Construction History and Workers
236 Hurumzi has been an ongoing project of restoration since Thomas Green first took over a portion of the building in 1991. The building was in grave disrepair after being occupied for years by poor tenants who could not afford to maintain the building and the government housing authorities were also ill equipped to maintain the many magnificent buildings in Stone Town, including these buildings.
Many individuals have contributed their skills, sweat and muscle to the ongoing restoration. Some did their part in small ways and others in more substantial ways. In the beginning the workers were hired by Thomas Green, and the project continues in many ways up to this day. A building this old, made of stone, mortar, mud and wood beams needs continuous renovation, revision and upkeep. The expansion of the hotel into neighboring buildings has also kept the building and maintenance crews busy over the years.
The very first project in the building was to replace the beams in a centrally located room on the ground floor. A Swahili woman still occupied this space along with her family. She was thanking God for the firewood that fell in the form of support beams from her ceiling.
236 Hurumzi has been an ongoing project of restoration since Thomas Green first took over a portion of the building in 1991. The building was in grave disrepair after being occupied for years by poor tenants who could not afford to maintain the building and the government housing authorities were also ill equipped to maintain the many magnificent buildings in Stone Town, including these buildings.
Many individuals have contributed their skills, sweat and muscle to the ongoing restoration. Some did their part in small ways and others in more substantial ways. In the beginning the workers were hired by Thomas Green, and the project continues in many ways up to this day. A building this old, made of stone, mortar, mud and wood beams needs continuous renovation, revision and upkeep. The expansion of the hotel into neighboring buildings has also kept the building and maintenance crews busy over the years.
The very first project in the building was to replace the beams in a centrally located room on the ground floor. A Swahili woman still occupied this space along with her family. She was thanking God for the firewood that fell in the form of support beams from her ceiling.
We advised her that her ceiling might soon fall in on top of her if she did not allow us to replace the ceiling beams above her head. Eventually she agreed and even though it was still her space, a crew of our workers repaired her ceiling.
The next project was the first floor apartment that would initially be Mr. Green’s home. Later that apartment was converted into the Crystal Room, office, storerooms and kitchen, and central courtyard for the hotel. Eventually we acquired control of the whole building and three adjacent buildings. Each part has a story of its’ own restoration and transformation, and sometimes re-transformation for use by the hotel.
The hotel was constructed in many stages often two rooms at a time being finished on a schedule and opened for use by guests in their own turn. We have a collection of black & white and colored photos showing our crews doing the works carried out from 1991 until the present day.
On these pages we wish to show you a few of these photos and dedicate them to the workers who used their time and hard labor to bring to you 236 Hurumzi.
