Agencija Stari grad Mostar

Project of rehabilitation of the Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar comprises the following works:

These damages were reflected in all the monument elements. Precipitation water which was running down (coming down) from a site known as Biskupova glavica (a hill over the one part of city of Mostar) toward the monument, entered the space beneath the monument and the existing drainage which was located behind the monument walls still did not function, so the water was running down the walls into the stone niches. On the abutment walls and covered walls cracks came about. The biggest and the most serious cracks were located on the joint of the curved walls of the round niches and the planes connecting those niches. In addition, there were vertical and horizontal cracks on the oval wall. These cracks came about due to entry of water into the wall body, and which «tore the walls apart» with emergence of frost. Mortar slab covering which got off the walls, which was caused by the penetration of water and emergence of frost, caused getting off the walls as well. Likewise, the same situation held true with the lining of the elements of cut limestone on certain spots, where the particular surfaces fell off and they were destroyed and many elements were damaged. The damages of the roof wall end originated due to inflow of water and frost, by damaging mortar joints. The biggest damages were found in the corridor along the round niches which lead to the highest terrace. Big damages were found in the wall part on the right of entry to the highest plateau. Similar damages of the stone lining of the walls were noticed on several spots on a dire wall of the longest ramp which lead to the central part of the monument and on a strong lateral wall of the terrace of the central monument part. Parapet wall on serpentines and swimming pool wall which was made of limestone (polygonal walling) has been damaged on several spots, in addition to swimming pool floor. On the stone organs limestone elements have been damaged, as well as the kerbstones. These damages may be found on all the steps, and on the gates leading towards terraces, there were stone lining damages, particularly in the lower part. Due to the water which washed away the ground beneath the cobblestone, sags of cobblestone took place. Frost and vegetation exerted influence upon the destruction of cobblestone. In the course of time pools developed in the sags which additionally destroyed the soil beneath cobblestone, which additionally exacerbated the deformations. The biggest damages were located in the corridors on the monument part where one entered through the gate over two rows of steps. There was no existing cobblestone on several spots at all. The destruction of the cobblestone was additionally made by sprouted vegetation on the almost complete surface of the cobblestone, thus deforming the foot of the monument and jeopardizing the other structures and the monument as a whole. The other damages which were located on the monument are: imploded and broken stone slabs with carved names which could be seen along the monument terraces, as well as a high number of graffiti, written on the wall surfaces. The damages on the water supply installation were noticeable due to lack of water in the pipes, bearing in mind that there was water in lower monument zone and that you did not have water in the upper zone. Precipitation water draining all over the complete surface of the monument did not function because of the pipe neglect. Public lighting on the Partisan Memorial Cemetery was completely devastated, both the switchboard and the spotlights. Partisan Memorial cemetery ensemble is forested with cypresses and low plant cover. Now everything is overgrown into self-grown vegetation and it became woody and stunted.

WORKS ON THE RECONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION OF THE PREVIOUSLY DEMOUNTED AND DEPOSITED TOMBSTONES MADE OUT OF STONE

INTRODUCTION

In addition to mechanical damages brought about by war and vandalism, in the course of time natural stone firstly disintegrated superficially through influences of soaking by means of water and harmful substances. Due to glazed frost, constant temperature changes or chemical transformations, the softening of the stone took place and the stone disintegrated. Plants and microorganisms may harm the stone substance and its structure too. The damage may be extremely big from the salts which destroy its structure such as saltpeter, for example. Not only the soil absorbs the dissolved salts which have been accumulating there, but the stone absorbs them as well. Thus the soil comes to surface and the expanding phenomenon takes place, which has a devastating effect on the surface.

RESTORATION OF THE PARTLY DAMAGED SLABS

Marble mortar slabs were heavily damaged with atmospheric influences and from the mechanical point of view, so it was necessary to take gypsum impressions off the surfaces of the preserved parts. Restoration of the slab was carried out in such a way to stabilize the preserved parts and to fill and form the missing parts with mortar composed of stone dust of the identical stone and the binding medium. Mortar colour was brought into line with the original colour.

RESTORATION AND RECONSTRUCTION WITH GLUING OF THE TOMBSTONE MADE OUT OF STONE WITH THE HELP OF POLYMERS

One used polymers (mainly epoxyde and polyester ones) to restore the broken tombstones. These systems were made of two components. The resin was mixed with actuator or hardening agent. The quantity of actuator and the resin temperature determined the quickness of the reaction and the quality of a newly emergent system. Mixed components remained for a limited time period in liquid state ('pot-life'), wherein all the necessary actions around the usage of this material had to be carried out. When they become hard enough, these polymers have very good characteristics: high hardness, good adhesion, stickiness, good chemical resistance and acceptable characteristics for treatment. Some of them have better characteristics than the others, so that is why they are selected in accordance with the accompanying needs. Epoxydes are mainly excellent as far as hardness and the setting characteristics are concerned, especially if these characteristics are necessary to last for a longer period.

QUICKNESS OF HARDENING

Epoxydes must have 'pot-life' 30 – 60 minutes, and it takes several hours to get a measurable hardness.

ADHESION, STICKINESS, SHRINKAGE

Applied epoxydes should have shrinking percentage 1-2%. Good epoxyde stickiness is explained with epoxyde molecular polarity, which is in the matter of fact a measure of its attractiveness to the other materials.

RESISTANCE AGAINST THE WEATHER CONDITIONS – USAGE OUTSIDE

One needs to mix the epoxydes properly with the liquid admixture to the hardener and the mixture must be completely homogenous. Failure to respect these obligatory facts leads to the majority of problems which we may face when we work with epoxydes. The components are just intended to work together, so that is why you should use the exact quantities of each of them. Too much of one of them will prove detrimental to proper hardening and to achieve good results. Additional adding of the hardener with an aim to accelerate hardening is not recommended at all.

CLEANING NAD PROTECTION OF THE PRESERVED SLABS

Cleaning of the present elements manufactured in stone was made in such a way as to remove the rough impurities (filth and the climatic effect accumulations by means of high-pressure pulverizers (WAP) capable of producing pressure 2 bars and more, which utilized hot water. Thereafter you set down to remove graffiti with chemical agents (based on potassium hydroxide, acids, dichlorobenzene, ethanolamine) in the following way: you applied the chemical agent which softened the background, ten minutes later chemical agent which dissolved graffiti colour was applied (it was applied in several layers and it was rubbed in with brushes until these graffiti began to disintegrate). Then you should flushed the background by means of hot water under pressure of 2 bars and more. If any stains remained, the agent was applied to remove the graffiti stains and the stains with water under pressure were flushed.

You may download the documentation in .pdf format:

 Partisan Memorial (371.53 kB)

Structure:
1. SOUVENIR SHOP 45.774,79
2. ARCHITECTURAL-CIVIL ENGINEERING PART 106.279,21 
3. STONE ELEMENTS 195.546,00 
4. STRUCTURAL DEFORMATIONS 7.100,00
TOTAL 354.700,00
GRAND TOTAL with VAT included: 414.999,00

Technical acceptance of the implemented works was carried out on 13th October 2009 and the amount of the implemented works was 408.873,58 convertible marks. The funds were provided by the Government of Federation through Federal Ministry for Culture and Sport and the City of Mostar.

IT REMAINS TO CARRY OUT:

LOT II middle part of the ensemble (architectural-civil engineering part together with irrigation system and lighting)

LOT III lower access part of the ensemble (architectural-civil engineering part together with horticulture and lighting)