriaus architekto biografija ir architektūrine kūryba. [...]. [Iš straipsnio, p. 88]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Architektas; Architektūra; Inžinierius; Išeivija; Melburnas; Paveldas; Vladas Bitė; Šiauliai; Architect; Architecture; Emigration; Engineer; Heritage; Lithuania; Melbourne; Vladas Bitė; Šiauliai.

ENThe article deals with the construction engineer Vladas Bitė [1901-1969] the greatest projects whereof were implemented in Šiauliai. The article is a first attempt to introduce the reader to the biography and architectural creation of this constructive engineer/architect. Vladas Bitė was born on 17,h May 1901 in Mažuoliai village, Pašušvis rural district, Kėdainiai region. In 1923-1928, he studied at the Technical Faculty of Lithuanian University. Since 1928, Vladas Bitė worked as a construction engineer in Šiauliai, whereas since 1930 to 1938 he was an engineer of this town. According to the projects of Vladas Bitė, the following was constructed in Aušros Avenue of Šiauliai since 1930 to 1935: primary school of 6 forms (i.e. classes) with premises for Aušra (Dawn) Museum, House of the Lithuanian Nationalists' Union Šiauliai Region, Chamber of Šiauliai District Patient Funds and a dwelling house of the Bitė family; in 1933-1934, the regional municipality palace was constructed on the corner of Sukilėlių and Vilniaus streets; in 1936, two-floor brickwork primary schools of 6 forms were built in Gardino and Rygos streets. In 1932-1933, two sheltered accommodations that later turned to Sanatoriums were constructed close to Šiauliai, i.e. in the territory of the former Karpiai Manor at the lake Rekyva and in Bazilijonai rural district close to Pageluvis village. In 1936, Vladas Bitė designed in Šiauliai a church of Orthodox Christians in their cemetery close to Rygos street; in 1937, he offered a reconstruction project of the place of worship of Tores Chaim, Jewish religious society. In 1938 according to the project of Vladas Bitė, a chapel/oratorio was constructed in Palendriai. In the projects by V. Bitė, functional buildings of the angle plan prevail, whereas in facades horizontal window strips or very expressive vertical splitting, roofs emphasising the entrances predominate.At the end of the war, V. Bitė together with his family left Lithuania; since 1950, he lived in Melbourne; since 1951 to 1968, he worked as a mechanic engineer for Stothert&Pitt Company. V. Bitė deceased on 9th December 1969 in Melbourne.