Working with an architect in Bosnia from abroad: how a video-call project works, step by step

Many people in the Bosnian diaspora share the same plan: a house, an apartment or a renovated family property in Bosnia and Herzegovina. And they share the same question: how do you organise it when you live a thousand kilometres away and only visit for two or three weeks a year? The good news is that most of the design process can be run remotely, as long as it is clearly structured. Here is how it usually works when you collaborate with an architect over video calls.

What happens in the first call?

The first video call is for listening, not drawing. The architect wants to understand who will live in the house, how often you will be there, how your family lives and what matters most to you. A holiday home used in summer calls for different solutions than a house you plan to retire in. It helps to think about three things beforehand: what the building is for, what you absolutely need, and what is nice but not essential. Be open about your rough budget and timeline too, since the whole concept depends on them.

Which photos and documents should you send your architect?

Before or right after the first call, prepare material that lets the architect start without visiting the site:

• photos of the plot or building from several angles, including the surroundings and neighbouring buildings,
• any existing drawings, sketches or old plans, even hand-drawn ones,
• documents about the plot or building that you already have (for example a land registry extract, if available),
• a walk-through video in which you comment on what you like and what bothers you,
• images of interiors and details you like, as inspiration.

Important: ownership and planning documents, as well as the rules for a building permit, differ depending on the entity, canton and municipality. For specific requirements, ask the responsible authority or a lawyer.

How is the existing building surveyed when you are not there?

For a renovation, the current condition has to be recorded accurately. This is usually done by someone on site, not by you. The architect can arrange measurements with a local partner, or you can authorise a family member to act as contact person. A live video call from the site helps check everything in real time: the architect asks the camera to point at the ceiling, a wall, the roof, a damp corner. Details like these often decide what can realistically be built.

How do the design and approval rounds work?

After the survey come several layout options. You go through them together on screen while the architect explains why one solution is better for daylight, circulation and cost. This phase sees the most changes, and that is good, because changes on paper are cheap and changes on site are expensive. Agree on fixed appointments, for example every two weeks, and ask for a short written summary of decisions after each call. That avoids misunderstandings when you are in a different time zone or simply busy at work.

How do you follow construction from a distance?

Once work starts, the biggest worry is losing control. The answer is regular site reports: photos and short videos, the work schedule, open questions and decisions waiting for your reply. Agree in advance who supervises on site and who makes small decisions on the spot. Larger changes and costs are always approved by you. If you use your holiday weeks for a visit, time them to coincide with key phases, such as before walls are closed or before final materials are chosen.

The most common mistakes in projects run from abroad

The most common mistakes are postponing decisions until the holiday visit, unclear division of responsibilities, verbal agreements without a written trace, and a budget with no reserve. Most can be avoided with structure: a clear plan, regular calls, written records and one person you trust on the ground.

How to get started

If you are planning a house, renovation or apartment in Bosnia and Herzegovina while living abroad, get in touch for a no-obligation introductory video call. We will look at your situation, photos and ideas, and work out together what the sensible next step would be. 81AD Digital Studio in Sarajevo works with diaspora clients in exactly this way.