Annual Departmental Reports 2009/10
Faculty for the Built Environment
The Faculty for the Built Environment is currently composed of three Departments,
the Department of Architecture and Urban Design, the Department of Building and Civil
Engineering, and the Department of the Built Heritage.
This document is a compilation of reports submitted by the Heads of the three
Departments, outlining the activities of the relative Department for the outgoing year, and
including a comprehensive list of publications of all members of the Department, a
synopsis of projects involving members of the Department, which are wholly or partially
externally funded, a list of conferences/seminars/meetings attended abroad by members
of the Department during term time, and an outline of Department’s collaboration with
third parties.
Department of Architecture and Urban Design
1. Staff
During the academic year 2009/10, the Department staff consisted of the head, Prof.
Denis De Lucca and six (6) full-time members of staff. In addition the Department has
been served by six (6) part-time members of staff at TR4 level and twelve (12) visiting
lecturers. The Executive Officer in charge of administration was Mr Jonathan Apap.
2. Teaching Activities
The Department was responsible for teaching design-related disciplines and giving timetabled lectures to 75 first year students, 73 second year students, 66 third year students,
26 fourth year (Architecture and Urban Design Streams) students, and 31 fifth year
(Architecture and Urban Design Streams) students, in the course of studies leading to
the degree of Bachelor of Engineering and Architecture. In connexion with the present
three-tier Faculty curriculum restructuring exercise, the Department is presently
preparing two-year masters courses in architecture and urban design, and exploring the
possibility of offering a two-year masters course in the fine arts.
3. Research Activity
The following staff members have been engaged in the respective research projects:
Prof. Denis De Lucca [Head of Department]
See 2009-2010 report of International Institute for Baroque Studies
Dr Paul Gauci
Coordination of planning aspects of the Valletta Masterplan i/c/w the Director of the
International Institute for Baroque Studies
Evaluation of the Environmental impact of the Natural Flood Relief project.
Improving the Quality of Suburban Building Stock for COST Action TUO701 (EU).
Dr Vincent Buhagiar:
Environmental monitoring of microclimate and energy auditing at B”Kara Tal-Ftieh
Housing Project
Hygro-thermal properties of globigerina limestone and concrete blockwork
Assessment of thermal conductivity of conventional flat roofs and ventilated horizontal
cavity roofs in Malta
Submitted application for research bid with the Politecnico di Milano, University of
Munich [FP7 – 7th Framework Programme]
Potential for Ground Cooling in Malta
Vernacular Architecture – bioclimatic trends and influences
Research i/c/w Cost Actions C25, TU0701, TU0803
Conclusion of Cost Action C23
Ongoing research i/c/w Cardiff University on lighting and thermal environment aspects in
the urban fabric of Valletta
Mr. Antonio Mollicone [F/T Assistant Lecturer]:
Research i/c/w Dottorato di Ricerca thesis on “The effects of the renewal of Descriptive
Geometry on Tutoring : A Case Study on Chiaroscuro or Rendering” (in connection with
“La Sapienza” University in Rome).
Dr Ruth Bianco:
Ongoing research: Landings – a developing project on migration (Brussels 2011)
Ongoing research: Tidal Dialogues
Ongoing research: Drawing from Movies
Dr Joseph H. Spiteri:
Work in progress i/c/w Professor Steven Male of the University of Leeds on:
‘A new order framework for construction professionals and contractors – the emerging
professionalization of contracting firms’
Emergency Management and persons with disabilities
Dr Edwin Mintoff:
Research activity i/c/w a series of papers to be published in ‘Architecture Mediterranee’
including two on the ‘Connexions Project’ and the ‘Casino di Venezia – the restoration
and rehabilitation of the Palace of the Captain General of the Galleys in Vittoriosa’.
As from 2009 engaged in Tempus project on urban design i/c/w Universite Marine La
Valle in France focused on Morocco and Tunisia.
