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Uzerbegov Konak guesthouse
This house, called Uzerbegov Konak, is situated on the bank of the river Bosna in the town of Maglaj in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and was built during the latter part of the 19th century as a guesthouse. Its basement was built in limestone, whilst its upper floor had a timber frame. The building was constructed in a typical Bosnian style by a man who owned large areas of land but is now in public ownership. During the war 1992-95 it was severely damaged by shelling
Uzerbegov Konak was selected as one of the two objects in 1996 that Cultural Heritage without Borders decided were to be part of the first attempt at emergency relief for war-damaged buildings in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Sida granted funding for the restoration.
Cultural Heritage without Borders signed an agreement in the autumn of 1996 with the National Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Maglaj town council, specifying conditions for the work of restoration. The Institute conducted a survey of the building the same autumn, which took the form of a historical documentation and analysis of the technical damage. The building was covered with a protective roofing during the winter of 1996-1997 to stop rain leaking in and thus any further destruction, a contract for which was signed with Gradina, a local building contractor. During the following year the Institute in Sarajevo carried out projecting on the exterior, structure and interior. The actual restoration was put out for tender in open competition to various local companies and ended in a contract being signed with Primus, a private building contractor.
Konak in February 1996. Photo Cultural heritage without Borders1996.
The guest-house after the wholesale restoration. Photo Cultural heritage without Borders,October 1999.
The work of restoration was started during the spring of 1999 and involved a complete restoration of the roof and facades. Austrian tiles of the same make that had been earlier used on the house were purchased for the new roofing. The half-timbered walls on the top-floor have been totally repaired, which entailed treating the wood for rot and new insulation. The outside has been given a new layer of plastering. A local carpenter was employed to repair the windows and doors. A new inside staircase was built.
With the support of Sida Cultural Heritage without Borders asked the Institute in Sarajevo to take on more planning work in the winter of 1999-2000 for an smaller extension and the work was put out for tender during the summer of 2000. The extension has been built with the same appearance as an earlier demolished building and has been fitted with heating, sanitation and a small kitchen.
The road, that before passed right by the house, has also been re-laid in order to provide more safety for the inhabitants and also to drain away water from the road so as not to incur damage to the building. The guest-house was opened in the middle of November 2000 and the Swedish development organisation, PRONI, which will be using the building for training of youth leaders moved in. Maglaj town council is now responsible for the building.
Name Uzerbegov Konak
Building Guesthouse
Built Late 19th century
Geographical location Maglaj, Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Joint partners Institute for Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, Maglaj municipality, building contractor Gradina from Maglaj, building contractor Primus from Maglaj
Local architect in charge Azer Aličić, Institute for Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo
Project managers Pål Anders Stensson and Tina Wik, Cultural Heritage without Borders
Financer Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)
