Urban Rooms of Sarajevo; Transforming Urban Public Spaces Using Interior Design Tools. Nermina Zagora and Dina Šamić, authors for Faculty of Architecture, University of Sarajevo (UNSA), 2021

The attitude towards the space represents a great research challenge in the modern world of sudden changes that we witness daily. Complex ways of creating private and public space, their mutual interactions and positions of space and its users, are current issues, as well, the questions of our close future. The authors Nermina Zagora and Dina Samić are among the first to recognise the importance of an integral answer to these open questions of contemporary treatment of space from the aspect of architecture and urbanism, in the context of individual and collective identity and layered needs within the social community.

The modern graphic design of the book supports the text which, with its pedagogical tone especially addresses students, but as well the fellow researchers. The textual units with presented and explained definitions within the chapters are structured in such a way as to keep the high interest of the reader who through the book gradually gets acquainted with the historical development of Sarajevo, its urban problems, needs and possibilities.

Through five methodologically clearly set chapters of the book, the authors present the complex history of the genesis of public spaces in Sarajevo, determining and using the criteria of their mapping, and emphasizing the importance and variability of identity through historical and social transitions, ranging from general to individual (from urbanism to interior design.) The authors lead us through the possibilities of city regeneration to the “urban rooms” of Sarajevo - five individual case studies treated from the point of view of the architect-researcher and the architect-creator of the space. The methodological setting of the book, and the integral research approach, reveal the layered importance of the role of the architect. The authors’ ability to recognize current problems at the research level and successfully offer creative solutions directly indicates their creative capacity and continuous engagement in various fields of the architecture.

The special value of the book is that represents a meaningful source for national and international researchers who are interested in Sarajevo. The book is a part of current and necessary literature in contemporary European research frameworks. This is confirmed by the large number of recent international sources used in the preparation of the book, which once again shows us the respectable research spirit and high research standards of the authors. 

It is a significant step forward in the study of space in the context of urbanism, architecture and design at the international level, a step forward that deserves full attention and respect from academia, especially given the importance of the pioneering ray of light on the image of Bosnia and Herzegovina in academic circles around the world.

The e-book is available here.

Urban Rooms of Sarajevo; Transforming Urban Public Spaces Using Interior Design Tools. Authors Nermina Zagora and Dina Šamić, Reviewers Markus Schwai (NTNU, Norway) and Alessandro Massarente (UNIFE, Italy), English, Hardcover, 305 pages, 22,5 x 16,5 cm, Illustrations Dunja Krvavac, Graphic design Mirna Ćesović, Published by the Faculty of Architecture, University of Sarajevo (UNSA), 2021.