Mr Anton Grech:
Research i/c/w SPACES – a visual arts project for the Malta Arts Festival (Malta – July
2010)
and
PEACEMAKERS AND THE QIN EMPEROR’S WARRIORS – an international
project in conjunction with the Shaanxi Museum of Art in China with the participation of
27 chosen artists from EU member states (in progress)
Mr Antoine Zammit [TR4 Assistant Lecturer]
Research i/c/w Ph.D thesis on “Addressing and Delivering High-quality Design in the
Architecture and Public Realm of the Maltese Built Environment through a Revised
Planning System”
Arch. Lino Bianco [F/T Assistant Lecturer]
Research i/c/w PhD thesis: Architecture and Politics
Arch. Irina Miodragovic [TR4 Assistant Lecturer]
Research on the history and theory of stereotomy and current digital aspects in the
fabrication of masonry assemblies i/c/w PhD thesis entitled “Constraint –Based Design
of Masonry Assemblies, employing properties of materials and constraints of locally-
available technology as parameters of digitally driven architectural design and
construction of non-traditional masonry assemblies”
4. Publications
Prof. Denis De Lucca
See annual report 2008-2009 of the International Institute for Baroque Studies. Also
Faccati Antiki ta’ Bini f’Hal Kirkop in Hal Kirkop u l-inhawi tal-madwar (ed. HCR Vella),
Malta, 2008.
Dr Paul Gauci
Co-author of the Eco-Gozo Vision document.(2009)
Preparation of Paper on Improving the Quality of Suburban Building Stock for Cost
Action TUo701 Publication.
Arch. Lino Bianco
‘Valletta: A city in history’. Melita Theologica, Vol. 60, No. 2(2009), pp. 3-20. ISSN 10129588
Co-edited with K. Aquilina, Mediterranean Journal of Human Rights. Special Edition:
Human Rights and the Environment in the Mediterranean Region’, Vol. 14, No.1, 2010.
ISSN 1027-4375;
Prefabrication, Aesthetics and the Welfare State: The case for the post-war British public
schools (Peer reviewed; accepted, to be published by end of year 2010); and
Roman Architectural Practice and the Funding of Public Buildings (Peer reviewed;
accepted, to be published by end of year 2010).
Dr Ruth Bianco
Exhibition publication: Drawing from Movies (Malta Week, Brussels) – October 2010
Exhibition publication: Speed journeys, Tunnel vision (Spaces in Between, Berlin) –
August 2010
Exhibition publication: Dirty Painting and Soho Blue (Malta Arts Festival, Valletta) – July
2010
Exhibition publication: After 800 metres take the motorway ( Shelter, Vienna) – June
2010
Exhibition Publication: Dirty Painting and Other Works (Le Boutique Soho, Brussels) –
March 2010
Exhibition publication: Maryan and Rahma (Projected Vision II, Strasbourg) – March
2010
Exhibition publication: Soho ( Remont Gallery, Belgrade) – July 2009
Exhibition publication: The world next door ( MCA, Malta) – June 2009
Exhibition publication: Dead famous (Square no.68, Valletta) – April 2009
Exhibition publication: Selection of Works –
Maltese Connection (Citric Gallery,
Brussels) – March 2009
SPACES and PROJECTED VISION II Exhibition Catalogues
5. Conferences
Prof Denis De Lucca
Presented a paper at an International Conference held in Noto, Sicily, for which see the
2009-2010 report of the International Institute for Baroque Studies.
