Castille's façade being restored

Raymond Sammut

Jul 9th 2009, 21:32

A special levy on businesses in Malta which derive income from tourism needs to be introduced. Monies accrued from this levy would then be invested in a managed fund. This fund would be dedicated solely to finance maintenance and restoration works on historical sites around Malta and Gozo all year round and on an ongoing basis.

What we are seeing here is merely an ad hoc knee-jerk response to the rapid deterioration of an important architectural piece. This after many years (1) of neglect on the part of the Maltese government and (2) of unmitigated greed on the part of the tourism industry in Malta. One simply cannot keep milking the cow without feeding it.

Alfred Cassar

Jul 9th 2009, 14:26

@Tony Gatt

It's like you're saying that it's useless to wash yourself as you will still get dirty and would need to wash yourself again

Renato J. Costigan

Jul 9th 2009, 13:29

@ iCocker

You mentioned fort St. Elmo. I don't know your age but to remind
everyone that this fort up to 1970 was used as headquarters
of the King's Own Malta Regiment known as KOMR. I used to
attend there when I was 18years old (in 1968) as a soldier. I
have attended my recruitment like all soldiers at this fort under
the Maltese. We where paid as part time soldiers twice a week
and also sometimes including weekends. During the summers
we used to attend the summer camp. The fort at those times
was a magnificent place under the British. BUT when in 1970
the Labour Party won those elections, the first thing was to
DISBAND that regiment and also the 3/11th Teritorial Regiment
(RMA). After the disbandment the fort fell in the hands of the
Maltese and now after 40years it is a
D I S G R A C E F U L place.

Let's not also forget when the windows of Castille place were
painted in RED. And now after all those days it is being
restored. A marvellous idea and good luck to the architect
involved in this restoration. Congratulations.

tony abela

Jul 9th 2009, 12:49

@ Mr Anthony Borg - It appears that you have no idea of Restoration and Conservation Techniques used in accordance with stipulated International Charters of Conservation and Restoration.

You have to use new material and it has to stick out from the rest of the fabric as it is to show that the building have been restorted on different occassions during its lifetiem.

Kindly read my previous posting when I mentioned that the Columns of the Main Door were not tinted in any way to match them with the rest of the facade.

Let the Professionals do the job, we, the men in the street can only give a laymen opinion.

Anthony Borg

Jul 9th 2009, 12:30

I do hope that the stone used in the restoration of Castille is the same as the surrounding area restored. Too many restorations have used freshly cut stone that sticks out like a sore thumb and does not blend in. We have enough old stone being dumped which can be used for this purpose. This has nothing to do with saving money but to make sure that the stone replaced matches.
We have some beautiful buildings and restoring them is a splendid idea. I enjoy seeing these buildings and its not just tourists that appreciate nice architecture. I am sure that there are a lot of Maltese that appreciate these things.

tony abela

Jul 9th 2009, 12:08

Thank God it is good hands, with Perit Norbert Gatt being one of the very few experts in this field. We should rather call it a Conservation Project than Restoration.

The last time that Castille had some work done on it was in the late 50's when the columns of the main door were replaced. They are not machined on lathes but hand crafted by two Zejtun stone dressers, John Mary Camilleri, 'il-Gentli' and John Farrugia, "Zarina". My father was the Master Mason responsable who was Generoso Abela, "iz-Zonqri" also from Zejtun. The Contractors were Filipu Gloria of Zebbug and Pinu l-Bica who lived at Sliema.

I remember my father saying that the British Engineer wanted to paint them with tea to match them with the facade, but even at that time, when Restoration and Conservation techqniques were not on paper, my father insisted that any changes to buildings should remain clearly as interventations made through the lifetime of the building.

Most of the work done at that time was at the interior, especially the basement which I remeber it was vested with rats, as it was rarely used.

iCocker

Jul 9th 2009, 11:07

@ Zaren

I guess Brian is right, for example why our Forts are neglected, if you speak of tourist I think St Elmo should be a shrine not a derelict especially as that place, people died defending it in both Sieges and what about St Angelo? Let us face it USA has far less history then us, but for example the Alamo, Gettysburg and Ft Duquesne are monuments not derelicts ...

But our forts are not visited by our parliament people regularly hux ... pity eh! I am not saying that the Auberge does not need restoration, far from it but it is not a monument but just offices, and if you speak of tourist they more admire the cannons infront!

If these budgets are expanded on more historical places I think this makes more sense then the usual places ...

Chris Bugeja

Jul 9th 2009, 10:25

May someone please explain how it takes around 3 years to restore Castille's facade and then 4 years to implement the Valletta City Gate Project proposed by Renzo Piano?

Tony Gatt

Jul 9th 2009, 10:07

This will all be a waste of money unless all forms of pollution are drastically reduced.

Zaren Agius

Jul 9th 2009, 09:39

Brian
as if a beautiful Castille just serves politicians.
Bhal dak li qallu li mhux eluf ta' turisti jghaddu minn hemm kuljum.
Inkredibbli.

Brain Farrugia

Jul 9th 2009, 09:34

Well done,
but all the attention seems centred round our parliamentarians, ....