Phase II Conservation

Works

University College for

Women (former British
Residency)
Koti, Hyderabad

Progress Report

December 2017

GNHM/HYD/2017-18/HBR2/PR04

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II
 PROJECT TEAM

STATE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT SITE CONSERVATION TEAM

Akhila Udayashankar
N.R. Visalatchy, Director
Apoorva Pillay
B. Narayana , Deputy Director
Anshul Rawat

WORLD MONUMENTS FUND

B. Sarath Chandra
Amita Baig

Ravi Gundu Rao

OSMANIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FOR WOMEN Anuradha Naik
Prof. Prashanta Athma, Principal Tapan Mittal Deshpande
Prof. Y.L. Srinivas, PRO

ART CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS JEERNODHAR CONSERAVTORS PVT. LTD.

Maninder S Gill
Nilesh Thakkar
Sreekumar Menon
Gautam Ramesh
Pranab Prakash Mohanty

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II
 Items of Work
1. Preparatory works

– Preparation of lime mortar (fine and coarse)

– Laying of floor protection sheet in circular balcony

– Erection of scaffolding in Entrance Porch and Durbar Hall

2. Maintenance works

– Cleaning of porch roof

3. Conservation works
Upper Ground Floor

– Stitching of cracks using SS clippings in Durbar Hall

– Stitching of cracks with granite lintels

– Plastering with lime on walls in Entrance Porch, Durbar Hall, UGF Lobby, UGSWR1 and UGSWR2
First Floor

– Removal of lime wash and enamel paint in Entrance Porch and Durbar Hall

– Removing of oil base paint from the Durbar hall columns

– Removal of lime wash of the Porch and Durbar walls.

– Removal of paint layers from wooden surface

4. Art Conservation

– Consolidation of compressed paper ceiling panels

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II
PREPARATORY WORKS: PREPARATION OF LIME MORTAR

Location: western yard

Work start date: 04/12/2017
Status: On-going

Coarse lime mortar (mota maal) is

being prepared on site for plaster
work in Porch and Durbar Hall.

The mortar is tested for its

plasticity by checking if it’s sticky
i.e. the mortar when thrown on
the surface, it should hold on to
the surface and not fall off.

Storage of lime mortar in sealed air tight bags Preparation of neeru maal in chakki

Fine ground lime mortar (neeru maal) was first prepared in the
lime chakki by grinding it for 6 hours continuously. Later
removed from big chakki and again ground inside the small
grinding machine for continuous 6 hours, to attain the fine
consistency needed for the fine mortar.

Sieving of lime using fine plastic mesh Grinding of mortar in small grinder

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II
PREPARATORY WORKS: PROTECTION SHEET
STAGES OF WORK 1 2
Hand rails was
covered using the
polythene sheet to
protect it from rains
and bird droppings

Work start date: 12.12.2017

Status: Completed
Black foam sheet was used to protect the circular balcony

PREPARATORY WORKS: ERECTION OF SCAFFOLDING

STAGES OF WORK 1 2

Work start date: 14.09.2017 Erection of scaffolding

Status: Ongoing under progress on the
eastern side Erected scaffolding in Entrance Porch

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II UPPER GROUND FLOOR
MAINTENANCE WORKS: CLEANING OF AREA UNDER PITCHED ROOF OVER PORCH
STAGES OF WORK BEFORE 1

Work start date: 01.12.2017

Duration: 5 days
Status: Completed
Wooden truss before cleaning Helpers cleaning of the Pitched roof above porch

The area under the pitched roof over porch had a

thick layer deposit of dust, debris accumulated over
several years.

The dust deposited over the wooden floor as well as

the masonry walls inside the pitched roof, was
cleaned manually by helpers. Brush/broom, trowels
were used to clean the area.

Since the space does not have sufficient ventilation,

care was taken to ensure that the work was
undertaken with sufficient breaks.

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II TERRACE
CONSOLIDATION: STITCHING OF CRACKS USING SS CLIPPINGS
STAGES OF WORK
1
There were marked of structural cracks in Durbar Hall walls,
which were to be addressed using SS clippings for crack
stitching.
A depth of ½’’ is chiselled out in the masonry and holes are
drilled at the two ends of the chiselled length to fix SS
clippings.

8-12mm SS rods(12’ long) are bent in a C shape, the two

ends of which are inserted into the wall across the crack.

Work start date:24.11.2017

Status: On-going
Crack stitching with SS clippings in Porch western wall

CONSOLIDATION: STITCHING OF CRACKS USING GRANITE LINTELS

STAGES OF WORK → BEFORE 1
The Crack on the The cracks were
porch southern wall consolidated by inserting
was examined for granite lintels
depth by removing (50mmx150mmx1000mm)
plaster. in the cracks.

Work start date:16.11.2017

Status: Ongoing

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II UPPER GROUND FLOOR
CONSOLIDATION: LIME PLASTERING ON WALLS IN ENTRANCE PORCH
STAGES OF WORK BEFORE AFTER
Lime plaster was removed
carefully in places where
there were cracks. After
the completion of crack
stitching the exposed
brick masonry had to be
consolidated using lime
Plaster.

Work start date: 15.11.2017

Status: Ongoing

CONSOLIDATION: LIME PLASTERING ON WALLS IN UGF – DURBAR HALL

STAGES OF WORK → 1 2

Work start date:27.12.2017 The gap between the column pedestal and wooden floor
Status: Ongoing in Durbar Hall FF was consolidated using brick ballast and After the consolidation of gap it was plastered using lime
lime mortar(1:3) mortar 1:3

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II UPPER GROUND FLOOR
CONSOLIDATION: FIRST FLOOR WOODEN WESTERN BEAM IN Durbar HALL

STAGES OF WORK BEFORE

The deteriorated
plaster from the beam
bottom had fallen off
as the wooden
battens were decayed
and termite infested.

