Restoration of Mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina

This book is a comprehensive record of the restoration work coordinated by IRCICA on five monumental mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina namely Neziraga Mosque in Mostar, Sevri Hadži Hasan Mosque in Mostar, Karadjozbeg Mosque in Mostar, Hadži Alija Mosque in Počitelj, and Aladža Mosque in Foča. Reconstruction of Neziraga Mosque in 1999, which was the earliest of the above projects, formed an example for not only the four other projects but for many other similar efforts. All five projects were financed through donations, either by the World Monuments Fund, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qassimi, Sheikh Zaki Yamani, or the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2004).

Amply illustrated with colour photographs and supplemented with maps and drawings, the book can serve as a rich reference for those interested in any aspect of these mosques and their restoration: history, characteristics, rebuilding, restoration of outer and interior elements including decorations and inscriptions, among others. The elaborate Introduction of the book gives a comprehensive overview of the Islamic urban heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its formation; the monuments, mosques in particular, and restorations they underwent; a brief history and description of the environment of the cities where these monuments are located.

In the Islamic urban context, destruction of a mosque means loss of the core and disruption of the pattern. Restoration of the core therefore means recovery and rehabilitation of the area. The value added to the building is in itself significant since it reflects communal consciousness of cultural identity on local level and professional concern for conservation of heritage on general/global level. In all their theoretical and practical aspects restoration is closely connected with the historical, cultural and social environments attached to each site and structure. The projects described in the book are significant case studies reflecting these and other facts and considerations involved in any historical restoration work.