IUS Professor Delivers Keynote on Balancing Urban Development and Heritage Protection in Sarajevo
Associate Professor Dr. Adi Ćorović of the IUS Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (FENS), together with Prof. Dr. Lemja Chabbouh Akšamija from the Faculty of Architecture, University of Sarajevo, delivered the opening keynote address at the international conference titled “Improving Liveability in Historic Urban Landscapes – Historic Urban Landscapes of Mostar & Sarajevo: Status and Perspectives of Protection,” held on December 4–5, 2025, and organized by the Faculty of Architecture, University of Sarajevo.
Their keynote presentation, “New Urbanism versus the Historical Urban Landscape of Sarajevo,” examined the complex relationship between urban development and heritage protection within the protected area of Sarajevo’s Historical Urban Landscape. The lecture addressed current challenges in safeguarding architectural heritage and explored interactions with the proposed New Urban Plan of the Sarajevo Urban Area (2016–2036), emphasizing the need for a balanced approach between preservation goals and sustainable urban growth.
The conference was officially opened with welcoming remarks by Prof. Lejla Džumhur, Dean Prof. Dr. Erdin Salihović of the Faculty of Architecture, University of Sarajevo, and Mr. Robert Stergar, Director of the Institute for the Protection of Monuments of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event brought together experts and participants from across the globe, including representatives from Great Britain, Türkiye, Spain, Germany, and China, underscoring the international relevance of heritage protection and urban liveability.
Discussions throughout the conference focused on exploring ways to preserve heritage values while simultaneously enhancing the quality of urban life within Historic Urban Landscapes (HUL). The sessions provided an important platform to reconsider the current HUL framework for Sarajevo and Mostar, proposing a shift from a largely symbolic or restrictive model toward one that is more practical, adaptive, and sustainable.
The conference sessions were expertly moderated by Prof. Dr. Aida Idrizbegović-Zgonić of the Faculty of Architecture, University of Sarajevo. In addition to keynote lectures and panel discussions, dedicated debate sessions enabled participants to exchange experiences and engage directly with the topics presented.
One of the key conclusions emphasized the urgent need for broader professional and academic engagement. Participants highlighted that the academic community should take a leading role in preserving the valuable architectural heritage of Sarajevo and Mostar’s Historic Urban Landscapes, safeguarding these sites as living testimonies of the region’s rich multicultural identity.
Learn more about the conference: Improving Liveability in Historic Urban Landscapes - Historic Urban Landscapes of Mostar & Sarajevo – Status and Perspectives of Protection
