General modernization, industrialization and further urban development of Sarajevo after the WWII, as a capital of Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as one of the total of six republics of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, resulted in developing Sarajevo as one most important industrial centers and one of the fastest growing cities in newborn Yugoslavia.
The pinnacle of Sarajevo’s modernization were the 1984 Winter Olympic Games, which resulted yet unseen infrastructural development of Sarajevo, helping Yugoslavia become the first ever communist country to host the Winter Olympics.
This tour will primarily focus on the Brutalist architectural heritage of Sarajevo from the period of Yugoslavia, in an attempt to uncover the role of politics in urban development of Sarajevo and explore the reasons why Sarajevo became the most mixed city of former Yugoslavia.
Guide
English speaking Sarajevo architecture expert guide and driver.
Free pickup on request
If you are staying in the old town of Sarajevo meet us at our office. If you are bit away from us, please let us know and we can organise advance pickup.
All Transfers
All tour transfers are provided by Funky Tours.
Entrance Fee, Taxes & Flexible Cancellation Policy
This tour does not have any entrance fees.
Availability
Tour is available throughout the year.
Group Discounts
For bigger group bookings, discounts are available.
Online Payments
Pay safely online with a credit card. We accept payments for all types of credit cards.
Insurance
Travel insurance is not included. Please buy it at home country.
Guide Tipping
Tips are not included in the tour costs. If you receive excellent service, please consider tipping.
Private Tour
All tours are shared, unless specifically booked as private.
Food
This tour does not include food or drinks.
Logistics
Tour departs once a day from Funky Tours office. If you need pickup please let us know in advance.
Departure Time: Daily at 10 AM.
In the aftermath of the famous Tito’s “NO” to Stalin in 1948, when Yugoslavia exited Informbiro and ditched the Social Realism as an architectural approach, the newborn socialist country was in need for fast urbanisation. As a result, Yugoslavia turned its eyes to the West seeking the ways to rapidly adopt Modernism as an architectural expression and distinguish itself from Eastern Bloc by showing its loyalty to the Western allies.
As the Yugoslav post-WWII main focus was accelerated industrialisation and modernisation of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and of course, Sarajevo, the emphasis was placed on fast urbanization of urban settlements and construction of large quantities of housing units, communal and administrational facilities.
The most logical start of Sarajevo’s socialist architecture tour is the epicenter of the administrational urbanisation of Sarajevo, neighborhood of Marindvor.
Today it is home to some of the most renowned architectural achievements of Yugoslavian modernist architecture such as Hotel Holiday Inn, Bosnian History museum, UNITIC towers and its nearby supplementals of Sarajevo Railway station and Skenderija Olympic complex.Marindvor as a neighbourhood dates from Austria-Hungarian period, and was founded by Austrian entrepreneur August Braun, who named the palace after his beautiful wife Maria (Marindvor – eng.Maria’s palace).
Later the tour will take us to some of the most famous Yugoslavian brutalist residential neighbourhoods, such as Alipasino polje.
The complex was built in the late 1970ies, and at the time represented the pinnacle of Yugoslavian mass construction of housing units in Sarajevo. With capacity to accommodate approximately 60.000 people, Alipasino polje became Sarajevo’s most populated neighbourhood.
The pearl of Yugoslavian modernist architecture at Alipasino polje is RTV Dom (Bosnian National TV and Radio House). Designed by Milan Kušan and Branko Bulić and built in a few phases, starting in late 70s to early 80ties, for major broadcasting project of Sarajevo’s 1984 Winter Olympics, this concrete mammoth, among people known as “Sivi Dom” (eng.grey house), is unique paragon of Yugoslavian brutalist architecture.
Sarajevo’s 1984 Winter Olympics have invoked, for the time unthinkable infrastructural development, resulting in numerous construction sites throughout the city ranging from communal, administrational or housing unit growth.
Olympic stadium Koševo, Olympic Hall Zetra and Skenderija, Hotel Igman, Igman ski jumps and Olympic bobsled are just a few of the most important locations we plan to visit on this remarkable, in-depth Sarajevo brutalist architecture tour.
Aside from building and Sarajevo’s neighbourhoods mentioned, this tour will cover so much more, exploring Sarajevo’s brutalist heritage from top to bottom.
Tour ends at Funky Tours office around 6 PM.
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