No. 19 Love Lane is a building within the Conservation Zone of Penang. This two storey building, although well maintained, had a few problems- the roof leaked, wooden beams were infested by termites, and electrical wiring needed an upgrade. Working with a dedicated construction team, the building was slowly restored. Wherever possible, we specified materials similar to the original. First, the roof was changed to terra cotta tile roof replacing the old cement and asbestos roofing. Floorboards were entirely replaced with natural hardwood timber boards. The unaffected intricate timber carvings in the main hall were cleaned and restored to their original condition. The colourful Stoke-on Trent floor tiles of the front hall were cleaned and polished while broken terra cotta ones for the rest of the house were replaced. To prevent rain yet allow natural ventilation to pass through the building, an operable air well was designed and constructed at the main airwell. The bathroom at the second airwell was demolished and rebuilt at the back courtyard. In its place a Zen garden will be constructed to promote the tranquility of the home. The ancestral altar previously in the third hall was moved forward to the second hall, trading its position with the dining area. The kitchen and bathrooms still remained at the back of the house.