Dr Vincent Buhagiar
Contribution on Sustainability issues at public seminar on Cittadella Master Plan
[October 2009]
Paper on ‘The Potential for Ground Cooling in Malta – a case study approach’ presented
at CSAAR conference in Amman, Jordan. [July 2010]
Attended three (3) COST ACTION workshops in Ferrara – Munich – Valletta (COST
0701); Dessau (COST TU0803) and Izmir (COST C250) [January – May 2010]
Attended PASSIV HAUS Conference [March 2010]
ERASMUS lecturing exchange with Cardiff university [April 2010] and Politecnico di
Milano [September 2010]
Dr Edwin Mintoff attended nine (9) conferences/workshops held in Malta
Mr. Antonio Mollicone [F/T Assistant Lecturer]:
Attendance at “Disegnare il tempo e l’armonia” International Conference in Florence
(October 2009)
Attendance at “La Geometria Descrittiva ed uil suo rinnovamento” seminar at “La
Sapienza” University in Rome. (December 2009)
Prof. Denis De Lucca
Head of Department
Department of Building and Civil Engineering
Staff Members:
The Department of Building and Civil Engineering currently has the following Resident
members of staff:
Prof.Dr.Alex Torpiano (Head of Department)
Perit J.Falzon
Senior Lecturer
Perit F.Montesin
Senior Lecturer
Prof. Dr.D.Buhagiar
Senior Lecturer
Dr.M.Bonello
(Senior Lecturer TR5)
Perit R.Borg
(Assistant Lecturer )
Perit D.Xuereb
(Assistant Lecturer TR4)
Perit J.Valentino
(Assistant Lecturer TR4)
Perit C.Barbara
(Assistant Lecturer TR4)
Perit A.Mifsud (Assistant Lecturer TR4)
Perit Kevin Gatt
(Lecturer T9)
Dr.Josette Camilleri (Lecturer TR6)
A number of Visiting members of staff were also appointed to work with the Department,
including Perit Jacques Borg Barthet, Mr.A.Darmenia, Perit Odette Lewis, Ing. Alan
Abela, Perit C.Cacopardo.
In addition to being the Head of Department, over the period of the Report, Prof
A.Torpiano was appointed as Dean of the Faculty, Member of the Senate of the
University of Malta, Member of the Council of the University of Malta, Chairman of the
International Institute of Baroque Studies, Member of the Board of the Institute of
Sustainable Energy, and Member of the Board of the Institute of Sustainable
Development.
Perit Ruben Borg, (Sustainable Construction) and Perit Odette Lewis, (Transport
Engineering), Perit A.Mifsud, (Soil Mechanics), and Perit K.Gatt, (Water Governance),
are currently reading for a PhD degree.
Teaching Activities
The main teaching activities of the Department are focussed on the five-year programme
leading to the degree of Bachelor of Engineering and Architecture.
In the undergraduate degree course, the Department is responsible for two-thirds of the
taught study-units over the first three years, involving just over 200 students. The
Department, subsequently, takes full responsibility for one of the Elective Blocks of
study, followed over the last two years, catering for approximately 26/28 students per
year.
In addition, Prof.A.Torpiano also acted as Masters Thesis supervisor for two students
following the degree leading to the Masters in Conservation Technology of Masonry
Buildings, previously offered by the Institute for Masonry and Construction Research.
The External Examiner for the final year of the B.E.&A degree course (Engineering
Stream) was Prof. David Nethercot, Imperial College London.
Departmental Collaboration, and Projects, with Third Parties.
The Department of Building and Civil Engineering was represented in the Building
Industry Consultative Council, (BICC) by Prof.Dr.D.Buhagiar, and by Perit
F.Montesin. Furthermore, members of staff in the Department were again the main
protagonists in a Committee, (National Eurocodes Implementation Committee), set up by
the Malta Standards Authority and the BICC, to draft the National Annexes necessary
for the introduction of Eurocodes in Malta, in 2010. The members of staff who are
directly involved include Prof.Dr.Alex Torpiano, Prof.Dr.D.Buhagiar, Dr.Marc Bonello,
Perit John Valentino, Perit Adrian Mifsud, Perit Ruben Borg, and Perit David Xuereb,
which membership constitutes around three quarters of the committee.
Prof.A.Torpiano has maintained strong relations with the Kamra Tal-Periti, as the local
organisation that represents the profession, particularly in discussions related to the
Faculty Development Plan. Consensus was achieved on the need for the re-structuring
proposed, and for the direction the Faculty was taking. The Kamra tal-Periti again
organised a seminar of Professional Ethics for final year students following the studies
leading to the B.E.&A. Degree. The link with the Kamra is further strengthened by the
election of Perit Ruben Borg to the Council of the Kamra.
