Scholars and experts in architecture and urban conservation from the Middle East, Europe and USA joined in the international symposium dedicated to the memory of Prof. Arch. Amir Pašić, an internationally renowned scholar, former Head (1993-2018) of IRCICA’s Architectural Heritage Department, who passed away in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 28 April 2022. After retiring from IRCICA in 2018, Amir Pašić maintained his professional contacts with IRCICA while he continued to teach and serve towards the preservation of historical architecture in his home country Bosnia and Herzegovina and represent his country in expert committees at international organizations.
The symposium, themed “Preservation Through Generations” was held at IRCICA in hybrid format, on 24 May 2023. The working sessions, on the themes, “Preservation: Urban Memory and Heritage”, “Preservation: Heritage at Risk”, “Preservation: Contemporary Issues”, received twenty paper presentations. The opening session heard Pašić’s former colleagues and friends – conservation specialists from organizations and universities in the Middle East, Europe and USA, including the President of the City Council of Mostar Mr. Salem Marić, the experts Prof. Attilio Petruccioli, Daniele Pini, Mounir Bouachnaki, Francesco Bandarin, Jon Calame, Zeynep Ahunbay, sharing memories of their collaboration with Pašić, speaking of his dedicated works for the conservation of Mostar City before and after the Bosnia War, as well as Sarajevo, and many other historic cities in the Balkans and Southeast Europe, Central Asia and the Arab world; his conducting teams of experts in urban studies and restoration programs. Opening the symposium in the name of IRCICA Director General Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç, who was on mission abroad, Prof. Dr. Aboubacar A. Senghore, Assistant Director General, said Professor Amir was a renowned, outstanding professional but a modest, friendly person, who cared for efficient use of time and would have therefore appreciated the concept of this commemorative symposium addressing key themes in urban conservation. Prof. Dr. Cengiz Tomar, Head of Research and Publications IRCICA, shared memories of his relationship with Professor Amir as an esteemed colleague and close friend, underlining his exceptional qualities, both professional and personal, and said that Amir’s absence from IRCICA had left a void impossible to fill.
IRCICA plans to institute the commemorative symposium as an annual series dedicated to the memory of Amir Pašić.
