 When the purpose of the building changed, the elevation of the main hall's floor was raised by building a platform on top of the original wooden floor.Tranovola was first built in the Rova compound for Radama I in 1819 by Gros, then later reconstructed by Jean Laborde in 1845 on the orders of Queen Ranavalona I for her son Radama II.The origin of the name Tranovola, meaning "Silver House", derives from the silver ornamentation used to decorate the exterior of the building.