Prof.A.Torpiano was re-appointed by the Minister of Resources and Rural Affairs on the
Periti Warranting Board, the Board that not only oversees the academic and
professional training of Maltese aspiring professionals, but which, with the new EU
Services and Professional Qualifications Directives, is also assessing qualifications of
EU Nationals desiring to establish themselves, or otherwise offer their professional
services, in Malta.
The issue of water resources is considered to be an important area of research. Perit
Kevin Gatt has led the collaboration with the Malta Business Bureau, together with the
Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, and the Malta Hotels and
Restaurants Association, in an application for funding for an EU LIFE+ Project entitled
“Achieving Water Sustainability by Industry in Malta”. Other contacts were made with the
Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, and with the Malta Resources Authority. Perit
Kevin Gatt is also participating in a NATO Project on Water Resources.
Perit Ruben Borg worked for the setting up of an Agreement with the Department of
Architecture of the University of Ferrara, Italy, with a proposed collaboration on the
theme of Sustainability of Buildings and Building Vulnerability. Perit Borg also
spearheaded the collaboration with COST Action C25, Sustainability of Constructions:
An Integrated Approach to Life-time Structural Engineering. As a result of this
collaboration, an International Symposium on “Sustainable Construction: A Life-Cycle
Approach in Structural Engineering was held between the 23rd and 25th July 2010,
followed by an International Post-graduate Training School, between the 26th July and
the 1st August 2010.
Research Activities and Publications
The Department’s interest in waste materials and re-cycling continued in ongoing work
by Prof.Dr.D. Buhagiar and Perit Franco Montesin on technologies for producing recycled stone, and by Dr.Josette Camilleri on waste materials in cement replacement. An
application for funding for research on Heavy Oil Fuel Ash, with a view of its re-utilization
in construction activity, was submitted in collaboration with EneMalta, the Department of
Chemistry, and with a private firm. This interest is also reflected in a number of undergraduate research projects (dissertations) addressing related themes.
Conferences and Seminars
Prof.A.Torpiano:
Invited Speaker – The Engineering of Malta’s Prehistoric Megalithic Temples, Seminar
on Mystery in the Mediterranean, in conjunction with the Malta Embassy
in the United States of America, and the University of Miami, Miami
Florida, USA, March 2010.
Invited Lecturer – International Summer School in Conservation of Historical,
Monumental and Archaeological Sites, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”,
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering.
Recent Restoration and Conservation Works in Malta: Fort Manoel, Fort
Tigne’, Garden Battery.
Structural Problems in Archaeological Sites. The Prehistoric Megalithic
Temples in Malta, 27th July 2010
Invited Lecturer – Building Malta’s Prehistoric Megalithic Temples, Summer Training
School: Sustainability in Engineering: A Life Cycle Approach in Structural
Engineering, Malta, July/August 2010
Perit Kevin Gatt:
Invited by the European Commission, in the capacity of expert, to a Final Expert
Workshop to discuss and comment the findings of a study conducted by the consortium
consisting in TNO, SEOR and ZSI of Electricity, Gas, Water & Waste, on behalf of the
Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the
European Commission. The study concerned the elaboration of scenarios of future
evolution of the Electricity, Gas, Water & Waste sector until 2020, and the implication on
employment in existing occupations and on new skills needed for jobs in the sector.
This study is part of a large project entitled "Comprehensive Sectoral Analysis of
Emerging Competences and Economic Activities in the European Union" which entails
15 other studies covering a large share of the economy.
Publications:
A. Torpiano (in print) (co-author with M. Galea, R. Grima, K. Stroud and J.
Cassar) Shelters over the Megalithic Temples of Malta: debate, design and
implementation. Environmental Earth Sciences (Special Issue), Springer-Verlag.
