Dates of construction: Built before 1620

Period and style: Ottoman / Ottoman Balkan Architecture

Before destruction
Formal characteristic: The Sevri Hadji Hasan Mosque stands at the center of the Donja Mahala on the west bank of the Neretva. It is the heart and binding force of one of the intimate and beautiful neighborhoods established in the Ottoman period. A hipped roof mosque constructed of finely cut stone with a slate roof, situated on a bluff. The space around the mosque constitutes the principal gathering place for the neighborhood to this day.

August and austere, a number of characteristics make the Sevri Hadji Hasan Mosque a prime example of the Ottoman Balkan mosque style. Two levels of pointed arched windows give the mosque a sense of significant height and scale in this residential neighborhood. The windows light a double height prayer hall almost cubic in proportions, reminding us of the geometry that fuels much of Ottoman design. The mosque manages then to appear at once monumental and residential, as befits a neighborhood mosque founded by an important member of society. The minaret of the Sevri Hadji-Hasan Mosque, circular in section, was the highest point in the mahala, and can be seen from any point in the neighborhood. It is also slightly robust, so that its mass sits comfortably with the cubic volume of the beautifully proportioned mosque. A large porch provides a transition to the prayer hall through a muqarna.s portal of finely carved stone, an excellent example of Ottoman ornamental tradition in Bosnia. Within, a mihrab carved with similar muqarnas designs indicates the direction of Mecca, towards which all Muslims should pray, and provides a stylistic link with the exterior portal.

Ownership history: Owned by the Islamic community of Mostar and used as a mosque by the Islamic community until its destruction in 1992.  

After destruction
Site history: According to historical documents related to his foundation, Sevri Hadji Hasan bought a plot of land in what was then Jahya Esfel Mahala and built this mosque there before 1620. Sevri Hadji Hasan founded a Waqf for the mosque, donating several properties for its upkeep and maintenance, and was further its first imam .

At the end of the l9th century, the minaret sherefe (balcony) was restored; in 1960 the section of minaret above the sherefe was struck by lightning and rebuilt, losing some height. In the early years of the 20th century, the walls were decorated with a stenciling design, which is only partially visible; some later decorative painting, possibly as recent as post-World War II, is also visible in fragments.

In 1992. the mosque was targeted by JNA troops. During shelling, the minaret fell onto the building, destroying the timber roof. The south and west walls were subsequently damaged by further attacks. Masonry, wall fabric, and original carvings and ornamentation are all severely damaged.

Assumptions for reuse: This mosque is an important monument in its own right, an Ottoman foundation that applies fine ashlar masonry and sophisticated ornamentation to a local community, reminding us of the effectiveness of the Wagf system in nurturing urban culture. In addition, the Sevri Hadji Hasan Mosque anchors an entire neighborhood of small, intimate scale homes clustered around it.

Proposed intervention: This mosque was seriously damaged during the war and neglect has increased the extent of damage. The floor is still covered by the material from the roof and the minaret. The original blocks belonging to the minaret shaft and the sherefe are still there and most of them can be utilized in restoration.

There are missing areas in the masonry walls; the southwest corner in particular was badly damaged by heavy shooting. The walls have to be repaired as soon as possible for the stability of the whole structure. The mihrab is relatively well preserved. The windows have to be restored. The mahfil and timber ceiling are totally destroyed. The portico roof is in a dangerously unstable condition. One of the columns was broken, so the eastern half of the portico roof has subsided. On the western half of the portico, there is a room that was added later; it should be removed in order to obtain the integrity of the portico again. Traditional techniques and materials have to be used in order to save this small but precious monument from the l7th century.

Cost estimate: 292 500 USD