Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici visited restoration works being carried out on the Old University Building, in Valletta. Once the project is complete, a total of 8190m2 will be restored, with an investment of more than €1,500,000. This sum does not include the investment on internal works, with first tenders to be issued towards the end of this year for this next phase, the ministry said.
This project envisages the restoration of both the Jesuits church and the Old University Building. The restoration of the outside of the Jesuits church was finalised in 2018. Works are currently undergoing on the outside fabric of the old collegium, with works on the façade of the Old University overlooking St Paul's street finalised.
Works are currently underway on the façade overlooking Merchant Street, with restoration works on the St Christopher street façade starting in the coming weeks. The façade facing Merchant Street has large amounts of cement plasters on the lower storey probably due to large deterioration and these are currently being removed using hand tools to avoid damage. The façade also has large amounts of black crusts, which will be cleaned carefully. It also has considerable areas of highly deteriorated stones especially on lower levels and around window apertures. Works will also include restoration of statues and their pedestal, present on the façade.
The proposed works for the St Christopher street façade are very similar to the works on Merchant street and to St Paul's too, the latter being the latest phase to be completed.
This portion of the façade is not part of the original structure dating back to the early 1600s but is one of the later reconstructions, which occurred throughout the building's use.
The current main entrance to the Old University lies along this façade. Its imposing portico was constructed in 1824 and is an example of neoclassical architecture, with the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom. Whilst carrying out works on this entrance layers of red, white and black pigments were found. Testing is currently being carried out to reveal further information on the nature of these pigments.
Most of the damage on this façade was concentrated along the cornices and pilasters, where concentrations of black crust were present. These were softened using chemical poultices and subsequently carefully removed by brushing. The many ventilation holes present above each window were ideal nesting spaces for pigeons. These were cleaned and subsequently blocked with adequate grills to still allow for the necessary ventilation while acting as deterrents for pigeons.
The deterioration along the bottom courses was mainly due to the use of cement renders and plasters. These were carefully removed using hand tools in order to avoid damaging the underlying fabric. The corner statue of Saint Stanislaus Kosta which was heavily damaged in an impact by a passing vehicle was painstakingly restored and painted for protection. All the apertures were cleaned, maintained and painted including the two large gates on the ground floor.
The exterior, concluding with works on St Christopher street's façade are expected to be concluded by the end of next year.
"Through this investment, we are not only preserving one of the main buildings found within our historic capital city, but we are also ensuring the strengthening of our national cultural identity through the preservation of a monumental location. Thanks to our strategy, we keep reinforcing our local cultural product, and further place ourselves as a cultural destination," stated Minister Owen Bonnici.