Archaeological Park of the Kalin Hadži Alija Mosque in Sarajevo

Located in Sarajevo’s historic core, the Archaeological Park of the Kalin Hadži Alija Mosque redefines a historic void within the dense urban fabric shaped by modern transformations. The site preserves the archaeological remains of a 16th-century mosque, maktab, cemetery and residential house, integrating traces of foundations, tombstones and cobblestone paths into a contemporary landscape. Stone, corten steel, galvanised wire-mesh and vegetation articulate contrasts between permanence and change, offering a space for emotional and intellectual engagement with heritage.

The project confronted the complex reality of a contested heritage site—defined by conflicting institutional and public visions and by ruptures from urban transformations and communal infrastructure cutting through fragmented archaeological remains. Grounded in heritage interpretation, the strategy approached conservation as revealing rather than replicating. The challenge was to preserve what is fragmentary, maintain the dignity of a disrupted space and make layers of forgotten urban memory legible within the urban landscape. Two key conservation decisions guided the process: embracing the site’s ruptures (“scars”) as part of the historical layer and enabling meaningful visitor engagement. The patina and planar surface of corten steel mark these “scars” as precise cuts within the fragmented fabric. The Wire Room outlines the volume of a room within the residential remains, using wire-mesh to evoke filtered views through traditional screens recalling everyday life in the former neighbourhood. Movement along original routes restore the spatial rhythm of the past, transforming memory into architectural experience where dualistic spatial logics—the sacred and the profane, the enclosed and the open—allow past and contemporary to coexist in continuous dialogue.

The project combines conservation with contemporary construction based on minimal yet distinctive intervention. Original stone foundations, tombstones and cobblestone surfaces were cleaned, stabilised and preserved in situ using materials recovered from the site. New elements follow the outlines of archaeological remains. Corten steel was used as cladding for reinforced concrete walls, with prefabricated plates fixed by concealed stainless-steel anchors to ensure precision and durability. Retaining walls conceal and protect underground utilities, stabilise the slope and safeguard the archaeological layer, while in several areas they rise above preserved remains, forming structural “bridges” without physical contact. The Wire Room is a lightweight, self-supporting structure of galvanised steel box profiles anchored in discrete footings to avoid impact on archaeology. The small public square features urban furniture integrating interpretive elements and stone paving consistent with the site’s materials. Vegetation visually integrates natural and built elements. Maintenance includes periodic cleaning of corten surfaces, gentle cleaning of archaeological remains, inspection of joints and seasonal vegetation management to preserve stability and visual clarity.