Doctoral thesis Evolution of wooden architecture of manor houses in Lithuania (from the middle of 16th century till the middle of 19th century) explore and present an evolution of the wooden architecture of manor houses since the middle of the 16th century till the middle of the 19th century. The thesis investigates the existing and not existing (known from the sources) wooden residential buildings of Lithuanian nobility, identifies their dominant types and reasons, which influenced the change of architecture, and reveals the singularities of the architecture and the relation of a manor’s house with ethnic and professional architecture. The research has shown that the architectural evolution of the manor house owned by nobility of different rank was developing differently. The development of great and middle-class nobility’s manor house was intense, especially influenced by the changes in style architecture. The small noblemen‘s houses were changing a little, their construction followed the ethnic traditions. According to the layout and shape of structures and forms of the buildings set on the manors of great and middle-class nobility, three stages of their architectural evolution were singled out: the period of early formation (till the middle of the 17th century), “baroque” period (from the middle of the 17th century till the seventh decade of the 18th century) and the “classicism” period (from the end of 18th century till the end of the 19th century). The doctoral thesis is the first study of such kind in the science of history of architecture in Lithuania. The doctoral work will help to better perceive the value of wooden architecture of manors, its place in the context of cultural heritage of Lithuania, and this will hopefully make to pay more attention to the research, regulation, professional restoration and reconstruction.

Raktažodžiai: wooden architecture, manor houses evolution, XVI - XIX c.