Sarajevo Secession

In Sarajevo, just like in other cities and towns of Austria-Hungary, many Secessionist buildings can be found. Because of it being a province of the empire (a status well reflected in the opinions of the characters in Heimito von Doderer’s Die Strudlhofstiege oder Melzer und die Tiefe der Jahre), its buildings of the period, or at least the surviving buildings, still show strong influence of eclecticism and generally look less extravagant or avant-garde than those in Vienna, Budapest, Trieste, or Prague. Elements of Moorish Revival architecture are sometimes combined with Secessionist features in an interesting way. The most notable architect is Rudolf Tönnies.

My portfolio consists of photos of 10 buildings. The selection is in no way complete but includes outstanding buildings from different parts of the city. I took the photos in late August and early September 2015.

You will find the approximate locations of the below buildings on this map:

1. Villa Mandić

Petrakijina 7
Karl Paržik, 1903

This eclectic villa, designed by a famous Czech architect, is located in a group of houses dating from the Austro-Hungarian period. It hosted the Olympic Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina until it was hit by grenades in the Bosnian War in 1992.

2. Villa Rädisch

Petrakijina 13
Rudolf Tönnies, 1906

This Secessionist villa boasts with a dense flower carpet.

3. House of Milan Jojkić

Saliha Hadžihusejnovića Muvekita 8
Rudolf Tönnies, 1906

The partitioning of this façade is similar to that of the house that Tönnies designed for Mehmed-beg Fadilpašić some years later.

4. Residential and commercial building on Zelenih beretki

Rudolf Tönnies, 1907

This is, because of its location on a major street, one of the most visible Art Nouveau buildings in Sarajevo.

5. House of Mehmed-beg Fadilpašić

Franjevačka 2
Rudolf Tönnies, 1910

The undulating façade, the floral and geometric elements and the protruding roof show the influences of both Bosnian vernacular and Secessionist architecture.

6. House of Atijas Mordohaj Rahae

Valtera Perića 4
Rudolf Tönnies, 1911

This building has a notable corner solution with a dome.

7. Residential and commercial building of Altarac Meyer

Ferhadija 22
Rudolf Tönnies, 1911

This building, an example of the geometric Art Nouveau, typical of the late period, also shows some influence of Neoclassicism.

8. Napredak Palace

Maršala Tita 56
Dionis Sunko, 1913

This majestic building was the headquarters of a Croatian cultural society established in 1902. The famous Imperijal Café was located on the ground floor, and the Imperijal Cinema also operated here.