Property Plus
Coimbatore
Get the old for the new
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Re-use can be a good mantra for new buildings, says NANDHINI SUNDAR
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Photo: S. Siva Saravanan
OLD IS GOLD: There is always market for old doors, pillars and furniture. —
Many a time we see old landmarks, some of which have been standing for over a century, pulled down to make way for contemporary ones. Such axing is confined to not just established landmarks in vantage locations but includes old buildings which were perhaps too modest to make a statement.
While it is understandable that old buildings require high maintenance and on most occasions sport unfriendly designs to suit contemporary needs, a point to be noted is the kind of architecture and fittings they house which can be incorporated into a new building. This leads to the question, what part of these old buildings can be salvaged and how best can this be used in a new building so as to blend in with the new design.
What you can salvage
Old buildings were invariably built using columns and wooden beams. These columns are sometimes made of solid teak or rose wood with intricate carvings. At times they were made of stone which is mostly granite. The wooden beams supporting the roof too tend to be solid teak or rose wood.
The doors, especially the front and back doors, of large bungalows are again made of solid wood. Such columns, beams and doors can be easily incorporated into a new building, giving an ethnic twist to the architecture. Old houses have large windows with iron railings and Jalis made of stone or cast iron. These can again be put to good use in a new building.
Some of these windows are also made of stained glass. This stained glass is normally of excellent quality and when used in the right place, can undoubtedly make a statement. The roof in these buildings is mostly of Mangalore tiles and difficult to salvage as age would have taken its toll. It is the same with terracotta tiles used on the floor. But if a few can be salvaged, they can be used to create murals on the walls, giving an artistic look to the room or the exterior. Even broken tiles can be used to create this effect.
Old houses invariably come with Jaglis or little bench-like structures in the porch. Some of them are made from stone which can be salvaged. It would not be surprising to find some of the larger bungalows featuring stone sculptures in the garden and foyer.
Chinaware on floor!
Salvaging material from an old building need not necessarily be confined to what is on the building. At times, age old Chinaware, too broken to be used, can be blended into the flooring, creating a unique design. Broken porcelain tiles can be used in a similar fashion, creating motifs on the floor. These, when used in a small area along with a theme, gives a dramatic effect to the décor.
Again, salvaging material can extend to items beyond the confines of an old building. For instance, discarded wooden railway sleepers are excellent seasoned wood. They can withstand extremes of temperature and weather. They are excellent candidates for cladding the exteriors of a building.
An excellent material that can be used for highlighting the inner walls or decorating a mock fire place is discarded wooden crates. The wood is light and excellent once smoothened, giving a rustic look to the interiors.
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Property Plus
Coimbatore
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