THE HINDU Restoration work in progress at the Arab Serai near the Humayuns Tomb in New Delhi on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

In 2012, when the Sher Shah gate opposite the Purana Quila collapsed, conservationists in the Capital were apprehensive that the two feet tilt in the ornamental facade of the gateway of Arab Serai near the Humayuns Tomb would meet a similar fate.

In the 20 Century, the entrance chambers dome had collapsed and since then much of the structure was in various stages of disintegration. Most of the structure was held up by patches of cement plaster.

As a result, Arab Serai became a dilapidated gateway. Thankfully, now this over 150-foot-long gateway with grand vaulted rooms on either side of the principal arched entrance is now in the process of becoming a landmark structure worth visiting.

To ensure that the Mughal-era Arab Serai is restored to its original glory, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) has been doing major restoration work for the past one and a half years. It is working in association with the Archaeological Survey of India. Entrusted with the challenging task, AKTC achieved its objective by putting in 5,000 man-days of work by master craftsmen. The tile work on the canopies is now being restored by the youth of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti. These youth were trained in this craft during the conservation of Humayuns Tomb. Before commencing the project, the AKTC did extensive research work.

It was a much larger work than originally envisaged. We believe in on-site evidence as well as archival evidence in the form of photographs or maps. The serai was perhaps built by those who had constructed the Humayuns Tomb. Ninety five per cent of work will be finished by this month end, said AKTC project director Ratish Nanda.

Interestingly, the nomenclature Arab Serai was derived as it was a barrack built for a mix of Arab and Persian Islamic scholars and masons.

Haji Begum, wife of Mughal emperor Humayun, returned from a pilgrimage to Makkah, accompanied by hundreds of scholars and masons. Under the supervision of Akbars officials from Agra, the masons constructed the Humayuns Tomb. Some of them were brought all the way to Hindustan to pray for Humayuns soul, said historian and journalist R.V. Smith.

According to AKTC conservation architect Divya Nandini, it was necessary to reconstruct some of the collapsed portions, where there was photographic evidence to tie up the tilting faade.

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Arab Serai to regain its glory

NEW ULM - Brown County commissioners unanimously approved a petition Tuesday for the construction of tile to replace an open ditch in Brown County Ditch NO. 45 in Home Township.

The resolution included appointing Bolton & Menk, Inc. as project engineers provided they can begin work within 30 days.

Petitioners Daniel J. and Bonnie Seidl requested authorization to construct about 630 feet of tile to replace an open ditch in Section 20. The petitioners are responsible to pay all costs and expenses related to the improvement. They also agree to pay all costs and expenses that may be included if improvement proceedings are dismissed. The Seidls are also required post at least a $10,000 bond to be paid to Brown County.

In other action, commissioners:

Approved aerial spraying all ditches for tree, brush and weed control except CD 2, CD 28-1 and JD 5 B&W which have buffer strips. Scott's Helicopter Services, the lone bidder, would be paid $30.98 an acre, the same rate charged in 2012 and 2013.

Because the application is spot spraying, aerial sprayer bills are based on gallons of herbicide used at the prescribed rate per acre to calculate acres sprayed. Estimated ground sprayer rates are based on time and materials.

Low bidder Central Applicators, Inc. would do ground spraying in CD 2 ($1,487.50), CD 28-1 ($2,507.50) and JD 5 ($3442.50) for $7,437.50 total. B & W Control Specialists bid $8,000 for the three ditches that were air sprayed in 2013.

Reviewed the Brown County Highway Department monthly update. Minutes from the last Highway Committee meeting included a Christensen Farms request for an overweight permit during spring road restrictions on gravel roads. The company has four-axle trucks that can carry 20 to 21 tons during non-road restriction times.

A highway committee discussion followed on damage come by bigger-but-fewer loads. It was emphasized that if a permit were granted, it would have to be done for others. The committee agreed not to allow overweight loads during the spring road restriction period.

Received the 2013 Annual License Bureau Report.

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Board OKs tile petition

David Kadavy is a designer turned author who writes about productivity, travelling and design. His book, Design for Hackers, teaches developers and makers the necessity and principles of marrying good design with good engineering, and he certainly designs a productive life of his own. We caught up with David to learn about his favourite apps, gear and how he works.

Picture: Erika Dufour Photography

Location: Chicago, Illinois Current Gig: Author/Professor at Design for Hackers, Advisor at Timeful. One word that best describes how you work: Methodically Current mobile device: iPhone 5s (Silver) Current computer: MacBook Air

Without a doubt, number one for me is Evernote. I do everything in Evernote. I draft blog posts, write talks, brainstorm ideas and document processes in Evernote. I even write emails in Evernote, even though when I paste back to Gmail I have to reformat any bullet points that Ive made.

When I started using Evernote, I really just had a notebook called Inbox with a note called Inbox, but since then it has grown into a number of stacks, and I even have a numbering system that Im not quite sure even I can explain, but it works.

I guess it would make sense if I mention Siri, since Im actually drafting this blog post into Evernote using Siri on my iPhone, as I pace around the room.

Next would have to be Timeful, co-founded by behavioural scientist Dan Ariely. Ive been advising them on product the past several months so Im in their private beta and its really grown to be indispensable for me. It allows me to not only plan what is going on during my day and what I want to do during the day, but it also allows me to be clear about when Im actually going to do those things. A lot of times we get a sense of anxiety over traditional tools like email, to-do lists and calendars, but thats because theyre often at odds with one another.

