Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Take a Bow Jungle Hut!

The Jungle Hut is being taken down today to make way for a new one but before it exits I gave it a final once over last night, just before I finalized tidying up what was still left there to be salvaged.


The sun has set for the old jungle hut
Gaz was feeling a bit nostalgic about it, not sad but sort of reminiscing as he did build the veranda bit with his dad a few years ago. The rest of it is much older, being there all along and came with the garden when we bought the property.
Summer of 2011
It was fun seeing the veranda take shape as it was being built and even more fun decorating it, filling it with knick knacks, some of which were from our travels, to help give it that 'look' of being more at home in a tropical country, or at least in a warmer place. And the jungle hut itself served a decorative purpose too, influencing its surroundings and helping reinforce an exotic feel to an exotic and jungle style of garden. A jungle hut in a jungle garden - sounds like a perfect combo doesn't it? But most important of all, it was a nice place to sit and relax, on rare occasions that we do sit and relax.


Knick Knacks galore!

Alas, its life span was cut short when it got severely damaged by fire last July. Too damaged to be repaired and just patched up, it made more sense to just tear down and remove everything then start again from scratch. On top of the aesthetic damage, the building was weakened by both fire and water rendering it structurally unstable. And even if for sentimental reasons we wanted it saved and repaired, the cost of doing would be so high that the difference between repair and having a brand new one would be very little. 


Just a shadow of what it used to be
There were still a few items left there that were meant to be saved and set aside. All of these were shifted into a smaller shed last night
Scorched and sooty.
One was saved and one was skipped
The veranda bit, built much later than the rest of the building was scorched but pretty much remained intact and at first looked savable. But it was built in a way that it was bolted on to the original building and if that went, the roof of the veranda would by unsupported. As for the thick wooden pillars, that was concreted in rather than metal bolted so cannot be adjusted if a new roof would be installed. 

So there you go, it all has to go....

Hold on, not quite! There is actually one feature of it that will be saved due to popular demand - the bamboo balustrading. When the insurance assessor and builders delivered their verdict of removing the old jungle hut and starting all over again we have pretty much decided that all parts of it might as well go. But much to our repeated surprise the bamboo balustrades kept getting mentioned by the builders and even by previous visitors that we have spoken to recently without receiving any prompting from us. It seems the bamboo balustrades have silently made its mark on a lot of people and have grown fond of it and would want us to save them. And we would be delighted to save them indeed, they will be re-used and has been re-incorporated in the design of the new jungle hut.


The bamboo balustrades, to our pleasant surprise has a small legion of fans! Didn't realise until recently how many people are fond of it. They will be re-incorporated in the new jungle hut.
On a more cheerful note, just look at those survivors!
And what about the replacement one, what are the plans and what will it be like? We finalised the design over the weekend and Gaz made sketches of it for the builders to follow. We'll feature more about this later on a separate post.

But for now we say farewell to our beloved old jungle hut.



Before you go, take a bow jungle hut, we give you our applause, you deserve it!

Mark :-)

37 comments :

  1. I can't wait to see what you guys do with the new one!

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  2. The place definitely had character but I'm sure you'll create a worthy successor with appropriate homage to what was best about the old Jungle Hut,

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    1. So true Kris. The new jungle hut will always echo what was there before.

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  3. Farewell Jungle hut, nice tribute to a fun space. It will be fun to see what you build in its place.

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    1. A fond farewell it was Shirley :) The builders do move quick and they can rebuild the new one in no time at all. Only limitation is we can't decorate and finish it off till next spring.

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  4. I had thought about the bamboo, good to know it makes the cut! Those tree ferns...amazing!

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    1. I'm really glad now that those bamboos were spared Loree, it'll make a good connection between the old and the new one. And so glad those tree fern survived!

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  5. Looking forward to seeing how you replace the jungle hut - I'm sure it will be grea. Also pleased to see the tree fern. In nature they are often the first thing to come back after a bushfire - they are tougher than they look.

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    1. Thanks Missy! We did think about the bushfires in OZ and how tree ferns can amazingly come back from the scorch. In our part of the world we have proven it too, although won't be keen to repeat it again :)

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  6. The Jungle Hut must have served you well so not surprising that its departure was tinged with some sadness. No doubt a worthy successor will emerge. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

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  7. It was a wondeful feature, thoroughly deserving a post al to its self, but I do look forward to seeing what you do with the new one, complete with lovely bamboo balustrade. I'm a big fan of bamboo, we use it as flooring and really love it.

