RECONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION OF PETNJICA MOSQUE

RECONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION OF PETNJICA MOSQUE

RECONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION OF PETNJICA MOSQUE

Year of design:
2001.
Built:
2005.
Location:
PETNJICA, CRNA GORA
Client:
PETNJICA, MONTENEGRO

RECONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION OF PETNJICA MOSQUE

Year of design:
2001.
Built:
2005.
Location:
PETNJICA, CRNA GORA
Client:
PETNJICA, MONTENEGRO

One of the largest mosques in the Balkans, three-story, unique architecture, with wooden, hand-carved pillars and two wooden, mezzanine ceilings. With an area of about 550 m², it can accommodate about 1,200 believers. It is several centuries old, and its appearance has changed over time. It was built in the tradition of local architecture without the influence of oriental ornamentation. It is not known exactly when it was created, tradition says that it was at the end of the 16th century, connected with the arrival of Hajdar – Pasha Selim in 1689. During previous reconstructions, the wooden minaret was demolished, a new one was built of brick and plastered, so it was not authentic, and the roof was covered with clapboards.

Due to dilapidation, the mosque was completely reconstructed and strengthened in 2005. All wooden elements in the interior were dismantled, conserved and partially replaced with new ones. A special rarity is the wooden, carved pillars, which were completely preserved during the reconstruction. They are dismantled, protected and stored without damage. The mosque is also significant because it contains a large number of original hand-woven carpets. The minaret was returned to its original form, covered with wood in accordance with the processing and details that existed before its demolition and preserved with photo documentation. The covering was also done with the original wooden shingles with the previous construction of the roof insulation over the wooden base.