Dismantling Process

 /Geraldine Ho

Conservator-on-Site Mr. Eng Chee Kuan showing his measured drawing records.

  We were then given a brief induction into the Fort’s dismantling process by Conservators-on-site Mr. Eng Chee Kuan and Mr. Ooi Zhen Ning (both young graduates from Penang). They explained that during dismantling, every detail has to be recorded through sketches, drawings, photographs and videos so the Fort can be reassembled in the same manner.

Colored codes on the timber pieces.
(Yellow for main structural components, Red for secondary elements)

An example of wooden tenon.

An example of a wooden
mortise.

As the Fort is a timber structure, their key focus was on the traditional joineries used to hold the building together and we were shown many measured drawings of these. Interestingly enough, different joints were used to accommodate different parts of the building. They also pointed out how they had systematically coded every single piece of timber in different colours to coincide with their plan drawings so they would know where each would be put back in place.