Contesting the Memorialscape of Sarajevo

This paper examines the interpretation of the concept of memorialscapes in Sarajevo. Its aim is to explore the urban rehabilitation of a post-war urbanscape. Memorials can be open-ended and allow for multiple interpretations of both their forms and symbolic content. This research will be focused on the transformation of Sarajevo’s post-war urbanscape, that resulted from the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–1996) and influenced the redefinition of the urbanscape of Sarajevo. The interpretation of Sarajevo’s memorialscape will be based on the analysis of the selected historical periods of Sarajevo’s urbanscape (trans)formation that we draw from a well of cultural knowledge. The aim of this analysis is to identify the main components that defined and changed the city’s identity culminating in the post-war reconstruction. These urbanscapes may enable the city of Sarajevo to imagine the continually redefined urbanscape identity as a memorial that will contribute to healing and reconciliation with the past.