Spatial typologies study of Sarajevo

Abstract

Spatial typologies in urbanism and architecture within the City of Sarajevo are inherently complex and differentiated. Throughout the history of the city, the architectural and urban typologies have been evolving and adapting to new circumstances, but in several historical periods, the changes of typologies have been radical. From the fifteenth century, Sarajevo was organized by the oriental ottoman typological scheme that shaped the city for several centuries: organic forms, human and intimate scale, commercial and residential areas quite strictly separated. During the nineteenth century, a central-European urban and architectural typology dominated and morphed the city in a radical new way. Introduction of the larger scale buildings organized in blocks, with mixed functions. The usual typological transformation was taken over by a process of replacement with completely new forms, yet the city seemed to inherently adapt to these new conditions owning this new typology. Introduction of modernist typologies within the realm of the city was also a radical break from the past - functionalist dispersed buildings with open green areas again became a logical part of the city. The new transitional period has brought about new challenges and generated buildings (commercial and residential) with questionable typologies. Current tendencies are lacking in many parameters that define a certain typology - a coherent idea and spatial logic. Can one city inherently possess the ability to adapt and transform such different variations of typologies and claim authenticity? Is there a typology most suited to this place? Ever since the typological research was introduced to architectural theory by De Quincy in 1825, there was the notion of origins of typology, transformation and novelty/innovation. This paper will conduct a research of historical and current spatial typologies (architectural and urban schemes), in order to answer the question is the typology inherent, born out of a certain place or does the place affect, change the typology? The research would be about the correlation between a city (Sarajevo), the capacity of space and relevant parameters of typologies (scale, forms, functions, adaptation).