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    1. Thanks Janet! Bamboo flooring is so lovely, was tempted to go for that when we were choosing our new flooring (oak won though but bamboo was a very close second).

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  8. Surprisingly hopeful post. I'm a terrible moaner. I'd have sat there bewailing the loss for months on end and have let it all fall into a jungle mess. A bit in awe of your stamina, confidence and enthusiasm.

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    1. Thanks Esther! We've gone way past the moaning phase now and so looking forward to the new one. Always positive here :)

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  9. I know you'll be glad to get the damage removed from your property and put that whole horrible situation behind you. Will be interesting to see what you replace it with and then of course the decorations for it since those would be gone that you had.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. It's good to let it go Cher, part of the process of the garden makeover which is something to look forward to :)

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  10. Richard has a background as a contractor, and he always says that tearing down and starting fresh is much easier than remodeling (if that's any consolation).
    It's always a surprise to me what people latch onto. There's almost always consensus of opinion, and often not what I would have expected. Go bamboo!

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    1. Go bamboo indeed Ricki! Was surprised how many people took note of it. Good to hear some input from your husband as well. Was just talking to the builders this morning and they said again how better it is for them too to just start from scratch rather than do a patch job.

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  11. Sad to let it go but change is good - sounds like you guys have moved on and are relishing the prospect of having a new shed to decorate. Awesome energy levels, wish you could bottle it - I'd buy!! Looking forward to seeing what you've come up with, I'm pretty sure it will be great!

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    1. Thanks Caro! Yes, so looking forward to decorating the new hut. We won't be able to do most of it during the winter but come spring it's one of the many things to look forward to :)

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  12. Your postings since the fire have been inspirational. We are all looking forward to the jungle hut replacement. I'd agree with Caro above ('wish you could bottle it ...) All the best for the work and much joy of the finished product!

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    1. Thank you so much Cathy! Onwards and upwards here :)

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  13. It must be sad to see it go. I love all the knickknacks. And I'm pleased that you are able to save the bamboo balustrades to incorporate into the new building. They will give the new building a nice little touch of nostalgia.

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    1. Thanks Holley and how true! The bamboos will make a nice connection between the old and the new one :)

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  14. I have always loved your jungle hut and wished I had one. Oh I do its hubbies office, I'm just not allowed to touch the inside :( lol! Looking forward to seeing your new design x

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    1. Glad to hear that Libby :) Perhaps a bit more convincing of Mark and he'll let you convert half of that lovely outbuilding into a jungle hut!

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  15. I am sad and happy at the same time. Sad it all happened and it has to go but excited and happy that a new one will take it's place. I hope it will still be jungly! And the palm all black but sending up new leaves is very exciting to see. How amazing!

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    1. Thanks Candice! So looking forward to the new one already and very excited here. We're glad the palm came back and growing nicely now :)

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  16. Ave atque Vale Jungle hut! The hut is dead long live the hut!

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  17. How exciting for you guys. When you mention your jungle hut, I think of my numerous visits (5 actually taking different clients) to THE Jungle Room at Graceland. Here's a 360 vision if you're so inclined. Have a blast guys.

    http://www.elvis.com/photos-video/360_tours_of_graceland/jungle_room.aspx

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    1. That's quite inspirational Patrick! Thanks for the link!

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  18. It is so sad that the jungle hut was damaged by fire! It had so much character, but the fact that the bamboo balustrade is incorporated into the new design lets me know that the new one will have great character, too! I am looking forward to seeing Jungle Hut 2 !

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    1. Thanks Debs! We're glad that the bamboo balustrades will be saved and get incorporated, it will make a nice link between the old and the new :)

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  19. This hut looks like one of those old houses here in the country, much more reinforced by the bamboo balustrade, a fixture commonly done here in the olden times. Now it is replaced by cement and wood, only used in some country-motiff resorts. I feel sad for it too!

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  20. I feel like the old jungle hut should be piled up, set alight, and set onto a river. Or something grand and worthy of its life!

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