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Penang House at Rimbun DAhan

Above: Details of the windows of the Penang House in its new location at Rimbun Dahan.

Above: The house in its original position on Jalan Perak in Georgetown, Penang.

The old colonial-era wooden Malay house that Hijjas and Angela bought from Jalan Perak in Penang was dismantled and rebuilt at Rimbun Dahan. The house will provide additional accommodation and studio space. It is located in the far eastern corner of Rimbun Dahan, adjacent to Rumah Uda Manap.

The house was built in Perak Road, Georgetown, in the 1920s, and was our first "buy" in Penang. Originally it was slated for our East Coast land, but the boundaries there are still not confirmed and the longer we left a pile of wood, the less likely it would be restored.

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All finished in December 2009
Adding the details in November 2009 The wooden structure is highlighted with dark paint.	Some of the patterned glass in the windows has been broken. If anyone knows a source, we are looking for old glass replacements!	The round spaces in the wall beneath the windows were empty, so we inserted marble pieces that resemble as much as possible the old Chinese landscape stones.
The hanging light at the entrance came from the collection of Dato' P. G. Lim, and is adapted from a standing garden light from her house on Jalan U Thant which is now part of the US embassy.	Steps are paved with flame finished granite. Encaustic tiles left over from the Penang hotel project are used on step risers and medalion design.	Staff quarters at the back, equipped with their own kitchen and bathroom, will increase staff accommodation at Rimbun Dahan.
Nearing completion in September 2009 Work has just begun on the staff accommodation at the rear, and we hope all will be finished by Christmas.
The construction site in July 2009. Impressive progress was made once the piles were in place and a tukang from Penang who had helped with the dismantling was on site to reassemble.	The frame of the house is now complete.	Each piece of old wood has been labelled to keep its place.
Detail of the wooden porch which will shade the front steps.	The original bars from the windows are installed.	The floor is not yet complete.
The house has been raised on new brick pillars.	The frame of the house from the back, showing Rumah Uda Manap in the background.	Remaining pieces of the dismantled house.
Starting construction in June 2009. Contractors studying the plans in the shade of nearby Rumah Uda Manap.	Clearing unwanted trees from the construction site.	A tree to be salvaged with its roots bundled.
The overseeing architect onsite with the contractors.	The dismantled pieces of the house kept under tarpaulin.	A earth-mover clearing and levelling the ground.