The beginning of Birštonas resort is associated by the mineral water streams discovered in the mid XIX century. Although various sources of therapeutic water were available to the society ever since the very beginning of the resort, the first professionally designed pump-rooms only emerged following the First World War. The shape of the pump-room was inspired by the whale sculpture which was built near Nemunas in 1928 and defined the historical Vytautas mineral water stream. Although the source was flooded by River in the 50s, statue's image had already become the symbol of the resort and was later used in the city's coat of arms.
The pump-room of “Tulpė” sanatorium completed in the 30s has representative architecture which emphasizes the view of that time that the main reason for resort's existence is mineral water. The two-room round building is extended on both sides by curved loggias replicating the shapes of the main structure and consisting of four rectangular pillars supporting the massive cornice. On the front and rear facades, in between the galleries there are protrusions with elbow-shaped pediments. The conic roof (with depressions in between the galleries) is topped with a turret imitating a lantern. The pump-room supplies water which has a similar structure to that of the historical Vytautas source.
Paulius Tautvydas Laurinaitis