Traditional Herzegovinian Residential Architecture of Gornji Crnač

The village of Gornji Crnač, part of Široki Brijeg, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, offers insight into the authentic traditional construction of the Croatian population of Herzegovina. The heritage, however, is at risk due to the village’s depopulation. To build upon previous research and to assess the current preservation state, a field survey in the preserved hamlets was conducted, along with the interviews of the few remaining inhabitants. Some hamlets were permanently inhabited, while others were occupied only seasonally. Built with stone, structures have remained physically preserved and authentic, intact by decades of abandonment that shielded them from alterations, and modifications. It was found that previous research, focusing on the traditional housing construction techniques of the broader Široki Brijeg area, overlooked the distinct features uniquely crafted by local builders in the village.