Due to its rich history, Bosnia and Herzegovina is abundant with architecture of different styles and small architectural gems are spread all over the country. One of them is Krivajina Villa in Zavidovići, built in the late 19th century.
The villa was built as a residential building for the company “Eissler und Ortlieb” and the Director Fritz Regenstreiff lived there. Today, it is the administration center of IP Krivaja.
The company “Eissler und Ortlieb”, founded in 1884, was one of the largest and most modern plants in Europe at the time and it dealt with exploitation of wood wealth of the Krivaja basin. This company launched the construction of the current sawmill PD “Krivaja-Mobel”, as well as some other plants.
At the same time when the plants of the sawmill were being built, a certain number of residential buildings for officials and qualified workers were also constructed.
Villa Krivaja was built as a part of the complex for exploitation of wood and it is a reminder of the early epoch of industrialization in BiH.
Architect Aida Murtić says that, given that the look and character of factory buildings built during the Austro-Hungarian rule in BiH changed intensely over time because they were following changes in industrial trends, the administration building in this and other complexes are nowadays often the only indicators of the historical continuity of such localities.
“This facility is an example of a residential villa from the time of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in BiH with emphasized romantic symbols in the exterior such as featured bond hand construction, decorative wooden motifs, use of different kinds of windows, outdoor staircaises and porches,” Murtić says.
Although the exact date of construction of this Villa is not known, in the year 1900 the first residents moved in. The villa was equipped with the most modern water and electrical installations.
Today, the Villa adorns the Radnička Street in the industrial part of this town, standing out with its unordinary construction among other facilities. Covered with green roof and with its landscaped exterior, the villa is a true green oasis in the town that sits on three rivers.
Despite reconstructions, the Villa kept its original look. During the last construction, after the aggression on BiH, the roof was replaced. The roof tiles were procured from Hungary, from the same company that produced the roof tiles that were originally placed on the Villa during its construction.
There exists an initiative to make this facility a property of the Municipality, which would then use it as a museum.
If turned into a museum, Krivajina Villa – the witness of the time, countries and empires – would be a place where new generations of Bosnians-Herzegovinians could learn more about themselves and their country from the rich history of this Villa.
(Source: klix.ba)
