The Mayor of Sarajevo, Ivo Komšić, today, July 17, 2014, opened the doors of the renovated Sarajevo City Hall, a symbol of the cultural identity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “City Hall should be a multimedia center. The central hall could serve as a concert hall, as we experienced during the recent visit of the Vienna Philharmonic. All other spaces can be used for various exhibitions, from visual arts to museum displays. City Hall also has a ceremonial hall, as well as other rooms where receptions and other high-profile events could be held,” said Komšić. Visitors will be able to view the interior of the renovated City Hall from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day, including weekends, until the end of July, as part of the Open Doors Days.
We would like to remind you that the City Hall in Sarajevo was opened on April 20, 1896. The Town Hall is located near Baščaršija on Mustaj-paša’s Square and represents the most beautiful and most representative building from the Austro-Hungarian period, built in a pseudo-Moorish style.
Regarding the construction itself, the first project was designed by Karlo Paržik, but it was not liked by the then Minister Benjamin Kalaj, so the creation of a new one was entrusted to Alexander Witte. He was inspired by Kemal II’s mosque when designing this project, which led him to travel to Cairo twice. Allegedly, Witte suffered a mental breakdown and committed suicide because of this project (due to inadequate lighting in the main hall of the building). The completion of his project was delegated to Cyril M. Iveković in 1894. He succeeded in this task, and the Sarajevo City Hall remained his greatest achievement. Interestingly, he also designed the City Hall in Brčko. The City Hall was built in pseudo-Moorish style, the style in which most buildings in Sarajevo during the Austro-Hungarian rule were constructed. The building of the City Hall was officially handed over for use on April 20, 1896.
The City Hall immediately became an important building in the circumstances of the time following its opening. Regarding its function, the City Hall originally represented the building of the then-city administration and municipal government of Sarajevo. Its appearance and immediate surroundings provided an adequate setting for photographs capturing moments of the newly established personal lighting, the new electric tram, the first automobiles in the city, and it also served as the central point for all photographers aiming to capture the panorama of the central part of Sarajevo from the eastern slopes. In the year of annexation, 1908, Bosnia and Herzegovina became an equal member of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy community, and on May 31, 1910, the City Hall was also the place where Emperor Franz Joseph visited. But, the City Hall is not only associated with happy memories, but also with those tinged with bitterness. One of them is definitely June 28, 1914. On that day, heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie met with city officials at the City Hall. Following that meeting, they were sent to their deaths, and Sarajevo and the world into World War I. Additionally, on Orthodox Christmas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1920, Regent Alexander Karađorđević, accompanied by his sister Princess Jelena, visited Sarajevo, where he was received by the city administration at the City Hall.
Until 1949, the City Hall served as the seat of the City Administration, after which it was handed over to the National and University Library. The Academy of Sciences and Arts, as well as the main library, developed there. Thus, the term “City Hall” became synonymous with culture and enlightenment until 1992.
During the aggression on Sarajevo (from 1992 to 1995), the City Hall was repeatedly shelled by the JNA and VRS. On the night between August 25 and 26, it was shelled, set on fire, and completely destroyed.
