JOURNEY TO BLAGAJ / KOLAKOVIĆS' HOUSE, FAMILY JANNAH (PARADISE)

 KOLAKOVIĆS' HOUSE, detail

Author: Ibrahim Kajan
Translator: Amina Imami

In these wild grasses and bewildering vegetation - the luxury and beauty of one family home, Kolaković house, was destroyed,  where life flourished since 1685, when it was built – till 1993 – war year, when the artillery targeted it and repeatedly hit it with devastating grenades. Inside the sharp, barb-like brambles, one can see parts of the dead walls of the house and ruins that surrond it.

But, it will again be at the same place, on the river, as it was declared a national monument and any time soon it will again - reconstructed - show us what kind of beauty it used to be.

Almost every family generation added their own touch, enlarged it, and ennobled it. Owners carried on their family memory and in addition to that mentioned year of construction, the builder was mentioned, their ancestor, the Blagaj kadi that signed writings as Seid Mehmed Kolagi. One interpretor of historical record on construction beieves the house was built by Imam kadi  Ismail Kolaković in 1738, and the second interpretor of the same text believes this year should be "read" as 1835.

The beneficial influence of Islam on the architecture of the family home and expanding complex of houses around it, left a productive trace even on Kolaković's - immersion of the building into the natural environment, enriching it, and decorating it. The house has two levels.

The house is in the garden that surrounds and is nestled the Buna which flows alongside it. In the courtyard there is summer kitchen, saddler's room, and a guesthouse . There is also a fountain, as well as a rose garden.

Rooms are divided - for housing (living rooms and gazebos) and the common room (living room on the ground floor and in the attic upstairs). Home furniture is usually built in (bedslothes compartment, closets, pantries) or placed against the walls, like a settee seating. They slept on mattresses that are in the morning ready to be put into the compartment. Little hammam, home bathroom, is also built in. The house is built in carved wood, with motifs of flowers, arabesques or prints of names of God's prophets and their companions. Or proverbs. Wooden works in Kolaković's house are considered the most beautiful carved wooden works of art decorated  houses, even outside of Blagaj.

Kolaković house today

South facade of the upper floor is airy and almost entirely made of wood, playful, with windows protected with wooden slats ! In the house, in addition to wood, could be seen stone decorations. One decorated the arch over the front door and the other space above the fireplace in the great guest chamber Veliki ćošak.

It was all there - and it will be again!