The rebuilding of the Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Bosnia's city of Mostar may be an architectural miracle, but it will take more than this one miracle to restore the city's multiethnic flavor - at least if the obstructionist government has anything to say about it. (By Bakir Rahmanovic for ISN Security Watch)
14 Comments
Some miracle the new bridge is crap compared to the old one. Did they have a competition for the Mostar? It seems it turned out in the same style as the Harold Washington library - banal
Right. These are the types of projects that should really be more daring to help transform and suture the identities of those communities. But I imagine Bosnia is a tough place to get things done right now.
This is probably a better link.
perhaps, but in this case it’s strictly a case of aesthetics for me. the old mostar bridge, with its pronounced catenary arch was emblematic of the divide between the two sides of the conflict. Joined only at the most tender point and seemingly dangerous point on the center of the arch. Not to mention that it magnificantly illustrated the forces contained with the arching structure. It looked as thought at any moment it might collapse. The original was beautiful on so many levels...
wow, bfunk - this second link is very cool.
Yeah, I wish I had found that link sooner.
I agree with you completely, it’s a misfortunate trade off. A poor aesthetically–regressive reconstruction in exchange for having a connected bridge again. But the effort to restore it alone I should hope would trump all symbolism in this case. Except for perhaps the bridge may now be the perfect emblem of a whole new era of cold divisive Bosnian politics.
Would you be so kind to point out the differences between the old one and the new one? They appear the same to me!
Hey, you know what those are two different locations. The reconstructed bridge from that first site is "The Emperor Bridge" (1900) not the Stari Most (1566)...sorry my mistake. The new bridge is similar to the old Stari Most.
Here is the Bosnian site for the rebuilding of the bridge.
It seems that without thorough analysis I made a premeditated judgment on what was and what wasn't.
Now we can discuss whether concrete or masonry was more appropriate for the reconstruction of the bridge - this topic could also spill over to discuss the completion of the
Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. I think the use of concrete ruins the spirit in which Gaudi's tectonic works.
hole smoke - my mistake again - they built the whole thing the same way as before. wow amazing. I strongly suggest that everyone look at the second link from bfunk and the Bosnian link i just posted. Its incredible!
seriously! it is a touchy subject! i am a native of mostar. the bridge you were talking about is Carinski Most, first built in 1914. Stari Most is being rebuilt in the same location - with the same stones from the original bridge taken from the river. Here's a live video cam. Opening is scheduled for July 23rd.
Same story with Sagrada. They are using all the new CNC technology but actual pieces are all carved by hand. from stone not concrete.
http://www.starimost.telecom.ba
First off sorry for my misinterpretation of the images from the Mostar. I'm glad you set the record straight for us. Its great see the internet work as it should... I'm glad to see it in its original form.
However, the process of the Sagrada Familia is not the same as you claim. Having been there and seen the construction in process, I can tell you that it is not as you say. Yes they are cutting stone but are using it as a cladding material and NOT a structural system - The internal structural system is NOT masonry as the original sections of the church were built. The internal structural system is reinforced concrete and the cut stones are bonded to a reinforcing bar substructure, which is in turn filled with concrete. This technique although high innovative, it breaks down the inherent logical behind Gaudi's tectonic principles and also in my interpretation ruins the lightness produced through the older system of construction.
Hey, again, sorry for not presenting that article with more clarity about the old bridge and reconstructed bridge, I too was confused by what I was seeing based on what I had dug up online and managed to mispresent. Thanks to both of you for helping to clear that up.
Nerin, I am curious about how the recon has been recieved? I understand there was a lot of nostalgia and bitterness feeling it could never be restored, and differing sides that were both opposed, but certainly a giant victory and an amazing project. Has the outcome suprised the political climate there?
...forgive my cluelessness about this project, and the politics of the area for that matter....just curious about the feelings over there now surrounding it.
Don't worry about it. That bridge meant a lot to all of us so I might be over-sensitive about it. Anyway, I haven't been to Mostar since last year, so I don't know much about the political climate, but to the people there it means everything. It is in fact a huge cultural and moral victory.
As far as Sagrada goes, when I was there I was interested in the CNC portion of the work and the transfer of that technology to local artisans that carved the stone. That was the extent of my comment.
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