On July 1, 2025, to mark International Architects' Day, the publishing house "Lapas" presented the monograph "Jonas Mulokas: Architectural Identity in a Global World." The book, nominated for the National Architecture Awards for theory and dissemination, focuses on the work of the prominent émigré architect Jonas Mulokas and the preservation of Lithuanian architecture outside Lithuania.
The monograph's co-authors include architecture historian Vaidas Petrulis, historian Brigita Tranavičiūtė, and architect Paulius Tautvydas Laurinaitis. Petrulis emphasized that Mulokas was a significant part of Lithuanian architectural history, contributing to the restoration of independence and preserving interwar Lithuanian architectural traditions in the diaspora. The research involved gathering archival materials, including a large collection of drawings found in Santa Monica.
Mulokas's architecture is distinguished by his active participation in the Lithuanian community, collaborating with artists like Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas, Vytautas Kašuba, and Bronė Jameikienė. The monograph also explores the search for architectural identity in a globalized world, highlighting the tension between technical globalization and the search for local character. Petrulis noted that the architecture of the diaspora plays an important role in maintaining Lithuanian identity.
The National Architecture Awards 2025 will be presented on June 30, on the eve of International Architects' Day, at the Juozas Miltinis Drama Theatre in Panevėžys. These awards aim to evaluate and honor the most important architectural works that contribute to the creation of Lithuania's urban and cultural identity. The presentation of the monograph on July 1st provides an excellent opportunity to learn about Mulokas's work and its significance in the history of Lithuanian architecture.