Finally, theres Fancy Hands, which is like an on-demand personal assistant. Ive been concentrating a lot on delegating things, and its really freed up my creativity. Fancy Hands was a great way for me to not only train myself on delegating, but it has also saved me a lot of time making phone calls, booking appointments and doing research.

I try not to spend too much time at one particular workspace, because my thoughts then start to get kind of stale. At home I have an IKEA Jerker desk with an Aeron chair, and I use my split keyboard and a 24-inch Apple Cinema Display. I have a piece of tile board I got at Home Depot, which I occasionally throw on the floor in my living room for high-level thinking.

About three days a week, I go to a co-working space, and I use my mobile setup, which again includes my split keyboard, an AViiQ laptop stand and my MacBook Air. I stand most of the time at the co-working space and need to get around to converting my home workstation to standing.

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I'm David Kadavy, Author Of Design For Hackers, And This Is How I Work

Manslaughterer #39;s Tile Work: $180 = Great Job! 4/30/14
I #39;d like to thank you for watching this video. I upload somewhere between ten and 20 videos a day. I try to get as much of my day-to-day life as possible up ...

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Manslaughterer's Tile Work: $180 = Great Job! 4/30/14 - Video

Bledsoe tile work

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Bledsoe tile work - Video

Backyard round up: Goji plants, Asian pear tree, Green Works mower and tile work
The start of another growing season means I have to help the process by weeding, mowing and fertilizing. My Asian pear tree is blooming with flowers and this...

By: wtam69

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Backyard round up: Goji plants, Asian pear tree, Green Works mower and tile work - Video

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - If you have ever completed a major home improvement project, you know that it takes a lot less time to remove old flooring than it does to lay new tile.

But some University Park Mall shoppers might be surprised to hear that it will take contractors every bit of the next five-plus months to complete the multimillion-dollar renovation, despite the progress that has been made.

Just 11 weeks into the project, crews already have torn out almost every square inch of worn flooring across the Mishawaka regional shopping center.

In the food court, where the majority of activity is currently centered, the columns have been stripped, restroom fixtures removed and outdated decor eliminated.

After the food court is finished in May, why do contractors still need so much time to complete the project?

The difference between renovating a room or two in your house and updating a 1 million-square-foot mall is that University Park Mall will remain open to shoppers throughout the project.

At home, you can work whenever you want, really, and shut the door to the room that is being renovated.

At a shopping mall, workers in five trades electrical, plumbing, floor demolition, tile installation and carpentry cannot start until the last shopper leaves and the doors are locked at 9 p.m.

Then it reopens bright and early the next day.

They usually take about two hours to set up and have about five hours to work, and then they spend their last hour cleaning up, mall manager Ryan Ginty tells the South Bend Tribune (http://bit.ly/1j86d7g ). Working inside a mall, theyve had to do everything they can to protect the retailers during the tile demolition, which is almost complete.

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Crews work around shoppers for mall renovation

Posted:Today Updated: 12:03 AM New copper sheathing will initially make the dome shine like a new penny.

By Susan McMillan Kennebec Journal

AUGUSTA The scaffolding is going up, and in a matter of weeks the copper will come down.

click image to enlarge

Workers build scaffolding around the State House dome on Wednesday in Augusta. A $1.3 million project entails restoring the domes copper sheathing and gilding the statue that tops it.

Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

The $1.3 million restoration of the State House dome has begun. The project consists primarily of replacing the domes leaky copper sheathing, which dates to an expansion of the building in 1909-10.

The workmanship back then was just excellent, but it needs to be replaced so we dont have problems with the structure of the dome itself, said David Boulter, executive director of the Legislative Council.

Holes as large as dimes have formed in the copper, allowing water to seep in. In addition to replacing the sheathing, workers will repair and upgrade the gilded Lady of Wisdom statue that tops the dome.

Crews began work in late March. By mid-May, they should be finished erecting the staging, Boulter said. The scaffolding will encase the entire dome. Removal of the old copper will begin by early June, and the whole project is expected to be completed in late October.

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Work begins on restoration of State House dome, Lady of Wisdom

If you have ever completed a major home improvement project, you know that it takes a lot less time to remove old flooring than it does to lay new tile.

But some University Park Mall shoppers might be surprised to hear that it will take contractors every bit of the next five-plus months to complete the multimillion-dollar renovation, despite the progress that has been made.

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University Park Mall renovation comes to life at night

Posted: 5:44 PM Updated: 5:46 PM The domes copper sheathing is scheduled to be replaced by the end of October at a cost of $1.3 million.

By Susan McMillan smcmillan@centralmaine.com Staff Writer

AUGUSTA The scaffolding is going up, and in a matter of weeks the copper will come down.

click image to enlarge

Old Dome: File photo of Maine State House taken on April 2 in Augusta.

Staff file photo by Joe Phelan

click image to enlarge

In with the New: Workers build scaffolding around the State House dome on Wednesday in Augusta. This is the first part of a project to replace the old copper dome on the Capitol.

Staff photo by Joe Phelan

The $1.3 million restoration of the State House dome has begun. The project consists primarily of replacing the domes leaky copper sheathing, which dates to an expansion of the building in 1909-10.

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Work underway to restore Maine State House dome