Updated: Scheduling of Manikata Church welcomed
Mepa: Protection includes the church parvis
Updated - Adds Mepa statement
The Kamra tal-Periti (Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers) has welcomed the decision taken by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mep) to schedule the Church of St Joseph in Manikata as a Grade 1 property.
"Although the Kamra applauds this decision by Mepa, it is of the opinion that this decision was taken too late in the day as such scheduling should have been declared before the development permit was approved by the Environment Planning Commission on the 19th July 2011, and indeed should have been a material consideration during the processing of such application," the Chamber said.
"Furthermore it is not clear whether the grading covers just the church structure, or includes also the parvis, which will be excavated, should the development permit be brought into use."
The Chamber noted that the Mepa Chairman was quoted as saying that the 'decision by the MEPA Board, to schedule as a Grade 1 property the St Joseph Church in Manikata, wraps up more than two years of intensive research, studies and consultation carried out by MEPA's Heritage Planning Unit in the scheduling of most of Malta's Parish Churches.'
The Chamber said the question then arises - was the team responsible for the processing of the application and eventual permit not aware of MEPA's own efforts in this regard?
The Chamber said that there were many other properties that have remarkable architectural quality and which deserve to be scheduled as Grade 1 properties in similar fashion to the Manikata Church. In its publication "Modernist Malta: The Architectural Legacy" it had listed and described a number of buildings built in the mid 20th Century that symbolise the Modernist Movement in Malta.
It recalled that it had, without success campaigned against the partial demolition of the Qala primary school in 2006. However, in 2009 it was successful in halting the demolition of the Public Broadcasting Services' Rediffusion House in Guardamangia.
"Both these buildings are excellent examples of Malta's Modernist Movement architecture and, together with other structures of the time, deserve protection and retention."
MEPA: SCHEDULING INCLUDES THE PARVIS
Meanwhile, Mepa in a statement issued in the afternoon, said it was ‘surprised’ by the statements and comments posted online by a number of professionals all based on 'incorrect' statements about the Manikata Church. The latest, it said, was that the parvis area surrounding the church in Manikata may not be included in the approved scheduling.
"Mepa can confirm that it was never contemplated nor were there every any discussions proposing that the parvis area gets left out of the scheduling. For the Authority the parvis area around the Parish Church is an integral part of the building which merited the protection."
The Authority said that through the scheduling it is safeguarded the Manikata Church and has ensured that any future interventions that may be carried out on this site will fully respect the rich and unique architectural value of this building.
It explained that the Environment and Planning Commission last month granted planning permission for extension works to be carried out under the parvis of the already existing storage facilities. The Commission, following the first hearing of this planning application had directed the architect to carry out a number of significant amendments from the original proposal. The approved interventions now have been restricted to within the existing footprint and beneath the parvis. The original design and appearance of the Parish church and the parvis are to be safeguarded.
Over the past weeks the Authority scheduled over 50 other parish churches. MEPA designated as Grade 1, those Church which were built prior to the 1900s while assigning Grade 2 status to those parish churches which were built in the 20th Century up until 1960, with a few exemptions such as the Manikata Parish Church which was scheduled as a Grade 1 20th Century modern architecture.
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Ms D Galea
Aug 8th 2011, 22:48
Ive seen sandcastles built on Ramla bay that are more deserving of scheduling then this ..... oddity!
Regina Muscat
Aug 9th 2011, 12:45
Oh dear Ms Galea, I would suggest those that know nothing about architecture should not comment on such matters. As we can see with the riots in London, it is the uneducated mind which creates such destruction. My opinion happens to be a polar opposite of yours and, even though a subjective matter, I consider myself slightly more worthy to make such a claim due to my line of work. I think it is a magnificent work of art and I do not appreciate the undeserving negativity it seems to be getting here.
Conrad Thake
Aug 8th 2011, 22:05
Glad to hear from MEPA that the parvis is also included within the church complex scheduled as Grade 1.
Going by the definition of a Grade 1 monument as per approved Structure Plan no major physical interventions are now permissible. Hence, it follows that NO EXCAVATION of the parvis will take place. This is certainly now very obvious and reassuring to all of us.
