Fort Alice Conservation 04

Work on site is coming along! As usual, thanks to Kenny Chin from the Main Contractors for the photographs.

This view is from the riverside and downriver corner - the roof is completely down now, as is the first floor cladding and lattices.

We can see the conservator's practices at work here - note that every bit is marked with a code, which tells us where it came from originally once it is stored for assessment, inspection and reuse.

This is a view from the inland/upriver corner.

The inland elevation, which faces the road, has been in danger of falling out for a while, hence the temporary props. Lots of conservator's marks!

More conservator's marks on the bits and pieces. The concrete skirt, apron and drains were added in the early 20th century, I think, based on when cement was first introduced to Sarawak.

A view from the old carpark, with a pile of bits that can't be reused on the right, and timber elements awaiting assessment and storage on the left.

Copyright John Ting Architect 2013

Fort Alice Conservation 03

Dismantling of the roof continues - thanks to Kenny Chin from the Main Contractors for the photographs.

They've rigged up a chute to expedite getting shingles to the ground level without further damage.

One of the storage sheds rigged up on site for the good shingles - looking good!

Some of the badly damaged shingles which won't make it back onto the roof.....

Evidence of termite attack on one of the newer perimeter top plates.

Copyright John Ting Architect 2013 

Fort Alice Conservation 02

The site is now hoarded up, and the project boards installed! Thanks to Kenny Chin from the Main Contractors for the photographs.

The Client, Implementing Body and Main Contractor

The Consultants - I nee to change my letterhead to include country codes on the phone numbers!

The lovely site desk beside the fort.

Don't panic! The building is not being demolished, it is being carefully dismantled, and all of the components, new or old, recorded and stored so that we can assess what can be reused, or repaired and reused, or replaced. The builder has engaged 3 experienced conservators from Penang for this task. We are trying to keep and reuse all of the material that can't be reused in the building, on furniture, or site elements, etc. The principle is to try and keep everything, down to the roof shinges and old nineteenth century nails. We're going to use some of this material in the Conservation Corner display in the new museum. Above, the roof material and structure of the entry tower (facing the river) is being dismantled.

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Sacffolding is now holding up the structurally unsound parts of the building, and gives a safe working platform for the workers.

The roof is in bad condition, but it also dates from 1983, including the belian shingles, it's battens, the galvanised steel sheet for waterproofing, and the rafters. The galv. sheet is actually holding up the roof, as the rafters have been mostly eaten by termites! The king-posts and ridge beam are old belian, resistant to termites, thankfully!

The inland corner towers have also been dismantled.

Copyright John Ting Architect 2013 

Fort Alice Conservation 01

 The Fort Alice Conservation and Adaptive Reuse as a Regional Museum Project finally began on 28 May 2013, with the site being handed over to the Main Contractor. This project began 10 years ago, but Sarawak State Government funding finally came through last year. We've been working on it since then, as the consultant architectural historian and as the consultant curator and exhibition designer. The lead consultant we are working with is architect Mike Boon of Arkitek JFN in Kuching, Sarawak. On that day, the site look like this:

Photographs by John Ting - I was in Sarawak from 26 June to 2 July to see the Client, Architect and Contractor. We also launched a public awareness program, but that will be the subject of another post. The site is on a riverside hillock in Sri Aman (previously Simanggang), about 3 hours drive from Kuching - above is a view of the fort from the old carpark on the downriver side.

 The original front of the fort, which faces the river - the small tower to the left was the original entry. This view is from the riverside and downriver corner.

A view from the fort down the Lupar River (or Batang Lupar as it's known locally).

Another view of the lovely river, from the Taman Panorama Benak, an award winning building by Arkitek JFN.

Quite a bit of the fort's elements have fallen off, luckily it's mostly new material from the 1983 restoration! Much of the really old material, especially the posts, is still extant.

On the right is how the fort was in 1983, but also before WW2 - the protective timber lattices, with vertical timber boards below. The ground floor was originally open, and was walled up I believe in the early 20th century.

The main ceremony that was held on handover day was the Iban miring ceremony, conducted by local manang (traditional healers, seated on the right). This is an indigenous ground-breaking ceremony, and held to ensure the smooth progress of the project i terms of Iban religion. Seated on the left are representatives of the Sarawak Museum (the client), the Architect, the Sarawak Public Works Department (the implementing body), and the Main Contractor.

Copyright John Ting Architect 2013