Persistence of Socialist Apartment Buildings: Functionalist Design Approach Over Time and Usage

The most significant part of the housing stock that Bosnia and Herzegovina has today is residential buildings from the socialist period. The buildings have been in service for 50–70 years, but they are not recognized as architectural heritage of value. Over that period, many aspects of life have changed, and the rising question is how relevant and accommodating those buildings are now. It is important to reflect on the inherited values but also the limitations of the socialist apartment buildings. There are lessons to be learned especially in the design phase when economic, environmental, and political aspects affect architectural solutions. The quality of architectural design can be perceived through its’ ability to endure changes over time and adapt to new requirements and in that sense, grounds itself in the sustainability paradigm. Research performed on 4 residential high-rise buildings built in 1964 in Sarajevo demonstrated that the functionalist layout of apartments has been maintained and has directly contributed to the persistence of socialist apartment buildings to date. As well as that there is an urgent need to establish design guidelines for adapting apartment buildings to the contemporary needs of tenants and, in due process, to preserve the values of socialist apartment buildings.