MCAST students following the Advanced Diploma in Masonry Heritage Skills at the Institute of Engineering and Transport – Building and Construction, carried out restoration works on St Philip’s Community Chapel in Senglea as part of their course.

The restoration project consisted of cleaning of oil based paint, pointing work and repair of stonework of the chapel’s dome. The students carried out their work in close consultation with their lecturers. They referred to the conservation-restoration philosophy that the less intervention done is better. They used original materials of known chemical and physical properties and did away with using cement or concrete throughout the whole conservation process. Every process they worked on and all the materials used are allreversible.

The project started in January 2016 and was fully completed by May 2016.  This assignment helped the students in various ways and gave them the opportunity to gain further knowledge about conservation restoration techniques by working on a real-life project.   They were also involved in the management of this project and therefore gained management and other soft skills which are very important and which can be learnt through these types of assignments.

Prospective students can apply for this kind of course or any other MCAST course during the  second call for applications which will be held between Monday 5th and Friday 9th September 2016.All applications will be received at the Students’ House, MCAST Main Campus in Paola between 8:30am and 12:00pm. A further call for applications will be issued after resit results are issued late in September.