This 400 year old summer palace has been preserved to provide upmarket paying guest accommodation without compromising the original fabric. The palace is approached via an entrance gate or, from the rear, from a river jetty. These structures, along with the pool and bathhouse, and the outbuilding that now houses the kitchen, were also renovated. Timbers were restored and some shutters glazed to improve the internal space. Walls were stripped to reveal the lime plaster, verandahs were retiled and modern bathrooms and air conditioning introduced with no external impact. The full budget was recouped within a year, exemplifying the commercial case for adaptive reuse as much as the importance of preserving traditional building crafts.
Source:
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011.
