The Museum of Sarajevo officially opened the exhibition *“From Home to Heritage: Three Centuries of Svrzo’s House”* by Amra Madžarević, marking the 300th anniversary of one of the finest examples of traditional Bosnian and Herzegovinian residential architecture and Bosniak domestic culture.
Svrzo’s House stands as a testament to a way of life, a culture of dwelling, and a worldview in which people, nature, and community were inextricably connected. Built from materials characteristic of the region—stone, wood, and earth—the house was designed around its inhabitants, reflecting their needs, customs, and way of life.
The occasion marked two significant anniversaries: three centuries of Svrzo’s House and 75 years since it was entrusted to the care of the Museum of Sarajevo. Three centuries of existence and seven and a half decades of museum stewardship reflect the same enduring commitment—to preserve, understand, and pass on what has been entrusted to us to future generations. The exhibition *“From Home to Heritage: Three Centuries of Svrzo’s House”* tells the story of this very journey—from a family home to a treasured part of the cultural and historical heritage of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Svrzo’s House is more than a historical monument. For generations, it has served as a place of learning and research for architecture students, who come here to draw, measure, and study the house. Through its architecture, they seek to understand the spatial principles that emerged from the need to harmonize everyday life with nature, climate, family, and community. For this very reason, Svrzo’s House is a unique architectural gem of Sarajevo and one of the finest preserved examples of architecture designed on a human scale.
The story of Svrzo’s House—its enduring legacy, transformation, and preservation—has been brought together in a single exhibition by Amra Madžarević, Museum Advisor, who has dedicated decades of her professional career to this remarkable house. Over the years, she has cared for its collections, permanent ethnological exhibition, and objects that bear witness to the domestic culture and way of life of generations past.
The preservation of cultural heritage would not be possible without the commitment and support of the relevant institutions. This is particularly evident in the case of Svrzo’s House, which, like any historic building of exceptional value, requires continuous care and substantial investment. The Ministry of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton provided emergency funding for urgent conservation works and ongoing maintenance of Svrzo’s House. The comprehensive rehabilitation of the roof, together with restoration works, has created better conditions for its long-term preservation, helping ensure that this valuable monument is safeguarded for future generations.
At the official opening of the exhibition, guests were addressed by Indira Kučuk-Sorguč, Director of the Museum of Sarajevo; Lemja Akšamija, architect and professor at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Sarajevo; Tatjana Neidhardt, architect and cultural studies expert; Amra Madžarević, exhibition author and Museum Advisor; and Kenan Magoda, Minister of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton. In their remarks, they highlighted the cultural, historical, and architectural significance of Svrzo’s House, its importance for the study of traditional Bosnian and Herzegovinian domestic culture and the education of future generations, as well as the need for continued institutional care, protection, and investment in the preservation of this valuable monument.
The exhibition will be open to visitors at Svrzo’s House from 4 September to 4 October 2026. The Museum of Sarajevo invites the citizens of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as all visitors to our city, to explore the exhibition, discover the history of this remarkable house and, as they walk through its rooms, experience the atmosphere of times past and discover the traditions that Svrzo’s House has preserved and passed on for three centuries.
