The Playhouse
The Playhouse is located on the western end of the property, at a significant distance from the main house, but in close proximity to the ocean. Since its construction in 1938, the Playhouse has been exposed to wind, salt, sun, and moisture resulting in numerous structural and cosmetic conditions that threaten the integrity of the building and detract from its beauty. Deferred maintenance has added to the severity of some of these conditions. Thus the Playhouse has been given top priority in Shangri La’s multi-year master preservation plan. With the completion of the first two phases of preservation work in 2001-2002 (focusing on areas of the main residence now open for public tours), attention turned in 2003-2005 to rehabilitating the Playhouse and opening this area of the estate to the public for special events and other cultural programs.
In 2003, preservation activity focused on the roof of the Playhouse. In particular, a waterproof membrane was laid to prevent moisture from seeping into the building. In addition, the tile mosaics on the façade of the Playhouse have undergone various levels of conservation treatment since 2003. The mosaics located on the ocean-side of the Playhouse were particularly damaged from salt exposure. Some of these mosaics were removed, desalinated, and placed in storage while others were consolidated in situ. Both approaches seek to prevent further deterioration of these important works of art which Doris Duke commissioned from artisans in Iran in 1938.
In 2004, attention turned to the interior of the Playhouse. One of the most demanding projects was the replacement of heavily corroded bronze hardware on all the doors and windows. Areas of the wood floor were replaced where dry rot was disintegrating the substructure. Walls compromised by water damage were repaired and reinforced. A massive pair of glass doors that had heavy salt accretion were replaced with new glass, allowing the beautiful ocean views to be seen once again. Telephone and data lines, security, and a fire suppression system have been added; the interior has been repainted and rewired; and the Playhouse is now ADA accessible.
Current work addresses the Playhouse’s exterior. Spalling has occurred in a number of locations where moisture has settled on metal rebar in the cement walls. As the corroded rebar expands, it bursts the cement walls. To fix the problem, the cement walls are drilled to expose the rebar and a protective coating is sprayed to prevent further moisture from settling on the metal.
Current efforts are also focused on the painted surfaces of the Playhouse porch. The building’s close proximity to the ocean has resulted in drastic fading, flaking and disintegration of the paint surfaces. Initially, Duke hired a family of local artists to paint the wood porch with geometric designs inspired by a 17th-century pavilion in Iran. By the 1970s, however, the paint had severely deteriorated so Duke hired a commercial company based in Honolulu to repaint the porch following the original design scheme. This time, paint was applied to a masonite core which was overlaid with fiberglass and these panels were placed over the original painted wood surfaces.
The Playhouse roofline before and after restoration in the 1970s. At left, severe degradation plagues the original painted surfaces; at right, the new masonite surfaces.
The 1970s restoration is now severely degraded and, once again, the painted surfaces of the porch need to be replaced. A professional painting and conservation studio will both conserve and replicate the porch’s painted surfaces following the original design scheme during the summer of 2005. Visitors on public tours will witness this work in progress.
Six daily tours of Shangri La remain the most consistent program in the main house, but the DDFIA expects to open the Playhouse to the public for additional types of programs. By the end of 2005, a “new” Playhouse should emerge which provides space for music and dance performance, poetry readings, conferences, and lectures which will be offered beginning in 2006.
Take a virtual tour of the Playhouse