Project: Central Police Headquarters of Sarajevo Canton
Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Program: Central Police Headquarters of Sarajevo Canton
Year: 2024
Status: Concept Design – Competition
Client: Sarajevo Canton
Size: XL 30,000 m²
Team: Studio Mrav | Sinteza | Osa Scale Models
Zejd Kobilica, Jasmin Sirčo, Asmir Šabić, Ana Sužnjević, Melika Konjičanin, Ilma Kobilica

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) of Sarajevo Canton can be metaphorically understood as a pivotal point of support that maintains balance within society. Without such support, the societal system would face a constant risk of collapse. The MUP is not merely an enforcer of law and order—it is a dynamic force that guides the flows of life within the community, the neighborhood, and the city. Through its work, the MUP creates a stable and secure environment, making society more resilient to various challenges and threats.

This project builds upon the metaphor of the MUP as a stabilizing force of the social order. Architecturally, the building of the Central Police Headquarters is conceived as a vertical tower, divided into four distinct volumes. These volumes are shifted and rotated relative to each other, creating a dynamic yet harmonious relationship—each volume is unique, yet together they form a stable structure. Just as the MUP maintains balance within society, the tower establishes architectural equilibrium within its surroundings, responding to the heights and forms of the existing urban fabric.

Through a thoughtful and flexible organization of both exterior and interior spaces, the building and its environment convey a sense of harmony, order, seriousness, and monumental character. From the outset, the design logic is modular and adaptable to spatial needs, ensuring maximum functionality through highly optimized use of space. By rotating and shifting the volumes, open spaces are created—envisioned as gathering areas for employees. These spaces, such as terraces and outdoor cafés, provide opportunities for collaboration, relaxation, informal meetings, and social interaction.

The balance that the MUP represents is not static—it continuously adapts, responding to new challenges and shifting societal circumstances, which makes it a dynamic factor in maintaining social harmony. In the same way, this tower—with its dynamic yet stable and disciplined form and monumental presence—establishes a balance between the institutional needs of the MUP and the context of its urban surroundings.