Aga Khan Development Network Foundation
Aga Khan Development Network Foundation
10/14/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/14/2024 09:00
Restoration of Bibi Khanum Mosque to begin under international partnership
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Restoration of Bibi Khanum Mosque to begin under international partnership
Uzbekistan·14 October 2024·2 min
Entrance to the 15th-century Bibi Khanum Mosque.
AKDN / Christopher Wilton- Steer
Geneva, Switzerland, 14 October 2024- Restoration of Uzbekistan's monumental Bibi Khanum Mosque, which once epitomised Silk Road grandeur, is set to begin. As the largest congregational mosque of its kind in Central Asia, able to host 10,000 people, this UNESCO World Heritage Site in Samarkand will undergo restoration through a partnership between the Qatar Fund for Development and Uzbekistan's Art and Culture Development Foundation. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) will oversee the project, restoring the mosque while creating jobs and training opportunities for local workers.
AKTC General Manager Luis Monreal signing an agreement for the beginning of the first phase of research and conservation work on the Bibi Khanum Mosque in Samarkand with Gayane Umerova, Director of Uzbekistan's Art and Culture Development Foundation.
AKTC / Ajmal Maiwandi
Built between 1399 and 1405 under Timur's rule, the mosque symbolises the wealth of the Timurid Empire and stands as a masterpiece of the Timurid Renaissance. However, it fell into disrepair in subsequent centuries due to poor construction methods, earthquakes and inappropriate conservation.
Much of the original structure was replaced first by the Soviets and then by Uzbek conservationists, who "successfully stabilised and restored the collapsing main dome, rebuilt the entrance arch damaged in the 1897 earthquake, reconstructed the vanished domes on the side iwans, and replaced crumbling bricks with new masonry indistinguishable from the old".
A side entrance into the main congregational area
AKDN / Christopher Wilton- Steer
AKTC will now continue these efforts through the careful restoration of the mosque's signature turquoise domes, towering minarets and ornate mosaics, using a blend of modern technology and traditional artisanry. Local workers and craftspeople will gain employment and acquire valuable skills to support the mosque's revival.
This project will not only preserve an architectural marvel but also contribute to Uzbekistan's cultural heritage and economic future. By engaging local communities and employing traditional techniques, it aims to safeguard the country's history and culture for future generations while boosting tourism and economic growth in the region.