Second Stage #6

 

Exactly about six weeks ago the renovation work on the most Southern part of Saskava House was torn down to barely anything into partially erected wall: going from left to right picture. Notice around midpoint there was a preparation work to provide access to building material stock above the concrete roof. The concrete stair is about 3m width.

We could now store all those building stock inventory above, making the available yard on level zero a lot cleaner and most importantly would not bother any guests. Complaint from our guests could be curbed to minimum. Furthermore it will allow a small meeting area on rear porch where currently being used to store meeting tables. Bandung at this time around has entered the hot season which leaves comparatively cooler evening than the wet season, rendering the city as more desirable. Inherently this is one of the attractions for many corporate to hold a meeting in this town which consequently drives demand for more and more meeting room in Bandung.

The concrete roof is also extended to interconnect with the main building protecting from exposed weather for the convenience of both guest as well as guest’s service. At the very moment the few days old roof is in the process of curing, thus it is still being supported by temporary cluster of beam. Once this structure is cured, the main water reservoir will be shifted on top of it from the back yard.

This will further enhance the uncluttered look into more pleasant view from back porch. Most importantly there will be more gravitation force impinging on water to increase a tad of water pressure for the required domestic purposes, quite a precious energy saving here! All in all the old premises would have a touch of modern civil structure technology as well as new level of comfort.

We do expect the new revived building would be into finishing stage as soon as possible, but both budget and concrete curing constraints could translate into another 6 months period as yet. Then it would be the turn of those West Southern part which were already mentioned need to be salvaged, that is the remaining 30% out of the rear most of the premises. Hopefully the 1930s brick-walls there would not crumble yet already, we are adamant to make any use of this piece of history. Any part of salvageable heritage would be invaluable additional points toward the whole Saskava House!

Saskava’s Second Stage #5

Recapping on what sort of renovation work has been done so far. Let’s get back to the important task of salvaging main building. Actually the exterior and interior portion of the main building was quite at dilapidating condition to extend of occupying it was hazardous. Yet fortunately the structural integrity was still sound.

As the photo depicts view from Northern side from top left going clockwise; from prior to multiple angled views of post renovation works. Most of original gutters were practically gone, and reviving it required lots of patients. All new materials are fabricated to match by hands, yet the new material does not have the same thickness. Apparently no tin plate manufacturer has ever produced in such thickness dimension any more; luckily we manage to revive around 70% of the original. The surrounding ceiling material also gets attention, as the worst part was where the gutter was badly corroded. This included some overhung wood beams; on one particular corner some beams were all replaced. It is exactly the corner being shown on photo.

Now the building looks handsome and as elegant as it did, notice the front side door to the porch has disappeared for new bathroom inclusion. Individual bathroom for each room was not a trend in the 1930s, and for the purpose of a guesthouse function today it is a necessity. However we would still have no idea what to do with that porch, eliminating it is the last thing we could ever do. Saskava house would simply lose its charm without such characteristic porch.

Meeting Room Bandung… a Necessity!

How we are doing to manage our sunken cost as of today remains an optimistic spirit, it is still manageable proposition. In fact it is the very reasoning to expand our capacity to make a more viable and scalable return. Bandung is known for a desirable destiny to many local and urban tourists, mostly the Jakartan people. It is competing head on to Bogor and Puncak Pass area for convention purposes. And preparing Saskava for a meeting place requires further room expansion.

So how are we doing so far on Saskava’s second stage? Exactly on the rear Southern part of Saskava we are doing well renovating that part, part which has been suffered the most. Either all wall or roofing parts were not structurally sound, they really had to go. Mind you salvaging them was not fun at all, yet they offer a window of opportunity to build a more potential structure to perhaps possible future expansion. For now it hurts badly on my stingy sunken cost management style, but future opportunity sounds like an optimistic enlightened after thought. Just sufficient enough to entertain us as a temporary measurement for now!

Left picture depicts the gone unsalvageable building, whilst on the right wall erection is on the progress….

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