04 Preparing the Foundation

A strong foundation will ensure that the structure of the house will last for many years. A smart foundation will ensure that the house stays cool during the day and minimizes heat release at night.


Pic 1a and 1b: Excavation begins to prepare the ground for the foundation.

Pic 2a - 2d: Steel rebars are bent into shape by hand to construct the reinforced steel framework for the new pillar footings.




Pic 3a and 3b: The completed reinforced steel framework for the pillar footings.

Pic 4: Positioning of the wooden formworks. Note the house's exposed cornerstone pillar that needs to be reinforced as well.

Pic 5: Close-up photo of the cornerstone pillar. Note the thin footing base of approx. 6 inches deep only.

Pic 6: Using a mechanical agitator to remove any air bubles trapped in the concrete mix.

Pic 7: The concrete footings in various stages of setting. Note the mechanical agitator in the foreground.


Pic 8: Levelling the ground and setting up the wooden formworks for the ground beams.

Pic 9: Carefully arranging the recycled tyres within the marked space. Three layers of tyres will be used for the internal floors.

Pic 10: Three layers of recycled tyres completely filling up the foundation with provisions for the ground beams.

Pic 11: Straping the tyres in place using a steel strap tensioner. Note the reinforced wire mesh (BRC) encasing the tyres.

Pic 12: White corrugated plastic sheets are used to form gullys for the ground beams as well as to encase the tyres prior to pouring concrete.

Pic 13: After more than 10 days of hard work, it was finally time to pour the concrete. And it had to be completed in a single pouring even if it meant working overtime.

Pic 14: Finally, it is done!...and now to move on to another section of the house to repeat the whole process...

03 Reinforcing the Existing Structure

The next step was to reinforce the existing structure starting with the three massive external pillars.

Pic 1: Locating the original pillar footing.

Pic 2: Adding reinforced steel bars. Note the original central steel core piling supporting the pillar.

Pic 3: Embedding the reinforced steel bar and hooking it to the main building structure for additional strength.

Pic 4: A trench is dug between pillars and reinforced steel is added to tie the pillar's footings together for added strength.

Pic 5: Reinforced steel bars are formed and tied together by hand.

Pic 6: Wooden formwork is set in place before the concrete mix is poured in.

Pic 7: The completed concrete footings and ground beams securing the pillars and tied to the main building.

02 Interesting Discoveries

Being 50 years old, the house is characterized by distinct architectural features of the period (1960s). During the stripping and demolitioning works, several interesting discoveries were made about the house's construction materials and fittings.


Pic 1a & 1b: Intricate mosaic tiling on each of the three external columns.

Pic 2: Green terazzo internal flooring.

Pic 3a & 3b: Vintage air blocks enveloping the stair well. Solid timber and steel stairs.

Pic 4: Solid timber flooring and support beams on the first floor visible from the ground floor.

Pic 5: 26 feet wide collapsible steel gate at the south side of the main hall.

Pic 6a & 6b: An antique electric servant bell system connected to all rooms.

Pic 7a, b & c: Vintage sanitary ware and fittings made in England including two cast iron long baths.

Pic 8a, 8b & 8c: Boiler system from Italy.

Pic 9a & 9b: Vintage ceiling fans made in US by Westinghouse.

Pic 10: All door locksets made in England by Union and Yale.

Pic 11a & 11b: Vertical cavity discovered between the upstairs bathrooms for concealed piping.

Pic 12: Cast iron plumbing

Pic 13a, 13b & 13c: Solid timber thrusses. Roof tiles made in Great Britain by Redland (now better known as Monier).