FESTINA LENTE BRIDGE
FESTINA LENTE BRIDGE
Festina Lente is a pedestrian bridge and one of the most recognisable landmarks in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It connects the lively city centre with the quiet riverside, home to the Academy of Fine Arts - where I studied 🖤. Festina Lente ("rush slowly" in Latin) embodies the Sarajevan mindset of intensity at a leisurely pace. The loop represents an invitation to slow down, take a seat, and chat - a very cherished tradition in Bosnia. The design captures the essence of Sarajevo's rich cultural heritage, connecting past and future, sacred and spiritual.
I was still a student when my colleagues Bojan Kanlic, Adnan Alagic, and I won a public competition for the bridge’s concept design - selected from 42 submissions.
Today, Festina Lente stands not only as a functional connection but as a symbol of Sarajevo’s creative spirit. It also serves as an open exhibition space for students of the Academy, a meeting point, and a place where art meets everyday life.
“There is a new generation of young Sarajevans, who are blessed with the self-belief of their generation. They see Sarajevo as theirs and are molding the city inspired, not burdened, by the pull of history. One of the most dramatic examples of this can be seen in the Festina Lente pedestrian bridge.”
Concept designers: Bojan Kanlic, Amila Hrustic, Adnan Alagic / Mentor: Stjepan Ros /
Concept designers: Bojan Kanlic, Amila Hrustic, Adnan Alagic / Mentor: Stjepan Ros /
Photo / Video credits: Midhat Mujkic, amyrxa, sarajevoflycam, dronsarajevo