WATER SEEPAGE IN HISTORICAL BUILDINGS: A CASE STUDY OF NUS BABA HOUSE

Abstract

Historical buildings often remind us of the good old times in the past. Unlike modern architecture, they reflected important political, economical and social values from the past. Most of these old buildings are shophouses that can be found along the streets in Tanjong Pagar, Outram Park and Chinatown. To the younger generation, they are precious because nothing makes history more alive than being able to stand in one of these unique architectures. To the gray-haired, such historical heritage is their source of nostalgia. Therefore, preserving aged buildings is no longer an option anymore as they can bring positive values to the society. Nevertheless, it is never easy to have an old building that has been here for tens or hundreds of years to be perfectly well-maintained. One of the challenges faced by most historical buildings’ preservers would be the water seepage issue that has affected the walls of the old buildings. Water penetration through crack lines or holes in the walls, can damage the building and shorten its life cycle. These historical heritages are unique for their architectures. Maintaining the physical outlook of these buildings is as important as preserving the history. This dissertation aims to study the water seepage issue that occurs on historical buildings. Literature reviews provide knowledge about common moisture defects caused by water seepage issue and their remedial actions, as well as non-destructive techniques that can be used to detect the sources of water seepage. A case study on the NUS Baba House is chosen to examine the physical state of water seepage issue in the building. From there, analyses are carried out to determine the cause of water seepage occurred on the buildings. Then, appropriate remedial actions are suggested to resolve this issue. Finally, water seepage investigation processes are recommended for other historical buildings which are facing the same water leakage problem. It is hope that this research can provide a platform for further studies to be done on the area of water seepage in historical monuments.