Prof.A.Torpiano
Head of Department
Department of Building and Civil Engineering
Department of the Built Heritage
1. Introduction The remit of the Department of the Built Heritage is to focus on the problems of
the existing urban and heritage fabric. The mission statement of the Department
is to “To provide internationally recognized university education in all that
concerns the Built Heritage, whilst also promoting local consciousness of its
conservation at all levels. This will be achieved by undergraduate and
postgraduate University courses and research, outreach programmes, and
providing CPD for architects and other professionals involved in the conservation
of the Built Heritage, including buildings, archaeological sites and historic
landscapes. All efforts will be made to collaborate with organisations, institutions
and individuals, both locally and abroad, to achieve awareness and excellence in
teaching and research.”
The staff members of the Department are: Prof. JoAnn Cassar (Head), Perit
Shirley Cefai (Assistant Lecturer) and Perit Claude Busuttil (TR4). Both are
currently reading for a PhD. Also forming part of the Department is Ms Roberta
De Angelis, Project Assistant on an EU Project ELAICH. She is on a full time 3year definite contract.
Currently the main activity of the Department is the biennial taught MSc on
Conservation Technology for Masonry Buildings. This course is co-ordinated by
Prof JoAnn Cassar. All members of the Department teach on this course, as well
as other staff both from the University of Malta and other Institutions (see
Department’s collaboration with third parties below). During academic year
2009-2010, 5 students (graduates from the BE&A course) followed the taught
part of the course. Following the publication of the results of the assignments
related to the taught study units, all 5 students were found to be eligible to move
on to the third semester, when they will be researching and writing their
dissertations. The titles of dissertation chosen (all due to start in the semester
starting October 2010) and the supervisors are listed in Annex 1. There are also
6 students from previous years currently working on their Masters dissertation
(also listed in Annex 1). The Department also has one MPhil and three PhD
students (also listed).
2. Projects – externally funded
2.1
ELAICH - Educational Linkage Approach in Cultural Heritage
The ELAICH Project is a EU-funded EuroMed Heritage IV project in which the
Department of the Built Heritage shares the role of partner with four foreign
institutions, namely Technion Institute of Technology (Israel) – the Project
Coordinator, University of Antwerp (Belgium), National Technical University of
Athens (Greece) and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy). The project
officially started in February 2009 and will end in January 2012. The objective of
the ELAICH project is to increase awareness of the importance of Cultural
Heritage and its conservation by particular target groups, such as youth, with a
focus on built heritage. This objective will be reached through a course,
implemented in situ at a specific site (e.g. a monument or an archaeological site).
The ELAICH courses will take place in several countries (i.e. partner countries,
Egypt, Turkey and Jordan), including Malta, where the course is scheduled for
2011.
During the academic year 2009-2010, various activities were held: a partner
meeting in Antwerp (Belgium) from the 25th to the 27th October 2009; an
Experimental ELAICH course in Athens from November 2009 to February 2010
wherein on the 12th January 2010 Prof. Cassar travelled to Athens where she
lectured young (15 - 17 year old) students from 3 different Athens High Schools;
an ELAICH Dissemination Event and partner meeting in Athens from the 22nd to
the 24th February 2010 in which Prof. Cassar and Ms De Angelis participated –
the Dissemination Event was organised in collaboration with the Technical
Chamber of Greece. On the 24-25th February 2010, Ms De Angelis represented
the project partners at the RMSU: Regional Conference Civil Society and Cultural
Heritage in the Mediterranean, where she presented the ELAICH project to other
EuroMed Heritage project partners; on the 11th -12th July 2010 Ms De Angelis
participated in another partner meeting in Venice, Italy. In the partner meetings
the Department of the Built Heritage played an active role, by preparing and
delivering presentations. Prof. Cassar also addressed the delegates attending
the Dissemination Event in Athens. Besides these events, regular Skype calls
were held with the Project Coordinator (Technion, Israel) to provide or receive
feedback on specific project tasks.
The general work plan of the Project is based on a sequence of activities leading
to the implementation of the course, and to the creation of a toolkit and distance
learning application. Activity 2, which started in September 2009, sees the
University of Malta (the Department of the Built Heritage) as activity leader. In
this role the Department is coordinating the work of the other partners, organising
the tasks planned within Activity 2, and finalising the expected deliverables
(course content and manual). Besides the role of activity leader of Activity 2, the
Department of the Built Heritage has also the coordination of the Domain
“Conservation Processes” within the ELAICH course.
