Buildings of Gazi Husrev bey's vakufs and possibilities of their revitalization

Abstract

The development of Bosnian towns was closely connected to the institution of the vakuf, which always determined the structure of urban settlements. The first urban functions of Sarajevo were provided by the buildings of Isabeg Ishaković (1462). The line of development of the future city was planned and laid down, and in the next half-century it became an center.

The second phase of development of the town of Sarajevo is denoted by the vakuf-endowment buildings of Gazi Husrev-bey (the most significant were built between 1529-1557). It is the beginning of a new phase which lasted from the 30s to the 70s of the XVI centuy, the most significant period of the growth of the town of Sarajevo. Most of the buildings of Gazi Husrev-beys vakuf belong to the classical style of Ottoman-Turkish civil engineering. Of greatest architectural value are the mosques and medresas, while hamam and bezistan may be considered to be significant architectural achievements.

In the course of more than 400 years the number of buildings of this vakuf was greately reduced. Among them there were such buildings of significant cultural and historical value as the great number of hans and especially Tašlihan, the most valuable caravan-saray in Sarajevo, and certainly in Bosna.
The value of this vakuf as a historical document concerning the founding of the town points to necessity of revitalization of the buildings on the territory surrounding the Beg's mosque.
Some objects of this vakuf have been revitalized.

The hamam and bezistan have been successfuly restored, and by the reconstruction of Morića han the last example of the typical atrial han on pillars was saved. Work is in progress on planning the revitalization of the territory near the Beys mosque, as well as on determining a location for the Gazi Husrev-beys library.