It is widely agreed that the siege of the city was a tragedy, but one that has produced an opportunity to put into practice modern theories on reconstruction. War acts as an aggressive stimulant to the design profession. It exposes the need for a response to the changing social and political climate, revolutionising design concepts for the urban environment (Woods 1995). However, chances like these are rarely exploited to their full potential. In the words of Edwards the "rebuilding of a community after a disaster seldom takes advantage of conditions that the tragedy in its perverse way, has created". It is more often the case that reconstruction is badly planned, designed and constructed, frequently lacking in thought and imagination (Craig 1996). Of course, this is a comment made with the benefit of hindsight and does not consider that rebuilding in a disaster zone is usually hastily prepared and completed in order to resolve an emergency. Sarajevo presents a new challenge to design solutions for the short term that also consider the implications of the long term.

It is recognised that the stability of the community must be re-established and that reconstruction must contrive a city that fosters multiculturalism to the degree that was present before the outbreak of hostilities (Craig 1996).

Woods (1995) explains why choosing one of the two extremes, as an approach to redevelopment, could prove harmful to Sarajevo’s future. Restoration of the city by introducing a faithful copy of the original fabric of the old city is a natural reaction of the public. It is an attempt to deny the tragedy ever existed by wiping out all traces of its occurrence. Creation of a new city, constructing an unfamiliar urban fabric is also an effort to erase the memories of tragedy and loss that linger in the old city. Again this is a characteristic response to violence of this magnitude but it has been discredited as an idea and concept.

It has been shown in the reconstruction of Beirut that an answer lies in the sympathetic design of the urban structure, creating a fine balance between the introduction of bold new concepts and the retention of familiar urban fabric and character. To achieve the successful reconstruction of Sarajevo, the city must build on its remnants. The broken, bombed and burnt structures should be respected because they highlight a part of the country’s history that should not be denied. Sarajevans must learn to accept with a degree of pride what has been lost because they have also gained a great deal. The siege on the city demonstrated to the rest of the world the resilience and bravery of the community and this should be celebrated.

Woods (1995) goes onto explain how the war has resulted in the creation of new forms of practice in Architecture, tactics and strategies that can be extended to Landscape Architecture and the other design disciplines. These must come together to form solutions to the problems that exist in the aftermath of the siege and are crucial to the reinstatement of a self-sufficient city.

Woods (1995) says rebuilding must assemble, transform and metamorphose the materials left by the war, to construct a new social and physical structure from the rubble and waste. His designs for Sarajevo present a new ideology in the design processes of reconstruction. He recognises the need to maintain the blend between the historic fabric and a new urban structure but also places emphasis on the act of war itself and the violence associated with it, the results of which must be an integral part of redevelopment. He considers the marks left behind by war should be accentuated through restoration, stimulating the healing process through the bold confrontation and constant reminders of the effects that the siege had on the city. Perhaps such a concept is too brutal for this situation. It is more likely that Sarajevans require a gentler approach to memorialising the war. To celebrate the effects of bomb damage on the city’s structures, as is demonstrated in Woods’ concept sketches of a new Sarajevo, is presenting too bold a statement for the community to accept and could conceivably hinder reconciliation.

For Richard Rogers, Sarajevo offers the opportunity to reshape the city and introduce new concepts in the development of a sustainable a city. Sustainability is a global concern and many countries have begun taking steps towards more effective conservation techniques and reduction in pollution. Sustainability is of great relevance to Sarajevo. With such a fragile economy the need to reduce costs is paramount and this can be achieved through the design of a city that can manage its own resources. A sustainable Sarajevo would be able to recycle materials, reduce its waste output and conserve exhaustible energy resources, benefiting the people by creating a healthier social and physical environment.

The state of any local environment is a product of four relationships: between the citizens, the services, transport policies and the generation of energy. Sustainability can only be accomplished through the intertwining of these relationships, realised through the development of a "compact city". The concept of sustainability in the compact city relies on the rejection of the dominance of the car and single function development. The compact city is designed for personal mobility without the car, increasing the use of clean public transport and re-balancing the use of the streets in favour of pedestrians and the community (Rogers 1997). The car has been responsible for degradation of the urban structure in many cities, encouraging urban sprawl, making public transport uneconomic and car owners more dependant. Transport should serve rather than shape the form of the city (Darley et al). This is particularly applicable to Sarajevo, which would benefit from a public transport system now that most of the cars have been destroyed and there is little money available to buy new ones.

In the compact city the structure of development is based around the creation of centres of social and commercial activity located at public transport nodes - the focal point around which neighbourhoods develop (Rogers 1997). The entire city consists of a network of neighbourhoods, each with parks and public spaces accommodating a variety of public and private activities. This system dismisses the outdated concept of traversing a large city through a mass transit system and allows work and facilities to be brought within convenient reach of the neighbourhood, reducing the necessity to drive. Rogers’ concept reinstates the city as an ideal habitat for a community-based society, providing shelter, allowing face to face contact, condensing the human activity and generating an expressive local culture. All these factors can be directly applied to the resolving of conflict in Sarajevo, generating tolerance by increasing personal contact and integration of the community.

Landscape Architecture plays an important part in the development of sustainability, because the provision of open space and presence of the natural landscape improves the air quality in the densest of cities. The planning of a compact city allows the provision of greater open space because the reduction in the road network by some sixty per cent is possible. Access to the countryside is more immediate since urban sprawl, which renders many large cities without a rural context, is prevented.

The urban environment is improved by landscape architecture in a number of ways. The natural vegetation in urban landscape reduces heat and the need for air conditioning; it dampens noise levels and filters noise pollution. It absorbs carbon dioxide and exudes oxygen, which supplies cool fresh air to the city. It also absorbs rain, reducing the discharge of urban rainfall. In addition it has an important, calming psychological effect for the inhabitants of the city and is capable of encouraging and sustaining a diversity of wildlife (Rogers 1997).

Immediate cost cutting can be achieved with the reduction in the waste of energy, which can be solved through simple but effective means. Combined heat and power plants (CHP’s), similar to the one on the outskirts of Sarajevo, can double their efficiency by distributing electricity as normal but also piping the hot water by-product to homes. City rubbish can be burnt at the power plant, contributing thirty per cent of the city’s energy needs (Purdon 1994). In a cold environment such as Sarajevo’s the effective consumption of heat is important. Development and architecture can utilise surpluses, which are common in dense office blocks, and re-route them to nearby homes and schools.

By involving the community in the process of creating healthy, cost effective sustainable settlements an accurate response to local needs and culture is achieved. A concept best described by Rogers’ statement "Participation is the key to producing urban solutions that can transform lives" (Rogers 1997). In Sarajevo’s situation sustainability will have a dual purpose, directly providing a healthy environment through the development of a better urban structure and indirectly through community participation in its implementation, which will reinstate Craig’s dream of a multicultural and tolerant society.