Besides participating in ELAICH meetings and activities, much of work
undertaken in connection with ELAICH during the period February – September
2010 was taken up with preparations for two courses: participation in the course
to be held in October - December 2010 in Haifa, Israel (where Malta will be
leading and teaching on the Domain “Conservation Processes”), and the
organisation of the Malta course – in collaboration with the Junior College – to be
held in 2011.
On 26 November 2009, Prof. Cassar and Ms De Angelis were interviewed on
Campus FM by Ms Patricia Camilleri on the programme “Research Matters”
wherein information on the ELAICH project was given and the project discussed
at
length.
http://campusfm.um.edu.mt/Convertedaudio/research_matters_4/research1.wma
2.2 Erasmus agreements
The Department of the Built Heritage operates several active Erasmus
agreements with European Universities. These agreements financially support
the travel to Malta of various foreign lecturers who participate on the MSc course
on Conservation Technology for Masonry Buildings. This is expanded on below
under the sub-title of Department’s Collaboration with Third Parties. The
Erasmus programme also supports the travel of the Department’s staff members
to teach in partner institutions. It is being hoped that European funding, currently
suspended, will be resumed as soon as possible or at least in time for the next
academic year.
2.3 Projects with Din L-Art Ħelwa
The Department of the Built Heritage in 2009 commenced a programme of
collaboration with Din L-Art Ħelwa, providing technical consultancy and technical
back-up to this NGO with a small remuneration to the Department. This is
expanded on below under the sub-title of Department’s Collaboration with
Third Parties.
3. Conservation-Restoration courses within the Department of the Built
Heritage
3.1 Moving of conservation courses from Heritage Malta to the University of
Malta (Department of the Built Heritage)
The University of Malta and Heritage Malta had for several years been
collaborating to offer a Bachelor degree course in Conservation, as well as two
Masters courses. In June 2010, a transition Agreement was signed between
these two institutions, where it was agreed that, from the next academic year,
tertiary conservation education would be offered exclusively by the University of
Malta, and Heritage Malta agreed to continue to support currently enrolled
students until they complete their courses. As from 1 October 2010, students on
the Bachelor in Conservation and Restoration Studies (Hons) course have been
registered with the University's Faculty for the Built Environment (Department of
the Built Heritage). There will be no further intake at Bachelors level.
In preparation for this transfer, the Department of the Built Heritage asked
ENCoRE (the European Network for Conservation-Restoration Education) to
transfer membership of the organisation from Heritage Malta to the Department
of the Built Heritage (see also Section 4.6 below).
3.2 Planning for new Masters courses in conservation-restoration
The University of Malta has decided that over the next two years the Faculty for
the Built Environment will work on developing Master courses in conservation to
be offered as from October 2012. These courses will be open to graduates
holding Bachelor degrees in relevant subjects, such as archaeology, history of
art, science, architecture, engineering and conservation. As a first step, the
Department of the Built Heritage presented to APQRU/PVC a Stage 1 proposal
for a new MSc course on the “Conservation of Decorative Architectural
Surfaces”.
4. Conferences/seminars/meetings abroad
4.1 The meetings abroad undertaken as part of the ELAICH project are
mentioned under the subtitle Projects (Section 2.1) above.
4.2 In March 2010, Prof. Cassar attended a meeting of the Editorial Board (where
she is an Associate Editor) of the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology
and Hydrogeology at the offices of the Geological Society of London,
Burlington House, London, UK.
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/op/prev/society/committees/pmc/page3388.html
4.3 During the March visit to London, Prof. Cassar was also able to meet Ms
Sharon Cather, Reader and Coordinator of the MA in Conservation of Wall
Paintings at the Courtauld Institute of Art (UK), where, together with Ms
Roberta De Angelis from the Department of the Built Environment they were
able to discuss the possibility of Ms De Angelis registering for a PhD at the
Institute, under the supervision of Ms Cather and the co-supervision of Prof.
