GVK-Siya Zama, the specialists in the renovation, construction and recycling of buildings, are currently undertaking maintenance and repairs and to the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town.
The repair and maintenance are being carried out under the supervision of Dr Gabriel Fagan and his wife Dr Gwen Fagan. The couple has vast experience in the restoration of the Castle and subsequent repair projects since 1968.
Project manaer at GVK-Siya Zama, Rupert Rademan, says the manner in which the Gabriel Fagan Architects have designed the maintenance and repair scope of work has been amazing.
Concerning the restoration processes that have been going on over the years, Fagan says that it was necessary for the building to first be examined for its architectural, cultural and social value.
With several extentions having been made to the building over the last three centuries, the Fagans got the challenge of deciding what to remove and what to retain.
Among the Items that were brought down included a toilet block in the inside courtyard and was constructed during the Second World War, derelict saw-tooth buildings that were used for parking and storage and in addition to a fig tree that almost obscured the famous Castle bell tower and was swallowing historic sentry boxes and blocking the sewers in the front courtyard.
Some parts had to be recreated afresh. For example, the pillars on the gateway leading to the Castle entrance were crowned by lions having an arched lamp support between them.
However, a flagpole collapsed on them and brought the whole lot down, with the lions breaking into small fragments.
The remains were removed to avoid any further damage and taken, together with the pier capitals, to a special workshop where efforts were made to establish the origin of the clay. Jan Corewijn a specialist restorer, reassembled the lions, made models and remade them. Today they are kept safely in the Castle’s museum.
