{"id":2443,"date":"2026-07-15T12:26:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T12:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/muzej.ba\/?p=2443"},"modified":"2026-07-15T12:36:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T12:36:17","slug":"request-for-the-adoption-of-urgent-measures-to-protect-the-building-of-the-history-museum-of-bosnia-and-herzegovina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muzej.ba\/en\/request-for-the-adoption-of-urgent-measures-to-protect-the-building-of-the-history-museum-of-bosnia-and-herzegovina\/","title":{"rendered":"Request for the Adoption of Urgent Measures to Protect the Building of the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We have followed with great enthusiasm the news of the long-awaited commencement of construction works on the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art. On the one hand, this marks the realization of a decades-long vision born from the remarkable solidarity shown by artists with Sarajevo during the siege. On the other, the construction of a new museum in close proximity to the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina opens a new chapter in the development of Sarajevo’s museum district, with significant potential to contribute to the social, economic, and cultural revitalization of the Marijin Dvor area. At the same time, as one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leading heritage institutions, the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a legal, professional, and public responsibility to safeguard the cultural heritage entrusted to its care and to respond promptly to any circumstances that may jeopardize its preservation. In light of these responsibilities, we wish to express our profound concern regarding the safety of the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina building, particularly its defining architectural feature\u2014the Cube (Kubus)\u2014as a result of the construction works taking place in its immediate vicinity. We are equally concerned about the safety of the Museum’s employees and visitors. We therefore urge authorities to implement, without delay, all necessary measures to protect this National Monument and to ensure safe conditions for the Museum’s continued operation and public use.<\/p>\n

We would like to recall that the Museum building, designed by architects Boris Maga\u0161, Radovan Horvat, and Edo \u0160midihen and completed in 1963, was designated a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina by decision of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments in 2012. Today, the building is widely recognized as one of the most significant achievements of modernist architecture in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the former Yugoslavia. Its outstanding architectural value has also received international recognition. The building was featured in the exhibition\u00a0Toward a Concrete Utopia: Architecture in Yugoslavia, 1948\u20131980<\/em>\u00a0at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, while in 2018 the Getty Foundation included it among ten exemplary works of twentieth-century modern architecture worldwide through its\u00a0Keeping It Modern<\/em> programme. The Museum currently houses two permanent exhibitions\u2014Besieged Sarajevo<\/em>, located within the Cube, and\u00a0Wer ist Walter? Topography of Anti-Fascist Resistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1941\u20131945<\/em>, situated in the atrium\u2014as well as a collection of more than 400,000 museum objects. Through its daily cultural and educational programmes, the Museum has become a widely recognized institution both nationally and internationally.<\/p>\n

Given that the building is a designated National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, protected under Annex 8 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Decision of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, we believe that any circumstance that may compromise its structural stability requires the immediate attention and action of the authorities. The Museum building sustained severe damage during the Siege of Sarajevo. According to a report prepared by the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Sarajevo, by 1994 the roof alone had been struck by twenty-three artillery shells. Furthermore, the unresolved legal status of the institution throughout the post-war period resulted in additional structural deterioration and material damage. Thanks to years of dedicated efforts and the support of domestic and international partners, a number of conservation and restoration interventions have been carried out over the past decade, including the restoration of the roof, the administrative section of the building, and the storage facilities housing the Museum’s collections. Three years ago, funds amounting to 1.7 million BAM were allocated for the reconstruction of the Museum’s glass fa\u00e7ade, flat roof, and entrance staircase. However, these works have yet to commence. Regrettably, even if this phase of the reconstruction is implemented, the long-term structural safety of the building will remain a matter of serious concern. In addition, visible separation has recently been observed on the Museum’s exterior wall facing the city’s main traffic artery and a heavily frequented pedestrian zone. This development gives rise to considerable concern and requires an urgent expert assessment of its causes, extent, and possible consequences.<\/p>\n

We wish to emphasize that any adverse consequences would not be limited to further damage to already vulnerable parts of the building\u2014such as the exterior walls facing the street and pedestrian zone, the exterior wall adjacent to the new museum building housing the permanent exhibition, or the concrete cladding panels of the Cube\u2014but could also affect the Cube itself due to its unique structural system. Any deterioration of the building’s stability would also pose a direct risk to the Museum’s permanent exhibitions and collections, and, more importantly, to the safety of Museum employees, numerous visitors, including organized school groups, and members of the public who use the pedestrian walkway alongside the building on a daily basis. While we had already been aware of these risks, our concerns were further reinforced following an unexpected encounter at the Museum with representatives of the construction contractor. On Friday, 10 July 2026, we met STRABAG’s Project Manager, Mr. Mahir Oru\u010d, and the court-appointed expert, Mr. Ilmir Brki\u0107, who had come to document the existing condition of the Museum building ahead of the commencement of construction works on 13 July 2026.<\/p>\n

In light of the above, we respectfully call upon the authorities to undertake the following actions without delay:<\/p>\n