Gintarė Pociūtė-Sereikienė, Danielius Jurčiukonis
https://doi.org/10.63588/lsr-2025-14-2-2/
Santrauka. Atkūrus Lietuvos nepriklausomybę 1990 m. ir žlungant sovietmečiu kurtai urbanistinei
sistemai, šalies miestai, ypač industriniai, patyrė reikšmingas transformacijas. Vienu ryškiausiu
šių pokyčių pavyzdžiu tapo Šiauliai – miestas, kuris sovietmečiu augo kaip pramonės ir socialinės
infrastruktūros centras, tačiau per tris nepriklausomybės dešimtmečius prarado trečdalį gyventojų,
susidūrė su ekonomikos nuosmukiu bei socialinės ir inžinerinės infrastruktūros nykimu. Iš buvusio
augančio ir modernėjančio industrinio miesto Šiauliai virto mažėjančiu miestu, o tai sąlygojo
naujų, dažnai neigiamų, miesto reprezentacijų formavimąsi šalies visuomenėje. Straipsnyje
analizuojama, koks Šiaulių miesto įvaizdis yra susiformavęs būtent Vilniaus gyventojų sąmonėje.
Empirinė analizė paremta 2018 ir 2023 m. Vilniuje atliktų anketinių apklausų duomenimis. Tyrimo
rezultatai atskleidžia atskiruose sostinės mikrorajonuose vyraujančias nuomonių įvairoves
apie Šiaulius. Apklausų duomenų palyginimas leidžia identifikuoti sostinės gyventojų požiūrio į
Šiaulius dinamiką ir jos sąsajas su urbanistinėmis transformacijomis.
Raktažodžiai: miesto įvaizdis, depopuliacija, miesto mažėjimas, urbanistinė transformacija, Šiauliai.
Transformation of the Image of the City: Vilnius Residents’ Opinion About the City of Šiauliai
Summary. After Lithuania regained its independence in 1990 and the urban system shaped during the Soviet era collapsed, the country’s cities – particularly those that had developed as industrial centers – underwent profound transformations. One of the most illustrative examples of these changes is Šiauliai. During the Soviet period, Šiauliai experienced rapid growth as a hub of industry and social infrastructure. However, in the three decades following independence, the city lost about one-third of its population and faced severe economic decline, accompanied by the deterioration of its social and engineering infrastructure. Once a symbol of modernization and industrial progress,
Šiauliai gradually became a shrinking city, a process that contributed to the formation of new, often negative, representations of it in Lithuanian society. Seeking to understand whether this negative image still persists, the article examines the perception of Šiauliai among residents of Vilnius. The empirical analysis is based on survey data collected in Vilnius in 2018 and 2023, allowing for a comparative perspective on the evolution of the city’s image over time. The results reveal a considerable diversity of opinions about Šiauliai among different districts of the capital, reflecting both social and spatial variations in perception. A comparative analysis of the two survey waves highlights the dynamics of Vilnius residents’ attitudes towards Šiauliai and their links to ongoing urban transformations. Overall, the findings indicate a gradual improvement in the city’s image. Šiauliai is increasingly viewed more positively, especially in areas related to culture, education,
employment opportunities, and safety. Although economic challenges and difficulties in attracting young residents remain, the general perception of the city has shifted towards a more favorable one.
Between 2018 and 2023, respondents became notably more positive when evaluating Šiauliai’s urban development and quality of life. A clear improvement in the perceived safety of the city is also evident – terms such as “crime,” once frequently associated with Šiauliai, appeared less often in the 2023 questionnaires. The study also explores symbolic associations with Šiauliai, providing insight into the city’s cultural image. In both 2018 and 2023, the Hill of Crosses and the title “City of the Sun” emerged as the most prominent symbols linked to Šiauliai. Other frequently mentioned associations included the bicycle factory, the “Golden Boy” sculpture, the “ Rūta” chocolate f actory, the Iron Fox s culpture, Lake Rėkyva, and the city’s central b oulevard. These references reflect both the persistence of traditional industrial and cultural landmarks in the collective imagination and the gradual emergence of more diverse and positive urban representations.
Keywords: image of the city, depopulation, urban decline, urban transformation, Šiauliai.