SAAHA + AHAKNAP, BiH, Norway – ENG

In 2010 in Sarajevo, Adnan Harambašić and Kenan Brčkalija began a collaboration that would lead to the founding of the AHAKNAP studio. For Harambašić, who graduated from NTNU in Norway, it marked a return to his roots. AHAKNAP is a studio that embodies a unique synthesis of Scandinavian design and local architectural identity. Their joint work quickly gained international recognition. Dvor Housing (2012) in Sarajevo is an homage to housing projects of unfinished modernism. Waves Housing (2016), located in the Sarajevo neighborhood of Otes, is recognizable for its undulating structure with external spaces and terraces. Hotel M Gallery (2017), situated at the foot of Mount Bjelašnica, demonstrates a strong connection between the landscape and the building’s interior. A special place is held by the multi-award-winning mosque in Osijek.
Parallel to his work in Sarajevo, Harambašić also developed an architectural practice in Norway. The Harvest project – an ambitious proposal for the sustainable extension of Postgirobygget in Oslo – brought together the visions of Harambašić and Thor Olav Solbjør. This project, which was a finalist in the prestigious international Nordic Built Challenge competition, formed the basis for the founding of SAAHA in 2013, an international architectural studio operating across a wide range of projects – from urban studies and large-scale programs to bridges, infrastructure solutions, and smaller architectural interventions. Their greatest joint success was achieved with the Bjergsted Finansparken project, the new headquarters of SR-Bank in central Stavanger, completed in 2019 in collaboration with Helen & Hard. SAAHA has developed particular expertise in the design of bridges and metro stations. Bridges such as Drammen Bybrua, Boomerang, and Jungle have become recognizable landmarks that successfully combine technical and aesthetic qualities. Two of them have also been nominated for the Oslo Arkitekturpris.
AHAKNAP and SAAHA are primarily connected through Harambašić as a key link, but also through a shared philosophy that takes into account the existing natural context. With offices in Sarajevo and Oslo, they represent a bridge between two worlds, combining Scandinavian precision with Balkan warmth.