Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1461072
10 COMMERCIAL 17.3.2022 THE Public Abattoir's Main Gate, Wa- ter Tower and their visual link have been given the highest protection status as Grade 1 properties by the Planning Authority after consulting with the Su- perintendence of Cultural Heritage. e Water Tower, which is the only structure of its type in the Maltese Is- lands and is considered an important industrial heritage monument, was constructed in the 1930s to serve the needs of the Abattoir. e Main Gate was built in 1896 at around the same time that the Public Abattoir started its operation in Marsa. Martin Saliba, Chairperson of the PA's Executive Council noted that "Un- fortunately, industrial heritage tends to fall victim to the industry itself as technological advancement and new operational needs demand structural changes. It is perceived as being dispen- sable. rough the Grade 1 scheduling of this Water Tower, we want to send out a clear message that our industrial heritage must not only be appreciated but protected for future generations." He added, "we are also proud to have supported the University of Malta with a €70,000 grant for the infrastructural investment that was needed to make the tower a new educational and research station in new material engineering and structural performance monitoring." Using highly reinforced concrete, which was considered an innovative material for its time, the large 15m structure has a cylindrical reservoir that can carry a capacity of 400 cubic meters of water. e reservoir, which has a di- ameter of 10 meters, is supported by 12 slender reinforced concrete columns with a foundation ring beam. e water tower suffered considerable degradation and ruin over the years, not only from its close proximity to the sea in the Grand Harbour, but also as a re- sult of the storage of water with high salt content. Given its state of neglect, on two occasions it was contemplated that the structure should get demolished. e University of Malta, under the guidance of Prof. Ruben Paul Borg, took it upon itself to safeguard this unique industrial structure by carrying out an intensive restoration project in collabo- ration with the Abattoir. Its restoration which was completed over the past few months was based on innovative principles and new ul- tra-high-performance self-healing ma- terials. e structure has been put back in op- eration and is being used again by the Public Abattoir as part of its water stor- age and water management system. e thermal mass of concrete increases the temperature of water stored in the tank resulting in considerable energy savings for the Abattoir's operation. e restoration of the Water Tower recently received a special commen- dation at the 2021 MASP Awards. e jury commended the project for hav- ing been based on extensive research, advanced structural modelling and the development of new high-performance self-healing concrete, which sets out the methodology for such future interven- tions. In previous years, the Authority sched- uled other industrial heritage properties such as Blackley Bakery in Pieta, under- ground Flour Mills in Siggiewi, Munx- ar, San Gwann and San Pawl il-Bahar, a Sea Water Distilling Station in Sliema, the Farsons Brewery in Birkirkara, the Gzira pumping station and numerous windmills. Public abattoir's main gate and water tower given highest level of protection