A Ġużè Damato townhouse in Victoria might have been spared demolition in 2016 but remains exposed to the elements and is crumbling before the residents’ eyes.
The townhouse, designed by the renowned architect and civil engineer behind the Xewkija and Paola parish churches, sits on Triq il-Kastell, just outside the Citadel.
It was built in the early 1950s by Manwel Magro and sold to the Cathedral Chapter in 2003. The Gozo Ministry recently filed a planning application to demolish the structure and instead build a three-storey car park and a pedestrian walkway to the Citadel. This was followed by a public outcry though the application is still being assessed by the Planning Authority.
Photographer Daniel Cilia, who three years ago was “shocked” to stumble upon the planning authority notice saying the house was being demolished, is now warning that the house has been left open to the elements.
“Windows have been left open with the wind wreaking havoc inside the house. Part of the beautiful parapet wall on the roof has just collapsed, most probably during the last big storm.
The Church would like to let the media exposure on the property subside
“Is the Gozo Cathedral Chapter ‘praying’ nature would demolish the house so they can go back to their parking lot plans,” he asked on Facebook. He noted that when a buyer expressed his wish to restore it, the Chapter had said they wanted to restore it themselves.
It was disgraceful that nothing seemed to have been done and the house was now falling to pieces, Mr Cilia added.
Another photographer, Charles Paul Azzopardi, “seconded” Mr Cilia, noting that when he approached the Chapter to document its architecture he was “blatantly told the Church would like to let the media exposure on the property subside so that the property can be ‘discreetly’ demolished”.
Speaking on behalf of the Chapter, architect Joseph Bugeja had said in 2016 that the cathedral, located as it was on a hill, needed to facilitate access by the faithful.
The needs of the cathedral outweighed retaining the house in its present state, he had noted, adding that improved access to the cathedral was one of the points in the 2010 Citadel master plan and the area was earmarked for parking. That was why it was the Gozo Ministry that applied for the car park permit.
Mr Bugeja had said the house facade would be retained but the interior would be demolished.
Questions sent to the Gozo Diocese and the Cathedral Chapter on any conservation or restoration plans for the house remained unanswered at the time of writing.