Appraisal of Heritage Buildings in the Post-War Period in Bosnia

Abstract

The unexpected loss of values, as one result of the total destruction during the armed conflicts and war, put us on the challenge to properly decide about methods of rehabilitation, and integrating and understanding values and actions that could vary from restoration to, in many cases, even full reconstruction. During the 1992-1995 war in BiH, many valuable assets of cultural heritage like national monuments, historical places, and historical structures were damaged and/or destroyed. After the aggression, the first step has been to regain and/or establish the function of the places destroyed, while for the cultural heritage assets these attempts called for the approaches more careful. It is not only that the importance or the significance of places and structures destructed is different, the level of destruction also is. These inputs are essential in having preparedness for any action when without possibilities to rely on unique methodology. Even though it is now 20 years after the conflict, Bosnia is still faced with the post-war recovery efforts, with problems newly occurred that are the outcomes of unsuccessfully implemented methods of rehabilitation. This paper aims to present an overview of the interventions implemented within Bosnia and Herzegovina given in respect to the typology of a building, its importance including intangible values and the level of its destruction. Giving examples of Ferhadija/Ferhat Pasha Mosque in Banja Luka and the Old Bridge in Mostar – the examples of total reconstruction, will guide one to understand aspects of choosing the reconstruction action as the appropriate intervention. There are also valuable examples of post-war recovery and rehabilitation for the historical places, such as is the Old town of Počitelj with its entire valuable structures, where after the urban reconstruction – we now have the new challenge of managing the historic place. The inside view shall be more oriented on the case of the Handanija Mosque in Prusac where correct methodology approach had been applied regarding the diagnostic, identifying and/or determining the nature and causes of damage and deterioration of the facility through the inspection and examination, but some rather improper conclusion and decision have been derived from that investigation works. In addition, some analyses of Index of shifts of minaret have been conducted too. Index of shift represents the relation of minaret height – h and width of its layout (D or 2r) or the diameter of circular cross-section. Analyses of conducted work could provide us with a better understanding of the damaged buildings potential weaknesses and weak spots. Reinforcement and strengthening of damaged construction structure has been among the most important tasks. In some cases, improper interventions on heritage structures may have been damaging - in sense of impairing the authenticity, while sometimes it was an insufficient knowledge on structural behaviour and the materials used in historic structures that brought unexpected additional damages. The use of traditional crafts, techniques, and materials is one of the most important elements in the process of architectural heritage protection, contributing to the adequate protection, restoration, conservation, as well as its maintenance.