Gordan Lederer Memorial

The Gordan Lederer Memorial stands on Čukur Hill near Glina, Croatia, marking a poignant chapter in the country’s recent history. This site commemorates Gordan Lederer, a Croatian photographer and cameraman who was killed by a sniper on August 10, 1991, while documenting the Croatian War of Independence. The memorial is the result of a 2014 public competition organized by Croatian Radio Television (HRT) to honor its personnel who lost their lives during the conflict.

Designed by the NFO architecture studio and sculptor Petar Barišić, the memorial—titled "Broken Landscape"—blends architecture and sculpture. Visitors follow a pathway made of concrete slabs encased in black steel frames. Each slab is engraved with a year from Lederer’s life, resembling frames of film and symbolizing his work as a cameraman. The path leads to a viewpoint overlooking the Una River valley, where the landscape’s natural beauty contrasts with the tragedy commemorated here.

The memorial’s minimalist design, with its hard materials and sparse vegetation, encourages reflection and personal interpretation. There are no admission fees or set opening hours, as the site is open to the public. For travelers interested in recent history, media, or memorial architecture, the Gordan Lederer Memorial offers a contemplative space that connects the story of one individual to the broader narrative of Croatia’s struggle for independence.