Conservation of Buildings | FACADE UPGRADE
The issue of conserving traditional buildings in the Kingdom of Bahrain took place in the late quarter of the previous century, when the private sector adopted the renovation of some buildings to be reused later for tourism. This trend took a different direction in the past ten years when the conservation and reuse of these buildings were related to cultural and social issues, this helped to strengthen the meanings of cultural heritage.
In this project, we worked on houses located in (Fareej AlHatab فريق الحطب) which is one of the neighborhood of Manama, the Capital of Bahrain. AlHatab neighborhood extended from the gold market to Shaikh Isa Avenue and surrounded by AlFadhel and AlHamam neighborhood. The reason for it’s name, is because they were selling different type of wood and other related equipments. It was featured with it’s narrow streets and it’s high density because it was occupied by different types of people, Muslims and Non-Muslims, Bahrainis and Non-Bahrainis.
BEFORE THE RENOVATION:
A RECTIFIED PHOTOGRAPH FOR THE HOUSES
THE MAIN ELEVATION
All four houses are transition houses and they are used for both residential and commercial purposes; and this is a very common type in Manama where the flourish of trade and there location within the market push the residence to live on the upper floors leaving the ground floor of the trade.
Material resources: Most of the materials locally made such as; concrete blocks, plaster, iron doors. Other materials was imported such as wood and mashrabya.
MAPPING AND DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS (RISK ASSESSMENT)
CONSERVATION OF HOUSES:
HOUSE 1|
Walls:
1.Conserve existing walls
2.Build the ruined part as anther shop.
Doors:
1.Treat door steps
2. Conserve existing door
3. Replace existing overhead door with wooden door.
Air conditioning:
1.Rest A.C. over a platform extended from the structures of the floor
2. Fill gaps between walls and A.C with elastic caulking.
3.Add disgorging A.C condensation water.
4. add split A.C unit to the new part of the building
Electricity and Plumping:
1.Cover water meter by a wooden screen of traditional pattern.
2.Minimize cabling and water conduits
3.Add Mezams
4.Cover Electricity meter by a wooden screen of traditional pattern.
Commercial:
1. Change commercial signs on all buildings along non-commercial roads are to be painted on timber and front lit.
HOUSE 2|
Walls:
1.Conserve existing walls.
Doors:
1.Treat door steps.
2.Re-fix new wooden door.
3.Replace existing overhead door with wooden door.
Wooden screen:
1.Repair damaged wooden strips.
2.Re-paint wooden screen.
Electricity and Plumping:
1.Replace pvc rain water pipes with wooden merzzams.
2.Minimize cabling and water conduits.
HOUSE 3|
Walls:
1.Conserve existing walls.
2.Build the ruined part.
Doors:
1. Treat door steps.
2.Conserve existing door.
3.Repaint wooden door.
4.Add stained glass top of the door.
5.Replace existing overhead door with wooden door.
Windows:
1.Conserve existing windows.
2.Polishing window frames.
3.Re-fix missing glass panels.
4.Replace existing modern window with one similar to those in the building.
Air conditioning:
1.Rest A.C. over a platform extended from the structures of the floor.
2. Fill gaps between walls and A.C with elastic caulking.
3.Add disgorging A.C condensation water.
4. add split A.C unit to the new part of the building.
Electricity and Plumping:
1.Cover water meters by a wooden screen of traditional pattern.
2.Minimize cabling and water conduits.
3.Add Mezams.
Commercial:
1. Change commercial signs on all buildings along non-commercial roads are to be painted on timber and front lit.
HOUSE 4|
Air conditioning:
1.Rest A.C. over a platform extended from the structures of the floor.
2. Fill gaps between walls and A.C with elastic caulking.
3.Add disgorging A.C condensation water.
Electricity and Plumping:
1.Cover water meters by a wooden screen of traditional pattern.
2.Minimize cabling and water conduits.
3.Replace pvc rain water pipes with wooden merzzams.
Commercial:
1. Change commercial signs on all buildings along non-commercial roads are to be painted on timber and front lit.
