The Destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar: A Rupture in Collective Urban Space and Life

The destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar during the Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict (1992–95) fundamentally disrupted the city's urban identity, symbolizing a rupture in collective space that no reconstruction could mend. This 16th-century landmark, a unifying force linking riverbanks into an integral urban unit, became a contested symbol of ethno-nationalism and trauma. Despite efforts to rebuild it, social divisions persisted, revealing how material destruction reshapes urban identity and interethnic relations in post-conflict settings.

Mandić, A. (2023). The Destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar: A Rupture in Collective Urban Space and Life. International Journal of Islamic Architecture, 12(2), 363–390. https://doi.org/10.1386/ijia_00117_1