On the basis of conducted analyses of the location and the object of the Bistrik old railroad station itself a consolidation and conservation with elements of reconstruction is suggested, this is possible to accomplish because there is a complete authentic project documentation for the object. Originally the project for the Bistrik railroad station was done by the Technical department Bosnian-Herzegovinian state railroads. The building was built as a typical construction project in the “Alpine style” which is applied to most station objects in Bosnia and Hercegovina. The station building on Bistrik was reconstructed in 1982 and adapted for housing, it’s purpose is the same today, however it is in bad condition, partly because of war activities and partly because of inadequate constructional interventions. Considering that historical objects which had a purpose in the past but are now neglected or abandoned are often appropriate for a museum, the object is planned to become a technical museum, as a historical introduction to the railroad traffic which once existed there. It is also convenient that the object itself becomes a part of the museum considering that it once was a railroad station and it dates back to the Austrian-Hungarian empire. In the interior of the railroad station building, which was partially altered and adapted to the new function, a museum display is planned which will show a technical, historical and art collection, also in one part of the building on the ground floor a souvenir shop is planned (where there were once sanitation and luggage facilities) On the first floor a workshop, meeting hall and a library and on the second floor management and administration facilities are planned.
Next to the railroad station there is a smaller building which originally served as a coal deposit facility for fire stoking needs of the steam engines that were then in use. Today this building is in very bad condition and plans are to retain the walls of the building with existing openings, and build a new object next to it as a continuation of it, this one will be built out of modern materials – COR-TEN steel, as a reminiscence of another building which once existed here and had the same purpose but was totally demolished over time. So for this object (building) a total reconstruction as a method of protection will be performed and in the interior a larger useful surface will be created. This object is projected to be a cafeteria which will offer a space for rest and relaxation for visitors after their museum tours.
The revitalisation of the object and the space around it will contribute first and foremost to the protection of a monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina from further decay and also to an adequate way of representing a history of railroad traffic. The interior of the old railroad station will have maximum usage, the entire object with the museum collection and with a park and a cafe with a rest-space and a view of the city will give the visitors a pleasant stay in such an ambiance and send them back to some nostalgic times. Therefore this is also good for the development of the local community which by revitalising the old railroad station will get an opportunity for its own revitalisation.
Haris Delić
