The “Velvet Dunes Nida” recreational complex, built by Gilesta, has been recognized as one of Lithuania’s best construction projects of the past year. In the “Product of the Year 2025” competition organized by the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, our project was awarded the gold medal in the construction category.
(Photo by K. Polubinska)
“Velvet Dunes” stands out not only for its architectural and design solutions — it is also one of the most complex reconstruction projects the Gilesta team has ever implemented. During the redevelopment of the former holiday retreat, the goal was to reuse the existing structures as much as possible, integrate high‑end engineering systems, and preserve the sensitive landscape of Nida.
“We had to transform an old holiday complex into a high‑end recreational retreat without demolishing the existing structures — instead adapting them for a new life. This required precise teamwork, innovative engineering solutions, and a deep sense of responsibility toward Nida’s environment. Sustainability principles were at the core of the entire project — to restore rather than rebuild. We are delighted that this work has been recognized both in Lithuania and internationally,” says Gilesta CEO Romas Paliulis.
Recreational Building Complex “Velvet Dunes Nida”
The project has also been recognized internationally: it was presented at a Sotheby’s event in London and published in Sotheby’s International Realty® magazine RESIDE.
The client of the project is UAB “Aksominės kopos Nida”. The works were carried out from Q1 2020 to Q2 2024.
Gilesta Awarded Two Silver Medals
In this year’s competition, Gilesta received two additional silver medals for the modern nursery-kindergarten “Vydūnėlis” and the large-scale co-living complex “Atlas”.
“Vydūnėlis” was recognized for its innovative layout designed for early childhood education, a shallow‑depth swimming pool, sustainable materials, and an A++ energy efficiency class. The building was completed within one year using full BIM modelling, which reduced decision-making time and minimized the risk of errors.
Nursery-kindergarten “Vydūnėlis” (Photo by Vilnius City Municipality)
“Atlas” was recognized as the first co‑living project of this scale in Lithuania. Six interconnected buildings housing more than 500 units, extensive shared spaces, 100% readiness for electric vehicle charging, modular facades, and approximately 40% green areas bring city‑level infrastructure into a single complex.
Co-living complex “Atlas”
“The silver medals confirm that our team can successfully manage both public and residential projects. Modern infrastructure must be delivered quickly, accurately, and sustainably, and our projects clearly demonstrate this,” says Romas Paliulis, CEO of Gilesta.