|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 13 June 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Relics of bygone majesty : Demolition or restoration? by Kaminie Jayanthi Liyanage
The Colombo cityscape is littered with relics of bygone majesty. Take a little time to look at them and probe into the character and merit of a few of them as metropolis assets or liabilities, and you are sure to be surprised at what you may come across. The Gaffoor Building (built in 1907) in Leyden Bastion Road, is advertised as a prime development opportunity in Restoration World, a website on the internet, advertising worldwide property with development potential. Not a bad feat for this magnificent four storied, period building, which not so long ago, housed the Colombo Cafe, Indian Airlines, S.M.A. Aloysius and Son, H.W. Cave and Co. Ltd. (1876) of former colonial glory, to go on the web, advertising its 116.7 perches at Rs. 2 million a perch! "Although from the outside, it looks to be in shambles, it is quite sturdy inside, and it would be a pity to demolish such a stately building," commented a shop owner (who did not want to be identified), who had worked in this core of the city for the last 30 years. "It's been fifteen years since I last saw any activities of occupancy there. The building was a buzzword of the commercial hub then." "It's better if the building is renovated and put to use again," remarked a couple of trishaw drivers, waiting in expectance of hirers in the long line of trishaws parked along the front facade of the building. "Unlike the new characterless buildings you see coming up these days, such buildings are inspiring." "Yes, it certainly would be good for Colombo City to preserve such buildings of former traditional glory. It will give our younger generation and those who come to the city from outside, a glimpse of a different past," said Shanee, an airline staffer, adding. "They radiate a sense of the stability of the past. Can you really say that we can feel a similar sense of stability working in Colombo today?" Well, when it comes to great heights, graceful dominance over dwarfs, prosperity and political stability expressed through architectural elegance, Gaffoor Building is not the only one in Colombo. In fact, as Mrs. Sumanalatha Indrasiri, Director-Enforcement, Urban Development Authority (UDA) informs, there are no less than 316 such historic and architecturally valuable buildings listed in the Colombo Development Plan of 1999 for preservation - in Fort, Slave Island, Galle Face, Colpetty, Pettah, Cinnamon Gardens, Borella, Maradana, Hultsdorf, Kotahena and Modara. From time to time, UDA could add more to this list. Coming from the Portuguese-occupied 17th century, Dutch and British-occupied 18th century, the Van Angel Residence, the General Post Office (1895), Whiteaway Building in Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha, Cargills (1844) and Millers Buildings, the Dutch Governor's Home and the Customs Building are some of the architural splendours which emits a grandeur of 'dignity' in contrast to the 'fast' and slick new metro characters that are emerging. The imperial image of some of these buildings had been to distinguish between rulers and peasants (comments from a dissertation done by Ayesha I. Wijeratne, Dept. of Architecture, University of Moratuwa and available at the UDA library). In the most eloquent language of architecture, power was the outward expression of the British. And their scale of building when compared to the Dutch had been very much larger. Also, a sense of no nonsense and an effective coherence in repetitive elements, as seen in the Whiteaway Building. "Not a single one of these listed buildings will be demolished," assures Mrs. Indrasiri. "They will be preserved by renovating the interior, without harming the character of the building. And the outward appearance of the buildings will be preserved. Many of these buildings are still good for occupation and many of them are still occupied." Preservation is another word for enunciating revitalisation when it comes to the process of revitalising the conserved areas of Colombo. And active conservation can really be a re-animation when one thinks of the dilapidating strips of Colombo. What, then, goes for demolition? "If a building poses a danger to the occupants or to the public, we ask its owner to obtain recommendations from the Director of Buildings," answers Mrs. Indrasiri. According to her, demolition or renovation is the responsibility of the owner and all the currently preserved historic and architecturally valuable buildings in Colombo are owned by somebody. UDA Regulation No. 392/9 of 1996 specifies "unsafe buildings" as those which may constitute a danger to its occupants or to public safety. If such a building is certified as 'unsafe' by the Director of Buildings Department, the UDA can direct the owner of the building to repair or demolish or deal with otherwise, to remove the danger. This process is initiated on a complaint or a request made to the UDA, says Mrs. Indrasiri. "The inspection to find out whether the building is safe or unsafe is done by a structural engineer in the Buildings Department, together with the UDA officials." Based on their report, UDA authorises the demolition or the renovation process and informs the owner or developer of such property to take action. Wijeratne's dissertation comments that with no tax concessions or subsidies to cover maintenance, conservation proved to be a burden for the owner. "This kind of passive conservation entombed the historic city, turning it into a deteriorating museum, a policy now being abandoned in favour of active conservation." Such buildings were also earmarked for development under another plan for the Western Region. This is the Megapolis Master Plan Project which is now in the final stages, says L.H. Indrasiri, Land Use Planner of the project, which dealt with aspects such as new access roads, new towns and new expansions for the 8.5 million population living in the Western Region. Among and outside of buildings listed as important architectural and historical value, there are buildings which are named as 'important monuments' by the Department of Archaeology. There are over 100 such buildings in the country, according to Dr. W.H. Wijayapala, Director-General of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology (DA). The National Museum is one such building, while many such others are of Dutch origin, as is the Dutch Hospital renovated by DA. Such monuments are usually renovated by DA funds, with support coming from the Central Cultural Fund and private supporters. *********** A few of the UDA-listed historic and architecturally valuable buildings in Colombo Colombo * Republic Building located abutting Janadhipathy Mawatha and Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha. * Clock Tower and Light House facing Janadhipathy Mawatha and Mudalige Mawatha. * Negris Building on York Street occupied by the CWE. * Klippenberg House on Flagstaff Street within Navy Headquarters premises. * Macan Makar Building on Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha, Colombo 11. * Times Building on Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha. * Arcade Building (facades only). * Delft Gateway. * Echelon Barracks. Slave Island * The Rowing Club Galle Face * Samudura Hotel * Galle Face Hotel * St. Andrew's Church Colpetty * Mumtaz Mahal Pettah * Old Town Hall Building and Edinburgh Market on Main Street, Colombo 11. * Dutch Belfry Main Street. * Pharmacy Facade in Maliban Street Cinnamon Gardens * Independence Memorial Hall with other ancillary buildings, Independence Avenue. * Police Building at Police Park, Colombo 5. * Lunatic Asylum, * Public Library. * Crescent Cottage, Guildford Crescent. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
