Tijana Tufek Memišević, an architect and urban planner originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who lives and works in Chicago (USA), on the eve of the 14th BHAAAS Days. One of the most visited scientific conferences in the region, the 14th BHAAAS Days in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be held from June 1 to 4 at several locations in Tuzla and with numerous participants from our country and the world. Part of the program is dedicated to sustainable urban development, which we talked about with Dr. Sci. Tijana Tufek Memišević, an architect and urban planner originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who lives and works in Chicago (USA). Tufek Memišević is a member of the Board of Directors of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences (BHAAAS) and a member of the Scientific Committee of the International Association of City and Regional Planners—ISOCARP. In the interview, she emphasizes that disasters do not recognize entity or state borders, and their frequency and intensity could increase significantly in the coming years. Investing resources and knowledge in preventive measures must now be imperative. How do you assess our society's commitment to changes and new trends? Is it only "pro forma" while concrete activities are lacking? The interest of our society, profession, and economy in changes and positive trends certainly exists, although it is most often covered by the shadow of existential issues and an unstable political climate. Moreover, I believe that positive trends are adopted very quickly in society, but it is the state political structure that hinders and delays the establishment of laws, rules, and plans that would encourage and monitor progress. Urban planning is inevitably linked to politics; therefore, it is very important that on the complex political scene in BiH, government representatives at all levels possess at least basic knowledge and the will to establish sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban development. During the last elections, we saw how urban visions and incoherent comparisons with world metropolises are used for the purpose of election campaigns, while realistic proposals and plans are absent from practice and planning documentation. For example, Sarajevo's urban plan expired eight years ago, the KS Spatial Plan expires this year, while the building code is non-existent. When we talk about commitment to new trends, we can best see this attitude of society and long-standing politics towards innovation in the example of urban mobility. Electric scooters have taken over our roads quite quickly, but no official rules have been established on their use (except RS) that would prevent danger for pedestrians and users. Also, it is not easy to convince people about the benefits of introducing electric cars into traffic to reduce harmful gas emissions when all the necessary laws on electricity have not yet been adopted, insufficient investment is being made in adequate infrastructure, and various subsidies that will support their use are not yet in place. Sustainable urban development and Bosnia and Herzegovina. cities? How much do we plan, and how much do we "copy" from successful examples, or does it all come down to rapid urbanization and dealing with consequences such as polluted air, pressure on traffic infrastructure, etc.? It is evident that BiH cities are still more about consequences than plans. In order to talk about progress, we must have planning documentation that is current, based on scientific studies and data analysis, and that is in line with the guidelines of the European Union and the international community regarding the goals of sustainable urban development. Coordination at the state level is necessary because the development of urban space cannot be treated exclusively within the outlined administrative boundaries without taking into account the broader context and layering. When we talk about urban planning, the appropriation of positive practices that have been applied in other countries and cities is expected and necessary. Moreover, urban processes are usually planned for longer periods, and the applied practices may show different results in the long term compared to the planned ones. Finding exemplary examples is an obligatory part of the research process. However, it is very important that we “copy” in a proper way. And this means that in the search for solutions, we should look to cities and communities that deal with the same or similar problems that we face in our environment while respecting the authenticity, identity, and history of the space we are dealing with. Unplanned construction in the Western Balkan countries still poses a major challenge to sustainable development, as it puts pressure on infrastructure and increases the level of air and environmental pollution. In Sarajevo, these are predominantly hillside settlements that need to be connected and integrated into the rest of the urban fabric. The planning and investment in public urban transport in the Sarajevo Canton in the last few years is truly commendable. New cable cars are also planned, but it would be good to consider another form of cable transport, such as surface traction, such as funiculars or inclined lifts. Also, landscaping public spaces on slopes in the form of cascading parks can establish the necessary connections and significantly reduce vehicle traffic. Furthermore, the current controversial situation with the selection of the location for the monument to King Tvrtko, in my opinion, is just one of many indicators of the systematic and decades-long neglect of the need to create quality public spaces, squares, and parks. Public space and urban greenery must be at the very top of the priority list, not only because of their social, economic, and cultural importance, but also because of their role in climate action in eliminating heat islands and polluted air. It is important to emphasize that new spatial interventions must be accompanied by an adequate maintenance program, which sometimes requires significant investments that are not always foreseen during planning. I often say that in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is not difficult to create something beautiful, but it is difficult to keep something beautiful. Although the state and government bear the greatest responsibility in initiating development activities, the great role of the individual in creating a better living space should not be neglected. It is discouraging to constantly point out the importance of the accessibility of public spaces and facilities for people with reduced mobility in a society in which the basic principle is massively disregarded—that the road is for vehicles and the sidewalk is for pedestrians. Which cities or countries are a good example to follow in this sense? What is their success reflected in? Paris is currently one of the leading cities that has successfully implemented the concept of the 15-minute city. This concept has recently even become the subject of conspiracy theories, and it is essentially a very logical principle in which urban transformations and planning seek to provide access to basic life needs without the use of a car. For many BiH cities, we can say that historically such a concept has already been significantly applied, but it needs to be harmonized with the modern growth and expansion of the urban fabric. Barcelona provides us with a number of inspiring examples in the creation of public urban space, while Vienna can offer us