Water is Bosnia’s most abundant natural resource. However, only 65% of the population is connected to public water utilities. Consequently, substantial international investment is pouring into Bosnia's water infrastructure sector. Capitalising on the infrastructures’ span across geographical, political, social and cultural spheres, the design and research outcomes speculate what a truly ‘sustainable’ water infrastructure development could contribute to the contested territory. Informed by six months of immersive fieldwork in Sarajevo whilst collaborating with the NGOs Project 1948 and the Post-Conflict Research Centre, a three phase masterplan (2020-2035) proposes the hydrosocial typologies of a new pipeline, fountain, pump station, reservoir and natural source. The design of this blue civic commons network spatially addresses issues of conflicting ethno-national governance, yearning for pre-war normality, social customs of ethnic division and dealing with individual and collective trauma. Furthermore, efforts to empower the politically underrepresented domestic end users are explored, through sustainable construction and maintenance rituals of earth, water, stone and woven fabric.

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Joanna Burleigh

︎Year 5