Integration of the Ottoman Hammams in Bosnia and Herzegovina into Modern Life: Case Study of Isa Bey Hammam

This work focuses on the historical journey of the Isa Bey Hammam from its foundation in the fifteenth century all the way to today. It explores the possibilities of maintaining cultural heritage via integration into modern life. Hammams in Bosnia and Herzegovina represent an architectural typology of the Ottoman period that is directly related to antiquity and the hammams in Ancient Greece and Rome. The first hammam in Sarajevo was built by Isa Bey Ishaković, the founder of the city. Its form was radically changed during the Austro-Hungarian period (1878–1918). Today, it functions as both a hammam and a hotel. This paper aims to underline the historical continuity of these facilities in relation to previous historical periods, but also the changes in style, form, and function introduced to Ottoman hammam architecture over the course of centuries, despite the scarcity of material remains and historical sources.