by ArchitectureWeek

When a beloved and highly symbolic historic bridge was destroyed during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina of the early 1990s, the whole world grieved. The single-arched Stari Most ("Old Bridge") in Mostar was erected in 1566 by architect Mimar Hajruddin at the height of the Ottoman Empire. It not only connected the city physically but, by the 20th century, had come to symbolize the coming together of many nationalities and ethnicities.

On July 23, 2004, festivities with music, dancing, and international guests celebrated the completed restoration of the landmark bridge to its original form. This reconstruction project is one piece of a larger effort to restore the historic district of Mostar after its devastation by bombing. The work is the combined effort of many entities, among them the World Monuments Fund, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, UNESCO, the World Bank, local agencies, and donor countries.   >>>

Discuss this article in the Architecture Forum...

The Stari Most ("Old Bridge") had been a landmark in Mostar since the 16th century. Photo: © Aga Khan College at MIT, courtesy WMF The Stari Most built new, in the same form, after being destroyed in war. Photo: Adis Dziho, courtesy WMF   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.