Ruins in the landscape: the Blue Hospital of Bugojno

Abstract

Nearly two decades after the cessation of hostilities, traces of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995) are still present throughout the landscape. Ruins resulting both directly and indirectly from the military actions remain scattered throughout urban and rural landscapes. Above the city of Bugojno, stands the shell of a hospital that was never completed and never opened. It is a visceral image full of unfulfilled hope and promise, and a reminder of the catastrophic events of the Bosnian Conflict. With unused and derelict infrastructure of that magnitude, loaded with symbolic meaning, it begs the question, how can it come to be used for the benefit of the local residents? The purpose of this practicum is to effectively design a redevelopment plan for the site of this former regional hospital, producing community space that promotes peace and reconciliation between the ethnic groups affected by conflict utilizing landscape processes and a program of socially based activities such as community gardening and food production. It will explore alternative uses and understanding of ruined infrastructure through investigation of traditional and contemporary landscape design theory pertaining to the picturesque, the aesthetic understanding of ruins in the landscape and the aesthetics of decay.