The Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Preservation of a Modernist Gem in Sarajevo

The building of the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the capital city - Sarajevo. The building has been damaged during the 1992-95 siege of Sarajevo and never properly restored. In November 2012, the Museum building was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The goal of the project was to propose a vision of revitalization of the Historical Museum and its adjacent surrounding, find solutions for better use of space and a sustainable function for the future, and at the same time to preserve and enhance its architectural qualities and historical value. The building complex consists of exhibition halls, a floor with a central exhibition space, and an inner garden, a plateau, the administrative part of the building, depots and workshops. There were discussions about expansion of the Museum for many years and the needs for that grow, as the number of exhibits and valuables of the Museum grows. The existing spaces are over the full capacity and many functional areas of different purpose became inadequate storage areas. The main task of the master thesis was to preserve the existing building and its appearance with provision of additional spaces required for proper functioning of the Museum, with minimal impact on the original architectural qualities of the building.