Solidarity House
The centre is meant to function both locally, regionally and
internationally, for the people in Lipnica, Tuzla, for the
citizen´s movement in Bosnia-Hercegovina and for supporters
in other countries in Europe. The program crosses all national,
ethnic and religious borders. Its main goal will be to work
against extreme nationalism, intolerance and other fascistic
tendencies through promoting civil co-existence and
brotherhood, democracy and equality. The centre will arrange
courses and education ie: language courses and democracy
seminars. It will have an assembly hall for conferences with
theatre and cinema facilities, a library with Bosnian and
international literature including a section of educational and
childrens´ books, a women´ s centre, rooms for lodging, a
dentistry and a radio station.
Administration
Solidarity House will be administered by an administrative
council in the village Lipnica, Open Society Lipnica, OSL. The
council operates together with Ship to Bosnia as a local and
international co-ordinator. The council, per its statutes, is to
have an equal membership of men, women and youth. The
intention is that Solidarity House will independently be
administered by OSL two years after its opening. The OSL has
15 members with different ethnic backgrounds and professions
from all sectors of society and the various local associations in
Lipnica. The chairman is Mr. Ramiz Muric, an ex-miner and a
local cultural personality. Other members are miners, the
school principal, members of the associations for youth and
women, the trade unions, enterprise, the local newspaper, the
soccer team, etc.
Design and construction
The centre will include approximately 1000 sq metres of
premises. The land has been granted by the local authorities.
The construction will be carried out in three phases.
An architectural competition was arranged by Ship to Bosnia in
co-operation with the Swedish Architect Association (SAR) in
late 1996. 42 proposals were submitted and in April 1997 the
winners were selected by the Bosnian-Swedish jury. The first
prize went to Bengt Edman, Professor in Architecture, Sweden,
for his proposal Apart-ment-Together-ment. The ceremony
took place in Stockholm and the prize was given by two of the
Bosnian members of the jury, Mr. Aleksandar Remetic,Tuzla and
Mr. Ramiz Muric, Lipnica.
The jury had the following motivation for its choice:
Apart-ment-Together-ment is given the winning prize for its
beautiful facades, its simple and spiritual location, a clear
structure and an efficient flow between the various activties.
The rhytm of the terrain is reflected in the building
aesthetically and spiritually with a simplicity that creates a
feeling of affinity. The building turns towards south, is
tastefully connected to the landscape and creates a protected
yard towards south. The building materials are brick, concrete
and wood, all available locally.
Finance
Ship to Bosnia is involved on a daily basis in the promotional
activities to collect sufficient funds to finance the project.
Co-operation and a wide range of contacts with public and
private organizations and with a large number of private
individuals who want to help.
International interest
he Solidarity House project has promoted interest both around
Bosnia-Hercegovina and in Europe. It is by some considered a
model project which, if successful, could be followed by similar
in other parts of the country, based on the intiatives of
others. The now thousands of people in Bosnia, Sweden and
other countries involved in the project are thrilled by it´s
possibilities to help create a base to maintain and expand the
multi-ethnic culture, which is a condition to maintain peace in
Bosnia-Hercegovina and establish a workable unsegregated
democracy also in this European country.