On another note I was intrigued with the logic that all churches pre-1900 have been blessed with a Grade 1 status whilst other churches built after 1900 up to 1960 are Grade 2. Defies logic. So architects post-1900 seem to be an inferior breed. Imsieken Andrea Vassallo (of Ta' Pinu basilica fame), Guze D'Amato (Kristu Re Parish church, Paola, Xewkija church others, Gozo), Godwin Galizia (B'Bugia parish church), Mons Vigorelli (Tal-Erwieh church, Tarxien), etc. Who the heck came up with this arbitrary measure how to determine whether a church should be Grade 1 or Grade 2, just because it was built pre-or post-1900
Conrad Thake
Aug 8th 2011, 13:21
Kamra tal-Periti --- well stated. Does the scheduling of the Manikata church as a Grade 1 building still permit the massive excavation of a considerable part of the parvis? It appears to be the case since the recently approved permit was not rescinded.
As one of the contributors of the publication "Modernist Malta" and also through DOCOMOMO (Malta), representations had been made to MEPA for scheduling the more important buildings of the second half of the 20th century. In this respect the Kamra tal-Periti had done its job well in time following the Qala school debacle. Furthermore, I together with other like minded architects namely Perit Edward Salid had through the KTP's journal The Architect been regularly highlighting 20th century buildings worthy of conservation.
Mr Peter Murray
Aug 8th 2011, 18:32
But when precisely was this particular Church cited for inclusion/scheduling as a Grade 1 building in comparison to when it was built?
Ramon Casha
Aug 8th 2011, 12:23
Quite frankly I can't see what all this fuss is about Manikata church. It's quite an eyesore.
Just because a building is odd doesn't make it better or more aesthetically pleasing.
Satine Christian
Aug 8th 2011, 15:12
Agreed Ramon. Same goes to the PBS building.
Also, now that I'm at it, wouldn't this group of experts and professionals be put to better use, if they were to see to all the hodge-podge abominations built in the 20th century? Surely the sheer numbers of these edifices are no match to the mere handful that are worth writing about?!
Since childhood, I have wanted to become an architect, specifically because of the atrocious manner in which we have developed our precious little island. Then I grew into an adult, and found that I'd be better served to leave it to the lazy, incompetent, perverted, slobs, and find a real career in which to develop my future, and capabilities. It would be nice to find out that some of these individuals had retained any talent or passion, or at least, were like me, but had not 'given up' in the same way...
Stefan Zammit
Aug 8th 2011, 18:29
What's odd is not ugly. Even though it may not be aesthetically very pleasing, it may take a few years or even generations before it is appreciated, so no harm done in protecting what will become valuable in the future.
Mr Peter Korsten
Aug 8th 2011, 22:28
@Ramon Casha
There's a difference between "I don't like it" and "it's ugly". Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
With a few exceptions, churches in Malta are baroque, with two short towers and a copula. Where I'm from, churches have a single tall tower (again with a few exceptions).
What makes the Manikata church attractive to me are the simple, geometric forms, and the choice of the stone. And yes, it's quite unique, and given the sort of rubbish that was built all over the world in the sixties, it's a remarkable example that not everything from that era was made of concrete.
Show the average Maltese a photo of any baroque church, and s/he'll be hard-pressed to tell you from which parish it is. That won't happen with the Manikata church. That alone, together with its aesthetic simplicity, is enough reason for a listing.
Conrad Thake
Aug 8th 2011, 22:34
Ramon, Architectural conservation should not be just based on aesthetic considerations althought these are also relevant. It is important that buildings which are representative of all epochs throughout Maltese cultural history not just from the period of the knights of the Order of St John but also the British colonial and post-colonial periods. I would even go so far as to suggest that even a quirky architectural capriccio such as the former Mystique building by the late Marquis Joe Scicluna merits conservation.
The 20th century is not just speculative nondescript building although unfortunately there is a LOT of that --you have a whole range from the Art Nouveau, International Modern Style, Regionalist architecture such as the Mellieha Holiday centre, etc It goes far beyond the subjective superificialities of personal taste.
Mr Peter Murray
Aug 8th 2011, 10:44
"this decision was taken too late in the day" so says the KAMRA-TAL-PERITI.I would consider their massively tardy input to also fall into this bracket as when was the Church first fully constructed and why wait until a Planning Application was submitted to awaken their concerns ?
Mr Philip Grech
Aug 8th 2011, 11:53
The Kamra tal-Periti has been requesting Mepa to schedule a whole host of 20th century buildings for many years now, including the Manikata Church.
Mr Peter Murray
Aug 8th 2011, 12:18
Mr.Philip Grech,
Could you elaborate on what determines "for many years now" precisely?As according to my information this Church was commissioned way back in 1962 to architect Richard England and consecrated in 1975,and it would appear that the KAMRA TAL-PERITI's representations went unheeded or were not robustly forwarded, with a light-touch and lax follow-up clearly demonstrated by the architects given the timeline ,I would argue!