Exceptional cities need peculiar architecture, according to their characters and ambitions. Without the slightest doubt Sarajevo is unique in the face of diversification. Our idea to create a building, a “diptych”, a merging tower based apparently on two independent volumes, started by a profound analysis of the urbanistic, cultural and social factors of the City of Sarajevo. The result is a metaphorical and encoded building encompassing all environmental influences.
The form of the skyscraper is the logical result of the parameters concerning the exposed position of the future development. The property is located in the geographical centre of Sarajevo, in the district called “Marijin Dvor”. This area is known as the administrative and business district, built up with high-rise, the Parliament and several important administrative buildings.
The emerging structure is formed by convergence of two identical tetragons in space. The dual composition allows for common vertical communications core linking the volumes to each other introducing various new modes of flexibility within the individual floors vertically and horizontally. The result is an elegant, one hundred metres high skyscraper of architectural diversity and uniqueness. The slim shape of the tower is implied by existing forces detected in the city of Sarajevo like view axes and apertures to the riverbanks of Miljacka. The façade reflects the philosophy and the logic of the adjacent morphology. Capturing the passepartout delicate structure of the surrounding hills with the embedded carpet of existing dispersed housing and translating it into the façade a unique pattern of open and closed spaces was developed that diversifies the building envelope into a very dynamic picture.
The aims is to create a hot spot in downtown Sarajevo, a flag-ship project for revitalisation of Sarajevo’s urban life and to set a standard for future projects in this area while respecting the neighbouring parliament and establishing a linking path between the administrative and the public through “our” building. The new development will be a starting point for guided tours along the Miljacka river banks to the historical city center of “Bascarsija” and a prime destination for culture, entertainment and shopping.
The concept for the masterplan should be reconsidered and updated towards a more busy - by the meaning of alive - cultural area for all »Sarajlije«. A peaceful and close partner of the Parliament on the one hand, a vibrant and bursting building on the other hand will make the »Diptych« into a central magnet.
Flexibility is one of the major aspects of the »diptych«. Different programme proposals provide an enormous potential of variations.
Different units – public unit, residential unit, business unit - connected by communication bridges. Unit1 is the residential zone with a boarding house, hotel or similar. Unit2 is business zone including administrative offices, business offices, seminar rooms, VIP lounge and restaurant on the top floor. Communication bridge1 contains an education centre, seminar facilities and a banquet hall. Communication bridge2 has a wellness area, terrace bars, a public space garden.
The public area on the ground floor has a programme mainly culturally orientated. It is defined as the public plaza with a vertical shopping mall, restaurants and public services, containing also cinemas, theatres, ateliers and a huge exibition space for all kinds of artwork like graphics, multimedia, sculpture, fine arts and architecture.
An essential part of the concept is also the design of the underground level. The superordinate idea is the inclusion of the main traffic axises coming from north-west (Unis towers) to the river banks of Miljacka (south-east) and the main city axis (west-east) ending in Bascarsija. The basement provides space for the garages/parking facilities as well as technical spaces.