Along the Wilson’s Promenade, a number of palaces were built during the time of the Austro-Hungarian rule, where officers of the Austro-Hungarian army lived.
Today, this century-old residential complex testifies to the rich heritage of Austria-Hungary, and its importance for the history of Sarajevo was proven by the Commission for Preservation of National Monuments in BiH, which included these pavilions in national monuments of BiH in 2010.
“Officer pavilions in Sarajevo are a significant example of residential construction in monumental composition of individual palaces from the Austro-Hungarian period in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Besides that, it is the largest residential complex built in the spirit of secession with a touch of historicism, which has a major environmental value within the central urban area of Marijin Dvor,” stated the Commission.
The pavilions were built in the period between 1909 and 1914. Then the Austro-Hungarian architects and constructors were influenced by secession, but a number of elements that are reminiscent of the period of historicism can still be noticed on them.
It is being assumed that the author of the urban design and designer of individual facilities is the architect Rudolf Tonnies.
Before the officer pavilions were built, the building of the National Museum had been built in the period between 1908 and 1913 next to the residential quadrant. This institution was designed by Karl Parzyk.
The Austro-Hungarian officers lived in these pavilions until the end of the First World War, when soldiers of the former Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians move in this residential complex.
During the war, these pavilions suffered significant damage on facades, and the greatest degree of degradation was suffered by the facility located in the south end of the complex, which was the closest to the front line during the war.
Growing up in these pavilions along the Wilson’s Promenade, the Miljacka River and the National Museum meant a lot to many Sarajevans.
The previous inhabitants of the pavilions, who are now living throughout the world, gather in August ever year and remember their life in the pavilion.
(Source: radiosarajevo.ba)