examples of urban mobility. We can learn a lot from individual cities in Latin America about the integration of hillside unplanned settlements into the urban structure of the city. In the USA, where I live, cities have historically developed quite differently compared to Europe and BiH. Therefore, in comparison with them, we can mainly look to the processes and technologies that are used to encourage sustainable urban development and clean energy. The participation of individuals and communities in decision-making processes about the built environment here is truly at a very enviable level. Planning is carried out systematically and transparently, involving citizens in the early stages of the project, as well as changing plans based on citizen feedback. Glasgow aims to become the first “feminist city,” i.e., a place where women and vulnerable minorities can feel safe at all times of the day and in every public space. London is currently considering introducing a “retrofit first” strategy in construction, which implies prioritizing the revitalization and conversion of existing buildings before making decisions about new construction. Also, a significant trend in many cities around the world is currently the transformation of roads into predominantly pedestrian zones. These are just some of the many examples that we can consider or follow. The success of the above-mentioned cities is reflected in a holistic approach to planning, continuous monitoring of global trends in order to establish sustainable urban development, and significant citizen participation. What does the program dedicated to sustainable urban development at the 14th BHAAAS Days bring us? What are the highlights that you would highlight? The BHAAAS Sustainable Urban Development Program has been running for several years and provides a platform for connecting domestic experts, scientists, the academic community, and local government representatives with global organizations, scientists, and professionals dealing with sustainability issues through an interdisciplinary approach. This program, in cooperation with the global scientific publisher Springer, also provides the opportunity to publish scientific research papers. Given that cities and the built environment are the greatest generators of change, but also challenges for sustainable development, our target audience is largely (but not exclusively) experts in the fields of economics, architecture, urban planning, civil engineering, forestry, and related disciplines. In previous years, we have recorded great success in symposium attendance, the number of papers for publication, and cooperation with global organizations dealing with sustainability issues such as UNDP, ISOCARP, the Architectural Council of Europe, as well as local professional associations and universities. This year, the symposium in Tuzla was supported by the Federal Ministry of Physical Planning, and in cooperation with the South East Europe Regional Cooperation Council (SEE RCC), we are organizing a very important special session on disaster risk management and reduction. We have also reviewed a large number of scientific research papers that will be presented during the symposium, which range in topics from energy efficiency and urban mobility to architectural heritage and more. In cooperation with the Faculty of Architecture in Sarajevo and the Association of Landscape Architects, we are organizing two special open “sessions—“Sustainability of Socialist-era Hotel Facilities” and “Urban Green Standards.”. In addition, we are organizing the Green Design Biennale exhibition, which will be open throughout the 14th BHAAAS Day. It is my great pleasure to lead this program with my colleagues Maja Arslanagić-Kalajdžić and Naida Ademović, who are excellent experts in their fields—economics and construction. Disaster risks will occupy one of the special places at this conference. How prepared is BiH for such situations? As we have recently seen, nature has shaken us out of our slumber and suddenly reminded us of its strength. Disaster risks are one of the most current topics in the world. As a member of the ISOCARP scientific committee, I am addressing this issue through a series of activities with a team of experts from different parts of the world. Unfortunately, after COP27 and the latest research on climate change, I believe that the frequency and severity of sudden disasters could increase in the coming years. Investing resources and knowledge in preventive measures must now be imperative! Disasters do not recognize nationality, entity, or state borders, as we have seen with the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Planning and dealing with the consequences, however, is largely in the hands of the state. During the session that we are organizing on this topic in cooperation with the Council for Regional Cooperation of South East Europe, we will focus mainly on disasters that threaten our region, and we will host world experts and panelists from Greece, Turkey, Japan, and other countries who will speak about the topic from different aspects. I would like to highlight a special lecture by Professor Satoru Nishikawa, who will talk about the strategies that Japan uses to prevent disasters, especially due to earthquakes. Is it enough to bring together the profession once a year, and to what extent does this networking result in cooperation between institutions, knowledge transfer, and year-round activities between domestic institutions and experts in the diaspora? The profession also gathers outside of BHAAAS. However, what BHAAAS offers, in addition to diverse content, is the possibility of interdisciplinary cooperation, publication of scientific papers, and establishing connections with experts and organizations outside the country. In these interactions, new ideas, research, and creativity are born. I am especially pleased when I see that certain encounters achieved during our symposia have resulted in professional collaborations, exhibitions, or the interest of local authorities in receiving professional advice. It is interesting to follow new interdisciplinary initiatives that are born, such as the synergy between medicine and robotics, art and IT technology, and architecture and economics. Although the BHAAAS Days last four days, the process of selecting and publishing the papers that will be presented at the symposia is a year-round activity. In addition, we are working on other projects that aim to transfer knowledge, such as mentoring for students or the recently announced platform “Knowledge to Health.” I would like to note that the members of BHAAAS are mostly doctors of science or accomplished artists in their fields, who fully volunteer their time for such activities and do so with the utmost responsibility and integrity. What do BHAAAS's experiences so far say, and are you an optimist? If I were not an optimist, I would never engage in this work. The work we do in the annual preparations is very demanding. It involves the cooperation of experts from many different fields who have completely different business obligations. It requires coordination within different time zones, and every year brings new technical challenges due to the change in the location of the Day. However, we do this because we want to provide access to science and art in different parts of our country. The growing interest in participation, both from individuals and organizations, indicates that we can indeed hope for positive changes. (https://6yka.com/)
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