The mosaic on the façade of the former building of Safina TV Channel will be preserved and installed in a new location, an official source within the company constructing a new business center on the site of the former building of Safina TV Channel told Asia-Plus in an interview.   

The fate of the historical building of the former Philharmonic Society, in which Safina TV Channel was located in recent years, and the possible loss of a unique mosaic that decorated the facade of the building caused heated discussions among Dushanbe residents.

This stone mosaic was made by known Tajik artist Asror Aminjanov.

Many users of social networks expressed concern about this in numerous posts  

Emotions intensified after they began to surround the building with a construction fence last week and it was announced that a new modern business center will be constructed on the site of the building. 

Taking into account that the stone mosaic on the façade of that building is one of the most famous in Dushanbe, we contacted representatives of the developer company to find out about its fate. 

Photo / Gafour Shermatov.

The developer company’s public relations representative told Asia-Plus that by Dushanbe mayor’s instruction it was decided to preserve the historical mosaic for future generations of citizens.

“We are currently searching for the optimal option of integration of the historical mosaic into the design of the new building," the public relations representative said.  

A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface.

Modern mosaics are made by artists and craftspeople around the world.

Traditional mosaics are made of small cubes of roughly square pieces of stone or handmade glass enamel of different colors, known as tesserae. 

It is to be noted that demolition of historical buildings in Dushanbe began several years ago as part of the municipal redevelopment plan of Dushanbe, which includes the construction of modern buildings.  The authorities have moved many historical buildings located in close proximity to the construction site for modern buildings.

Plans to demolish some of the most popular landmarks in Dushanbe have sparked outrage and city residents have repeatedly signed petitions addressed to the president and Dushanbe mayor.