Conservation of Ferhadija Mosque Wall Paintings

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

An important survivor of Sarajevo’s Islamic architecture, the mosque was targeted in the 1992-95 Bosnian War and further compromised by self-initiated subsequent restoration attempts. This new conservation project, informed by meticulous research, set out to preserve and reversibly retouch not only the original 16th- and 18th-century murals, but also fragments of 19th-century decorative schemes and other markers witnessing the building’s and area’s history, such as signatures of past muezzins or foreign soldiers. Technical conservation was carried out by experts using authentic, traditional materials. Community engagement spread knowledge about this part of local cultural heritage, with volunteers, students, hobbyists and craftsmen trained and employed on the scheme’s implementation. The mosque remained open throughout, with an area reserved for prayers.