Located in the heart of Tuzla, with a new dome and a minor, a colorful mosque – one of the most important monuments of Islamic architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina – will be officially opened 5. May within the “Days of Vakuf 2025” event.
The total value of the reconstruction project was about 2.1 million KM, and fully funded by the Directorate of Vakuf of the Republic of Turkey, through the Vacuation Directorate of the Islamic Community in BiH. Thanks to that, a colorful mosque, also known as honest, atik, city, and Behram-beg – returned to a form that reminds her original look. The Restoration Protocol was signed in 2017. years, and the works began in 2018.
As a national monument since 2010. year, in addition to the Vacuation Directorate, the works followed the experts of the Institute for the Protection of BiH Monuments. Reconstruction was a distinctly complex and demanding process, from investigative works and design, all the way to the performance itself.
Today, the colorful mosque is adorned with the rich wall motifs, which, in addition to spiritual significance, leave a strong visual impression and reminded of the rich cultural and historical heritage.
The beautiful interior of Behram-beg’s mosque testifies to its exceptional artistic and architectural value.
– The combination of traditional architecture and foreign influences has resulted in a unique architectural expression. Relief and painted decoration One of the main features of the pseudomour-style in the colorful mosque is one of the most beautiful in Bosnia and Herzegovina – said Elmedin Avdibašić, a senior expert associate for Vakufs in the Suzla Islam community. He added that all the aesthetic characteristics, including facade processing, openings, decorative elements such as serrated compartments and wreaths, and internal processing, performed in a pseudomaur man.
– One of the characteristics of Behram-beg a mosque reminiscent of the Maurish architecture are hindcoming arches above the window and on the porch. Such arcs are characteristic of Islamic Spain, while the beige-reddish facade in the form of lines is typical of the Momelučko era of medieval Cairo – explains Avdibašić.
The reconstruction project included numerous interventions above the prayer space and the construction of the porch built in 1960. The renovation of relief decorations on minars and facades, constructive walls, interior painting, as well as the arrangement of harems and outdoor space. The mosque dome now looks like the one from 1888. years.
– After damage to the wooden structure during removal of lead covers, the architect Franc Kuril is 1895. developed a project of adaptation according to which the original wooden dome was replaced by a four-footed roof. Wood sofas with a canopy were demolished in 1960. years, and instead of them were built new sofas with eight-mason pillars connected by bows, covered by a three-wide roof – he stated. Investigative works and preparations for project development lasted for years. The main line of a fault of uneven and irregular soil shrug in the old part of the city passed just below the mosque, which was a special challenge for geologists and staffers, Avdibašić explained.
– The interior of the mosque is several times painted, and investigative works on painting decorations were performed in the restoration in order to determine the authentic appearance. The lack of archival material makes it difficult to make decisions on the dome and its decoration, but thanks to the expertise of numerous associates, all challenges were successfully overcome.
The painting of the interior was performed according to the principles of the Venetian Charter of the new color are natural and shade brighter than the original. The specificity of Tuzla, especially this part of the city, is the presence of salt in the soil.
The plasters used in construction were pulled by the SO, which led to their fragility. Prior to the restoration, the salt is intensively removed by special methods, and exclusively materials from that time were used in the restoration – River sand and moving mortar, without cement – Avdibasic pointed out. The colorful mosque is located on a treasure exchanging in Atik Mahali in Tuzla. The first time is mentioned in 1548. years, and it is considered to be built after 1533. Vakuf The Honor (Atik) of the Mosque was created in the first half of the 16th century. Century. The mosque, together with madrasa and mekteb, burned in fire on 10. September 1871. years.
The mosque was designed by Franc Mihanović, while later adaptations were made according to Franco Kurila project. It is a rare and valuable example of architecture of that time, and its significance further increases authentic painted decoration, which – although partially covered – managed to preserve. Due to the two-color facade and richly painted interior, in the folk tradition it is known as a colorful mosque, writes Patria.
