Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1462122
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 MARCH 2022 14 COMMERCIAL THE Public Abattoir's Main Gate, Water Tower and their visual link have been given the highest protection status as Grade 1 properties by the Plan- ning Authority after consulting with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. The Water Tower, which is the only structure of its type in the Maltese Islands and is con- sidered an important industrial heritage monument, was con- structed in the 1930s to serve the needs of the Abattoir. The Main Gate was built in 1896 at around the same time that the Public Abattoir started its oper- ation in Marsa. Martin Saliba, Chairperson of the PA's Executive Council noted that "Unfortunately, in- dustrial heritage tends to fall victim to the industry itself as technological advancement and new operational needs de- mand structural changes. It is perceived as being dispensable. Through the Grade 1 sched- uling of this Water Tower, we want to send out a clear mes- sage that our industrial heritage must not only be appreciated but protected for future gen- erations." He added, "we are also proud to have supported the University of Malta with a €70,000 grant for the infra- structural investment that was needed to make the tower a new educational and research sta- tion in new material engineer- ing and structural performance monitoring." Using highly reinforced con- crete, 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. The reservoir, which has a diameter of 10 me- ters, is supported by 12 slender reinforced concrete columns with a foundation ring beam. The water tower suffered con- siderable 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 con- tent. Given its state of neglect, on two occasions it was con- templated that the structure should get demolished. The University of Malta, un- der the guidance of Prof. Ruben Paul Borg, took it upon itself to safeguard this unique industri- al structure by carrying out an intensive restoration project in collaboration with the Abattoir. Its restoration which was com- pleted over the past few months was based on innovative princi- ples and new ultra-high-perfor- mance self-healing materials. The structure has been put back in operation and is being used again by the Public Abat- toir as part of its water storage and water management system. The thermal mass of concrete increases the temperature of water stored in the tank re- sulting in considerable energy savings for the Abattoir's oper- ation. The restoration of the Wa- ter Tower recently received a special commendation at the 2021 MASP Awards. The ju- ry commended the project for having been based on extensive research, advanced structur- al modelling and the develop- ment of new high-performance self-healing concrete, which sets out the methodology for such future interventions. In previous years, the Author- ity scheduled other industri- al heritage properties such as Blackley Bakery in Pieta, un- derground Flour Mills in Sig- giewi, Munxar, 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