Sniper Tower, Mostar

The upper floors of the Brutalist layered Ljubijanska Bank provide an excellent view of the surrounding cityscape of Mostar. The building performed well enough as a bank in the days of Yugoslavia. But in the days of the two sieges of Mostar, it gave outstanding performances as a sniper nest. Shooters could cover every niche and corner below.

The second and more deadly siege of Mostar occurred in the struggle between the Croats and Bosniaks, former allies against the Serbs. The ruined bank building was the tallest structure and was held in Croatian territory, near the Neretva River. Residents of the Bosnian section were completely cut off, without food and the necessities.

Anyone who ventured out to search for anything became an easy target for shooters in the bank tower. The bank building was gutted and riddled with the marks of shells and bullets. In 1995 the war ended, and the work of restoration began. Sniper Tower was cleaned of debris, rubbish, and foliage.

Street art adorns the exterior and interior walls. There seem to be no plans for the remains of the building. After the cleanup, it was left as it was, a ragged monument to grief and despair. As the stones say, "Don't Forget."