Radical transformation: Cultural revival of military architecture

Transformation in architecture is a dynamic process of a vital transition from a given architectural form to an evolving metamorphosis. This notion becomes indispensable in the case of war architecture which is transformed into brownfields due to political shifts and negative connotations. They represent an enormous cultural catalyst and potential for future city development. In their essential understanding, they constrain a critical reflection on the history of the architectural form and the future scenarios for adaptive reuse. This article aims to review the issue of former military sites from theory to practice as part of a widespread and important trend of rethinking the repurposing of abandoned military architecture. The objective is to provide a basis for possible future design guidelines through a transformational hypothesis illustrated with several design examples on the case study of former military barracks in the city of Sarajevo. The delineation of the design proposals indicates creative attitudes, which in their conception are linked to a strategy that reflects the history and identity of the given project site, but also tends towards a radical transformation of former military architecture. Rather than final design solutions, these proposals intend to serve as a critical tool for defining directions, guidelines, or future strategies.