TOWN PLANNING OF SARAJEVO IN THE CLAWS OF SUITABLE AND RICH

METASTASES OF PRIMITIVISM SPREADING AROUND THE CITY

AIM, SARAJEVO, November 4, 1999

Construction of cities is one of the man's greatest achievements. The city layout was always the most authoritative indicator of man's civilization level. That layout is determined by numerous decisions which are made by generations of people who lived in it. Sarajevo is an interesting city because it's a crossroads and has no harmonious beauty. Its beauty lies in aesthetic discords dating as far back as ancient history, Roman times, Middle Ages, Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, the period between the two world wars, times of the SFRY up till present day. There are as much as five or six natural areas in the Sarajevo region with different flora and geology. What can be said about the planning of Sarajevo at this moment? What is the city? "De jure" there is no city yet! There is a Canton. There is a place in which the Republican, Federal and communal authorities are located. At one time it was called a watch-tower because it is located at the entity's border!

Individuals and political parties in power behave in accordance with and carry out their pre-war and long-conceived plans which are extremely specific when it comes to the city of Sarajevo. The building of the Bosniac Institute included drastic alterations on three different buildings dating from three different historic periods.

The hammam (bath) of Gazi-Husrev Bey (16th century) was completely renovated according to a new design, the building of "Plan" enterprise (built in 1962) was totally reshaped and the building of Historic Archives (dating from the times of Secession: 19th century) was knocked down and a new building constructed in its place. The Institute, if it was necessary to build it, should have been built somewhere else. An enormous edifice of Gazi-Husrev Bey's library, which resembles more a modern building of planned Republican and University Library on Marindvor, will be built at the "sweet corner".

The old cobble-stone floor was removed from the cathedral yard and then paved with asphalt. A pie-shop and a grill house are standing next to the ultra modern football stadium with their high chimneys leaning onto the stands, while a "new-Bosniac style" restaurant made of old stones and bricks surrounded by modern buildings is in the front.

Gas stations are mushrooming all around - tanks are already waiting by the Kosevo creek for a new one. And just below the windows of flats at Alipasa's Field rises a new huge building. No one asked either the architect of this settlement or the tenants for their opinion on the matter. Same as local the power-holder asked no one's permission to expand his tavern located in the very city centre. He applied for a building permit stating that he wanted to build a summer garden restaurant but, instead, is erecting a huge building with large underground space for unknown purposes.

The "Bare" cemetery is quite a different story. An enormous gas station appeared behind it overnight while the cemetery is being rearranged so that there will be nothing left of the old one. The undertaking enterprise "Pokop" has destroyed all the greenery (there were over 200 plant species) in order to provide as much burial ground as possible. It has dug graves (only the dead are missing!) so close to each other that it is practically impossible to have any privacy when visiting the grave, praying or in performing any other rite: if you kneel before the grave, you would be actually bending over the adjoining one. Such examples are many.

It is fact that for the time being Sarajevo (de facto) is not the capital of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is no general town plan either. There is only a relict from 1962 and the Programme of Regional Development of Sarajevo for 1971-1985 period. There is also well prepared documentation for the development of the city of Sarajevo until the year 2015, but no one has any use for it. Or at least, it seems so. There are many incomplete regulatory plans for all city areas covering 10 communes (at the moment there are altogether 4 communes!).

Until the general plan is elaborated it would be necessary to establish regulations which would restrict and halt all construction works (apart from communal facilities necessary for the functioning of the city!). This would require the setting up of expert services (and probably a crisis centre!) in order to resolutely deal with ignorance, corruption, political pressures and bullying when it comes to town planning. Until the plans are elaborated and adopted this would be the only way to save the city and prevent illegal construction and individuals from behaving in the style: "What I think is good for me is good for everyone", or "Who can stop me from building what I want on my own land" (!?) not understanding that the City is a mechanism with high demands and principles which drastically differ from those applicable to rural and other communities and interests.

Architects fighting for bare survival frequently contribute to such behaviour as they fulfil the wishes of such people and prepare designs of solid technical standards, but totally at odds with the subtle philosophy of town preservation and protection. This is especially the case with Sarajevo with its historic and complex years-long pedigree of a town which is aspiring to become a metropolis under the UNESCO's protection.

Someone once said that Sarajevo was turning into a backwater town! Rest assured that such cataclysmic chaos with so much primitivism could have not happened even in the most distant backwater place. Even in the most backward places there are order, education, upbringing and rules of behaviour in all spheres. If someone dares do something contrary to the established order and customs, he will certainly be reprimanded for that and even ousted.

At one time convoys carrying oil derivatives and other harmful substances had police escort through the Sarajevo Field and along the Zeljeznica river so as to avoid any accident that could endanger the springs of potable water. Now such control doesn't exist. The small area of B&H is divided into dozens and hundreds of feuds which are ruled by "respectable" and "suitable" or filthy rich people who build and do what they want! Who is at this moment capable, powerful, patriotic and man enough to prevent the construction of dozens of gas stations in both entities along the Miljacka river. One single accident (spillage) at one of those gas stations could deprive the greatest part of Sarajevo of drinking water.

There is no law in B&H that protects the entire Bosnian and Herzegovinian territory in respect of controlled regional planning. Not a single cantonal law on regional planning contains a provision on this matter. That is not the case in the neighbouring Croatia. It would be only logical for the state law on regional planning to be sacrosanct.

Raw force, ignorance and lack of scientifically conceptualized town planning are endangering not only Sarajevo, but all other urban centres in B&H.

There are only declarative promises about preservation of history and tradition in cities, while on the other hand we are witnesses of ruthless attacks on collective memory which has been particularly pronounced in the last ten years. The plans are extremely primitively interpreted and adjusted to the ruling political regime's tastes.

There is an illustrative example of this. Permits are issued in great number for starting business in all spheres of economic activity (pie-shops, shops, bakeries, car wash facilities, etc.) under the pretext that they secure employment for labour force. On the other hand, workers in several large enterprises (eg."Zrak") which are equipped for high-quality production have been laid off and the machines are covered with dust.

With such a way of solving the city problems Sarajevo is succumbing to metastases! In other words there is no cure for it!

Some improvement could be made with the return of "high quality citizens" to Sarajevo and creation of a counselling team for curing the city which would imply preventing individuals and groups from using the city to the extreme limits and only to their benefit!

Unless an end is put to this the city of Sarajevo will eventually stagnate so much that it will be suitable only for making horror movies and movies about human stupidity.

Boro SPASOJEVIC

(AIM, Sarajevo)