Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1446843
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 JANUARY 2022 5 CULTURE Restoration works on Meridiana Wine Estate building in Ta' Qali completed M AJOR renovation and res- toration works of the Merid- iana Wine Estate building in Ta' Qali, entrusted to Carter Genovese Architects, have been completed. Mr Karl Chetcuti, Estate Manager at Meridiana Wine Estate, ex- plained that, among the works carried out were a 200 m2 extension of the winery, but most importantly the comple- tion of the restoration work on the main winery building, which was built around 25 years ago. The winery, inspired by tra- ditional vernacular farmhouse architecture, was constructed with local limestone, which, over time, deteriorates. Perit Claire Carter, from Carter Genovese Architects, emphasised how the exten- sive, delicate restoration of the winery will help the many lo- cal and foreign visitors better understand traditional local heritage in the beautiful set- ting brought about by the sur- rounding vineyard, with stun- n i n g v i e w s o f M d i n a in the distance. "We took great care to maintain the classical charm of the build- ing, while also paying very close attention to the correct use of materials and products in the restoration of the exte- rior stone walls and pointing," Perit Carter said. "Though the property is not a histori- cal one, we used non-invasive methods to clean the stone in order to maintain the patina, and hydraulic lime for point- ing the stonework." The restoration was no small undertaking because it was necessary to respect the pro- duction processes of the win- ery during the works, which lasted nearly a year. The upgrades are not only sympathetic to the original architectural-specific design intent, but also aim to offer better access to persons with reduced mobility. Though the initial geotechni- cal investigations revealed that the underlying terrain could not sustain the proposed struc- tural loading, a co-ordinat- ed approach with the general contractor, AX Construction, meant that solutions could be implemented in a relatively short time and thus resulted in a more efficient process. Cart- er Genovese Architects firmly believe that renovation pro- jects have far-reaching bene- fits for society. "It is our duty as architects to improve the quality of buildings and ensure that ren- ovations and, indeed, mod- ernising amenities are done sustainably. Our aim was also to ensure visitors to Meridi- ana would continue to enjoy the charm and feel of a typical Maltese farmhouse building, sitting unassumingly in its ru- ral environment," Perit Carter said.