J. Cassar.
4.4 In April 2010, Prof. Cassar visited the Artesis University College, Antwerp,
Belgium, where she gave a series of lectures to undergraduate and
postgraduate students, as well as staff members, at the conservation school.
4.5 In May 2010, Ms De Angelis attended an international conference entitled
“New insights into the cleaning of paintings” (Cleaning 2010) at the
Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (Spain). This was a particularly important
event in the conservation calendar as the speakers were amongst the most
renowned in the art conservation world.
4.6 In June 2010 Perit Shirley Cefai attended a conference entitled “Conservation
Philosophies: Global or Local” organised by the University of York and
ICOMOS UK, in York, UK, which was especially useful background for her
current PhD research.
4.7 In June 2010, Prof. Cassar visited the UCL Centre for Sustainable Heritage,
where she delivered a series of lectures to postgraduate students following
an MSc in Sustainable Heritage. This visit took place through an Erasmus
exchange.
4.8 In July 2010 Perit Claude Busuttil attended a workshop on “Suspended
spaces: city harbours in the Mediterranean islands – the case of Malta” in
Senglea, Malta. The workshop was organised by Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit
and the Mediterranean Institute.
4.9 In September 2010 Ms De Angelis attended a one-week course entitled
“Pigments and the polarised microscope” in Somerset (UK). The course was
organised by the International Academic Projects, London (UK). During the
sessions the instructor (Mr P. Mactaggart) explained the basics of microscopy
and how a wide range of pigments taken from paint layers can be identified
using a polarised light microscope.
4.10
In September 2010 Prof Cassar was invited to attend a meeting of
experts on the NET-Heritage European project, in London, UK.
http://www.netheritage.eu/
4.11
During September 2010 Prof. JoAnn Cassar attended the 8th General
Assembly of ENCoRE, held in Vienna, Austria. This meeting was attended by
representatives from several European institutions offering ConservationRestoration education, as well as representatives from E.C.C.O. (European
Confederation of Conservator-Restorers). Here, the request by Malta to
transfer membership to the Department of the Built Heritage was accepted.
http://www.encore-edu.org/encore/
4.12
Perit Shirley Cefai is currently carrying out research on her MPhil/PhD for
which she is registered at the University of York (UK). In March 2010 Perit
Cefai was at the University of York for her Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP)
evaluation where she was given feedback on her research to date. The Panel
commented positively on her work and gave suggestions as to how she
should continue directing her research. Perit Cefai is to work towards her
October 2010 TAP which is to be her upgrade as long as the necessary
material is submitted and is of the necessary academic level.
4.13
Perit Claude Busuttil registered for his PhD with the University of
Sorbonne - Paris IV (France) in October 2009. He was in Paris between the
6th and the 9th of October to discuss the research project with his Prof. Michele
Virol of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History. The University
of Malta has also approved his MPhil registration (to be eventually upgraded
in March 2010) backdated to October 2009. In July he was awarded a
University of Malta scholarship for financial assistance to carry out his
research in France. During 2010 he has had a number of meetings with his
local co-tutor Dr Stephen Spiteri.
5. Department’s collaboration with third parties.
The Department of the Built Heritage has a number of ongoing collaborations
with third parties, both in the University of Malta and outside, in part inherited
from the activities of the Institute for Masonry and Construction Research, and in
part developed over the past two years since the department was set up. These
include:
5.1 With various UoM Departments:
5.1.1 Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
(DMME), Faculty of Engineering
Research projects in relation to stone, which took place during 2009-2010 include:
• “Erosion of Limestone” by a 4th year Mechanical Engineering student estimated the degree of erosion caused by physical cleaning
• “Thermal imaging of building materials” by an Austrian Erasmus undergraduate
student - studied the detection of moisture in a non-destructive way.
These themes will be the subjects of two other dissertations which will be carried
out by two undergraduate students during the academic year 2010-2011, again
under the supervision of Dr John Betts of the DMME.
