An online petition to save a 1950s townhouse in Victoria designed by a renowned local architect has garnered well over 1,600 signatures in less than a day.
And with the deadline for objections set to end this afternoon, they are now redoubling their efforts to drum up opposition to the plans.
The house is the only known residential architecture attributed to Ġużè Damato. The architect also designed the Xewkija and Paola parish churches.
Plans to demolish the house and replace it with a carpark have been in place since 2010. But a recent application by the Gozo Ministry to commence demolition works has put conservationists on high alert.
Sitting on Triq il-Kastell, the house was sold to the Cathedral Chapter in 2003.
Experts believe it should be saved and the carpark planned elsewhere, with architectural historian Edward Said saying it should also be scheduled.
In his submission to the Planning Authority, Mr Said noted that photographs of the interior, like those of the facade, showed a high level of craftsmanship and architectural design by hands that were “very well versed with classical orders of architecture attaining a seasoned knowledge of stereotomy and sculpture”.
“The stone staircase (bir-raġġ), Ionic columns, covings and door frontons are all components which were designed clearly by an expert like Damato, strongly recalling motifs from his ecclesiastical works. This is the only known residential architecture attributed to Damato. This application must be turned down and the property also scheduled in the antiquities list,” he said, adding he would be contacting the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage.
Architect Conrad Thake last week also called for the preservation of the house, possibly turning it into a boutique hotel. This was reiterated by photographer Daniel Cilia, who noted that there was little good contemporary architecture in Gozo.
The Gozo Ministry said yesterday that according to the Ċittadella master plan of 2010, commissioned by the previous administration, the footprint was earmarked to host a car park to improve accessibility.
The building’s entire footprint and grounds belonged to the cathedral chapter and parish, a spokeswoman told this newspaper, and the proposed car park would not be funded by the government. She said the master plan had been opened for public consultation and “was seen as an important contribution to the Ċittadella rehabilitation project”.
“The Gozo Ministry, under the present administration, submitted the application to ensure a more comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the Ċittadella.
“Apart from the master plan consultations, there was a public consultation with the application being advertised through the press, local council and Mepa websites, with all related documentation available in the public domain. There are no adverse reactions to the final proposal,” she insisted.
The spokeswoman said that the proposed development would see an indoor parking facility, with lifts allowing users to reach the upper areas of the Ċittadella and avoid the steep streets. She added that the façade would be retained in its entirety and the removed internal features kept.