The Great Hammam of Pristina (Albanian: Hamami i madh i Prishtinës; Serbian: Велики хамам у Приштини / Veliki hamam u Prištini; Turkish: Fatih Sultan Mehmet Han Hamamı) is an Ottoman-era monument in Pristina, Kosovo.
Considered one of the most important buildings of the cultural and historical heritage, the Great Hammam of Pristina was in poor condition through the years until its restoration was approved.
The hammam was visited by Pristina residents as a place to meet and socialize until the 1970s[2][7] or the 1960s according to architect Nol Binakaj from the Housing Development and Management-Lund University.
[5] According to the legend, the builders who were part of the constructions were obligated by Sultan Mehmet al-Fatih to wash themselves in the Hammam twice a day.
The "cold part" was reported to be covered by four domes, but no sign of this kind of construction was found.
The installation of the new water supply and sewage system, without any criteria[clarification needed] have resulted in the loss of building details and the structure was weakened.
The second phase was to rebuild the domes, strengthen half of the building's structure, and consolidate the hammam.
[10] This phase lasted from 2009 to 2010 and was financed by CHWB and a Turkish team of experts under Zenep Ahunbay's supervision.
They started work in 2012, though the Kosova Council for the Cultural Heritage and CHWB noted that changes were made to the plans.
[4] According to Top Channel, the hammam is currently under restoration with the decision of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
[3][12] In an attempt to use neglected sites in Pristina as art exhibition spaces for Manifesta 14, Japanese installation artist Chiharu Shiota hung hundreds of red threads of yarn from the Great Hammam’s ceiling.