Restoration work on LHC’s building under way
Architects found UK-made tiles they say were fixed in all rooms
All four walls of the room are bordered with the tiles at the bottom which were used apparently fixed when the LHC building was constructed in 1867. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
As part of the preparations for Lahore High Court’s 150th anniversary celebrations, restoration of the chief justice’s guest room has started amid apprehensions the room cannot be restored to its original grandeur before the celebrations commence.
One of the major reasons for this is that the architects cannot arrange anytime soon the United Kingdom-made tiles found only in the guest room, which is right next to the court of the chief justice.
All four walls of the room are bordered with the tiles at the bottom. They were most likely fixed when the LHC building was constructed in 1867.
These tiles were found accidentally when some labourers removed the wooden panels from the walls. According to the architects, the tiles must have been fixed in all the rooms of the LHC building but were gradually removed with the passage of time.
In the guest room, more than half of the tiles are missing from the three-foot-high border.
When the tiles were found, LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah ordered them to be made once again and renowned architect Kamil Khan Mumtaz was contacted for the purpose.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Mumtaz said he managed to find someone who could make the same tiles but it would take him at least three months to do so.
He added that since the 150th anniversary celebrations of LHC were starting from November 1, the work on the tiles was delayed for the time being. Consequently, he said, they have also delayed work on the restoration of the floor of the room.
However, as the room would be used during the celebrations, white marble tiles will be installed on the floor.
Mumtaz said work on the wooden ceiling was complete. The wood of the ceiling was intact, he added, only white paint was removed from it and polish was applied. The original shape of the room with new tiles will be restored after the celebrations are over. Although the chief justice wanted to give the room its original touch for demonstration during the anniversary celebrations, the shortage of time did not let that happen, Mumtaz said.
At their best
A sub-engineer of the buildings department, Muhammad Asif who was supervising the labourers, told The Express Tribune that work on the ceiling and floor was almost done and they were repairing the wall.
Work on walls would be completed by November 9, which is the deadline given to him.
As the room is associated with the court room of the chief justice, he added, laborers cannot work during the court timings so as to not disturb the proceedings.
Asif said the labourers were working through the night till morning. Work has been completed on the committee room, which is in the middle of the two courts – one of the chief justice and the other of senior puisne judge.
Asif said the committee room was completely renovated to its original shape and was ready for use.
The first restoration work on the LHC building was done in 2014. The restored area included two courtrooms, two judges’ chambers with attached bathrooms, a kitchen, a room for secretaries, a conference room on the first floor, a bathroom on the first floor and a staircase. The work included treatment of the roof, installation of a wooden false ceiling, floor, wooden wall panelling, electrification, restoration of wooden windows and doors and canopies above the judges’ seats in two courtrooms of the eastern wing of the building.
The project began in April 2013 due to the damage caused to the building after a suicide attack on Police Rescue 15 building in 2009.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2016.
As part of the preparations for Lahore High Court’s 150th anniversary celebrations, restoration of the chief justice’s guest room has started amid apprehensions the room cannot be restored to its original grandeur before the celebrations commence.
One of the major reasons for this is that the architects cannot arrange anytime soon the United Kingdom-made tiles found only in the guest room, which is right next to the court of the chief justice.
All four walls of the room are bordered with the tiles at the bottom. They were most likely fixed when the LHC building was constructed in 1867.
These tiles were found accidentally when some labourers removed the wooden panels from the walls. According to the architects, the tiles must have been fixed in all the rooms of the LHC building but were gradually removed with the passage of time.
In the guest room, more than half of the tiles are missing from the three-foot-high border.
When the tiles were found, LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah ordered them to be made once again and renowned architect Kamil Khan Mumtaz was contacted for the purpose.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Mumtaz said he managed to find someone who could make the same tiles but it would take him at least three months to do so.
He added that since the 150th anniversary celebrations of LHC were starting from November 1, the work on the tiles was delayed for the time being. Consequently, he said, they have also delayed work on the restoration of the floor of the room.
However, as the room would be used during the celebrations, white marble tiles will be installed on the floor.
Mumtaz said work on the wooden ceiling was complete. The wood of the ceiling was intact, he added, only white paint was removed from it and polish was applied. The original shape of the room with new tiles will be restored after the celebrations are over. Although the chief justice wanted to give the room its original touch for demonstration during the anniversary celebrations, the shortage of time did not let that happen, Mumtaz said.
At their best
A sub-engineer of the buildings department, Muhammad Asif who was supervising the labourers, told The Express Tribune that work on the ceiling and floor was almost done and they were repairing the wall.
Work on walls would be completed by November 9, which is the deadline given to him.
As the room is associated with the court room of the chief justice, he added, laborers cannot work during the court timings so as to not disturb the proceedings.
Asif said the labourers were working through the night till morning. Work has been completed on the committee room, which is in the middle of the two courts – one of the chief justice and the other of senior puisne judge.
Asif said the committee room was completely renovated to its original shape and was ready for use.
The first restoration work on the LHC building was done in 2014. The restored area included two courtrooms, two judges’ chambers with attached bathrooms, a kitchen, a room for secretaries, a conference room on the first floor, a bathroom on the first floor and a staircase. The work included treatment of the roof, installation of a wooden false ceiling, floor, wooden wall panelling, electrification, restoration of wooden windows and doors and canopies above the judges’ seats in two courtrooms of the eastern wing of the building.
The project began in April 2013 due to the damage caused to the building after a suicide attack on Police Rescue 15 building in 2009.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2016.