The remaining plaster

on the beam was
carefully dismantled
and the underlying
decayed wooden
Work start date: 15.12.2017
battens were
Status: Ongoing Old deteriorated beam on the right decayed wood found exposed.
below the plaster

New battens were prepared by

recycling old Burma teak wood
and chisel marks were made on
the wood so that the lime mortar
can stick to the wood. to ensure
good bonding between the wood
and mortar black japan was also
painted on the battens.

Carpenter removing decayed timber battens from the main wooden

beam

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II FIRST FLOOR
CONSOLIDATION: FIRST FLOOR WOODEN WESTERN BEAM IN DURBAR HALL

AFTER
The new battens were
nailed on the beam. As
the wooden beams
above the wooden
battens was in good
conditions therefore
the beam was painted
using black japan. For
good bonding between
wood and lime mortar.

Complete consolidated beam after replacing the wooden

Carpenter nailing the battens to the beam
battens

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II FIRST FLOOR
CONSOLIDATION: FIRST FLOOR WOODEN WESTERN BEAM IN Durbar HALL

STAGES OF WORK DURING

Work start date: 28.11.2017

Status: Ongoing
Carpenters working on the western FF oval room Fixing of wooden joists to beam in oval room

Carpenters commenced with assessment with the present old wood dismantled from the floor earlier in Phase-1.
the old usable members were made good by planing and chiselling. These were later fixed in position by making a
type of dowel joint.

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II FIRST FLOOR
DISMANTLING : PAINT REMOVAL FROM CORNICE AND COLUMN CAPITAL IN ENTRANCE PORCH
STAGES OF WORK → 1
Paper pulp has been used on site to remove the layers of
oil based enamel paint from columns, beams and cornices.
• Shredded paper is soaked in water for a day and then
applied on various surfaces. It is allowed to stay untouched
for at least 18-24 Hrs.
• After the paper pulp has dried , it is removed manually
from the surface. Dried paper comes off the surface.
• Water is absorbed by the surface, which loosens the
bond between the paint and the underlying surface.
• The paint layer is then carefully scraped off using a
scalpel/putty knife depending upon the intricacy and
surface area.
Work start date: 01.11.2017 • After the removal of paint, lime wash is removed
Status: Ongoing cautiously from the surface.
Application of paper pulp on column capital in entrance porch

BEFORE AFTER
This technique ensures
Before scraping After scraping
complete removal of the top
layer of paint.
The underlying layers of
enamel and lime wash are
comparatively difficult to
remove.

After the scraping is finished,

the surface is cleaned with a
blower to remove loose
particles and dust.

Removal of paper pulp from Column capital

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II ENTRANCE PORCH
DISMANTLING : PAINT REMOVAL FROM CORNICE AND COLUMN CAPITAL IN ENTRANCE PORCH
STAGES OF WORK → 1
‘Unipeel’ a chemical from Murthy chemicals, Mysore was
used to scrape the oil based paint layer from the DH
columns
• The chemical was applied using a 4 inches wide brush
evenly onto the surface and left for at least 10-15min.
• It reacts with the paint and softens it without affecting
the lime plaster underneath. The softened paint was
scraped using chisels and scrapers.
• After the first layer of the paint removal a second coat
was applied for further cleaning using the brush and
later cleaned using chisel and scrapers.
• After cleaning the surface was
Work start date: 01.11.2017
Status: Ongoing
Application of chemical on the column in Durbar hall

This technique ensures

complete removal of the top
layer of paint.
After the scraping is finished,
the surface is cleaned with a
Wet cloth and sanded using 60
grade sand paper to remove
any residues and smoothen the
surface.

Removal of paint from door jamb wall and columns of Photograph showing before and after cleaning of
Durbar hall Columns in Durbar hall
Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II
DISMANTLING : PAINT REMOVAL FROM FLAT SURFACES WITH MANUAL METHOD
STAGES OF WORK → 1

Work start date: 01.12.2017

Status: Ongoing Scrapping on the southern wall of porch was started Flat wall surfaces in Durbar hall were also scrapped using
manually using scrapper and chisel blades blades and scrapper patti

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II
DISMANTLING: PAINT REMOVAL FROM DURBAR HALL, FFNER AND FFNWR ROOM DOOR/ WINDOW USING HEAT GUN

STAGES OF WORK → 1 2
The wooden surfaces had
a number of paint layers
therefore before starting
work layers of paint were
documented so that an
informed decision can be
made over the final finish
on the wooden surfaces.

Work start date:27.12.2017

Status: Ongoing Flaked and deteriorated paint layers above the wooden Different colours and paint layers were witnessed on the
surface paint surface after removal using Unipeel.

1 2
After documenting the paint
layers the surface was heated
using a carefully controlled
heat gun then the heated
paint layers were removed
gently using chisel and
scrapper.

The paint from the wooden surfaces was removed heat

gun Photograph showing the wood surface after paint removal.

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II
ART CONSERVATION: CONSOLIDATION OF COMPRESSED PAPER CEILING PANELS
STAGES OF WORK 1 2

Work start date: 16/11/2017

Status: On-going
CONSOLIDATION: LIME PLASTERING ON WALLS IN UGF LOBBY
Consolidation of compressed paper panels
The holes in deteriorated panels were consolidated using a paste of French
chalk powder, kaolin white and adhesive. The base of the damaged panels Filling of nail holes
were strengthened using a cotton gauge to ensure sealing of edges.

Restoration of Durbar Hall at University College for Women, Koti, Hyderabad Phase II