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Description
This paper examines the intersection of urban cultures, heritage, and transformation processes through the case study of the former Marsala Tito Barracks area in Sarajevo. Originating from a collaborative research effort between the University of Ferrara and the University of Sarajevo, developed in the frame of an Erasmus+ exchange program (Action Type KA107), the work extends from earlier didactic projects to more recent initiatives, including the University Library and the masterplan who transformed former Marsala Tito Barracks into University of Sarajevo Campus, by ARUP London. It explores how the urban and architectural projects developed through this partnership function as a research tool, interrogating the complex dynamics between local and global forces in a multicultural urban context.
The Marsala Tito Barracks, a significant heritage site in Sarajevo, serves as a poignant example of how urban spaces are shaped by both historical legacies and contemporary urban pressures. The paper takes a critical approach to understanding the complex interplay of actors — architects, urban planners, local communities, cantonal and national administrations—involved in the regeneration of this area. It highlights the challenges inherent in preserving cultural heritage while responding to the imperatives of urban development, gentrification, and the pressures of global urbanization.
Heritage is not a fixed or static entity; rather, it is a dynamic and contested process that is shaped by ongoing social relations and urban practices. The paper critiques the dominant view of heritage as something that exists independently of the present, advocating instead for a perspective that sees heritage as living and constantly redefined through the interactions and negotiations of people within urban landscapes. The value of cultural sites like the Marsala Barracks lies not only in their historical significance but also in their role in shaping contemporary identities and social relations.
Furthermore, the paper reflects on the shift in how we understand heritage in the face of planetary urbanization. The term "planetary urbanization" refers to the increasingly global nature of urbanization processes, which often lead to the homogenization of urban spaces and the displacement of local cultures. In the case of Sarajevo, this dynamic is evident in the transformation of the Marsala Tito Barracks, where the heritage value of the site is in constant tension with the economic and political imperatives driving its redevelopment. The paper argues that this tension requires new strategies for protecting and enhancing cultural landscapes, ones that consider not just the preservation of physical structures but also the adaptation of such urban areas in physical, social, and cultural terms.
Focusing on the Marsala Tito Barracks as a case study, the paper contributes to the broader debate on urban cultures and heritage by offering insights into how these concepts play out in post-conflict and multicultural cities. Sarajevo, with its complex history of ethnic and political dynamics, provides a unique backdrop for discussing how heritage can be both a tool for reconciliation and a source of division. The ongoing transformation of the Marsala area exemplifies how urban projects can become contested sites of memory, where different groups interpret the past in ways that serve their present needs and aspirations.
Ultimately, the paper calls for a more nuanced understanding of heritage as a process that is shaped by the dynamic relationships between people, place, and time. In this view, heritage is not simply about preserving objects or buildings; it is about fostering a sense of belonging and connection to the urban environment.
The paper concludes by suggesting that the critical storytelling of such urban complex can be explored by overlapping urban processes, contributing to a more inclusive approach to urban development that respects both local histories and global imperatives.
References
Massarente, A. (2020) A bridge over Balkans. In Guidetti E. (ed.), Sarajevo University Campus. Ferrara: ArcDesPress.
Pašić, A. (2023) Landscape City Architecture / University of Sarajevo Library, University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Architecture, Sarajevo
| Keywords | post-conflict, multicultural city, transformation process, overlapping |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
