AGGF Student Wins Prestigious International Award

The work of architecture student Sonja Vidović from the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy at the University of Banja Luka (AGGF UNIBL) has been awarded the “Honorable Mention in Architectural Design / Heritage Architecture” at the prestigious international competition Architecture Master Prize.

Her project, titled “Ataraxia”, recognized in the student category, presents a contemporary cultural pavilion integrated into the complex of a 16th-century Serbian Orthodox church in Sarajevo. As the author explains, the design pays tribute to the historical heritage of the site by preserving important spaces such as passageways, staircases, and courtyards, while simultaneously reinterpreting arched forms as spatial elements. The use of Corten steel and stone connects old and new, creating a space for community and reflection, highlighting the spiritual and cultural significance of the location.

Sonja Vidović, a final-year student at AGGF, submitted her project as part of the course Studio Project 8 – Restoration of Built Structures, under the mentorship of Assoc. Prof. Jasna Guzijan, PhD, with the course led by Prof.  Milijana Okilj, PhD. The project assignment was developed in collaboration with the Metropolis of Dabar-Bosnia and focuses on the restoration of part of the Old Church complex in Baščaršija, Sarajevo.

The Architecture Master Prize is one of the world’s leading architecture competitions, recognizing the best projects in residential and commercial architecture, urban planning, interior design, and sustainable architecture, emphasizing innovation and professional excellence.