Sedrenik: How the Traditional Bosnian Architecture Promotes Sustainable Living

Photo of Sedrenik settlement and local community in Sarajevo. Photo by Bjoertvedt via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bosnia_IMG_9321_sarajevo_Sedrenik_and_Sedam_Suma_from_east.JPG)

Photo: Photo of the family house, residential building on the Sedrenik area. Photo by the Eminent Atelier

This is a traditional Bosnian family house located in Sedrenik area in Sarajevo, and which is characteristic of the Ottoman period of architectural construction in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Of course, it certainly differs from the Turkish building style or indeed the surrounding ones in BiH, due to the nature of the geography and traditions of where it is built.

The family house in Sedrenik in Sarajevo, is made from natural materials such as wood and stone, while the whole concept includes a building with a beautiful inner garden and wooden entrance gate.

Photo: Entrance door to the garden of the residential building in the Sedrenik area in Sarajevo. Photo by the Eminent Atelier

     Hidden in the hills of Sarajevo, there is a beautiful small Bosnian house, looking like one you might find in your story books. The individual residential building has stood there for more than one hundred years. It truly represents a monumental heritage.

Photo: Roses and water fountain in the garden of the house on the hills of Sedrenik in Sarajevo. Photo by the Eminent Atelier

Traditional Bosnian family houses are famous for having roses and water fountains in their gardens which gives the garden a life of its own.

In the orchard surrounding the house, you can breathe in the scent of the cherry tree, nut or apple trees. Although in need of some renovation, such treasures can rarely be found now in our surrounding area and country.

This house is situated on well- known Sedrenik amongst the hills of Sarajevo, near the military lodging.

Photo: Cherry trees and walnut trees in the orchard of the house in the Sedrenik area in Sarajevo. Photo by the Eminent Atelier

On visiting this place, you realise how humble families in Bosnia and Herzegovina lived. Sustainable surroundings of fruits, such as walnuts and cherries in the orchard surrounding the house, were so important. It certainly adds to the food production system now and supports a sustainable system for living at this time of climate change during the recent pandemic of COVID.

Photo: Stone and wooden construction of the foundations and basement of the residential building on the hills of Sedrenik. Photo by the Eminent Atelier

What is interesting to note is that when buildings were constructed previously, the view and healthy environment was very important.  

Photo: Orchard with the wooden fence in front of the building. Photo by the Eminent Atelier

This particular traditional house was built approximately 150 years ago, above the Sarajevo valley. The house was built in the same sea line as the Clinic for Lung Diseases. This shows how important clean air (measured in this area with no fog), was for the builders and families at that time. The fog and pollution settles in the Sarajevo valley; the clean air and sunrays shine above the Sarajevo valley.