There is another ongoing collaboration with Dr John Betts, who regularly teaches
on the MSc on Conservation Technology for Masonry Buildings. Dr Betts is also
helping Prof. Cassar on the co-ordination of the MSc course and sits on the
Board of Studies of the MSc course.
The Department has approached the Head of Department of DMME to seek
further collaboration at Masters level, in particular in the new MSc on
Conservation of Decorative Architectural Surfaces; the response was very
positive, and DMME will be collaborating in teaching on this course (currently
under PVC review).
5.1.2 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science
Discussions with the Head of Department, Dr Emanuel Sinagra, to establish
dissertation topics related to conservation for undergraduate and postgraduate
students has led to the first undergraduate dissertation (to be undertaken in
2009-2010) on cleaning limestone from copper-based stains.
Dr Sinagra also regularly teaches on the MSc on Conservation Technology for
Masonry Buildings.
5.1.3 Department of Physics, Faculty of Science
Dr Godwin Debono, has been requested to co-supervise one MSc (Conservation
Technology for Masonry Buildings) dissertation entitled “The physical and
mechanical properties of Lower Coralline Limestone used in masonry buildings
and structures”.
Dr Debono will also be supervising a student of Physics carrying out his final year
dissertation on remote sensing with an archaeological/conservation bias, in
collaboration with the Department of the Built Heritage, and Heritage Malta.
5.1.4 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science
Dr Joseph Buhagiar regularly teaches on the MSc on Conservation Technology
for Masonry Buildings.
5.1.5 Department of Classics and Archaeology, Faculty of Arts
Prof. JoAnn Cassar regularly delivers a course on “Principles of Archaeological
Conservation” (ARC 2016) to undergraduate students reading Archaeology; the
course this year took place in the first semester of 2009-2010.
Dr Nicholas Vella regularly teaches on the MSc on Conservation Technology for
Masonry Buildings.
Prof. JoAnn Cassar and Ms Roberta De Angelis are collaborating with the
Department of Classics and Archaeology on the conservation of the Zejtun
Roman Villa archaeological site, which is currently being excavated by the
Department of Classics and Archaeology. Funds are being provided by the local
NGO Din l-Art Ħelwa (see also under Collaboration with Third Parties below)
for a part of the conservation works. This includes the sponsorship of a number
of 2nd and 3rd year students of Architecture who, during September 2010 and
under the supervision of Prof A Torpiano, worked to design a temporary shelter
for decorated walls and floors of the site, which shelter will also be sponsored by
Din l-Art Ħelwa. The documentation of the decorated part of the site, and its
emergency conservation, are to be undertaken by 2nd year conservation
students, who now fall under the department of the Built Heritage. The students
will be supervised by conservators from Heritage Malta Conservation Division
and Ms De Angelis from the Department of the Built Heritage.
5.1.6 Department of Geography, Mediterranean Institute
An undergraduate student who carried out an experimental dissertation involving
monitoring of wind currents under the newly erected Ħaġar Qim shelter during
academic year 2009-2010 was aided by the Department of the Built Heritage.
5.2 Argotti Gardens
The Department is collaborating with the Curator of the Gardens, Dr Joseph
Buhagiar, in order to draw up a method statement and costs, and seek funding,
for the historic but badly deteriorated Nymphaeum located in the Gardens.
5.3 Junior College
In connection with the ELAICH Project, the Department of the Built Heritage has
established close collaboration with the Junior College (JC). Meetings with the
coordinator and staff who teach Systems of Knowledge (SoK) were held over the
past months to explain how the participation of JC students in the ELAICH Malta
course can form part of their Systems of Knowledge Project. This has now led to
the definition of practicalities; the teachers will be approaching students who may
be interested in participating in the course - the recruitment of the students will
take place in October-December 2010.
5.4 External to UoM - local
5.4.1 Heritage Malta
During academic year 2009-2010, Prof. JoAnn Cassar was again Chairperson of
the Boards of Studies of the Bachelor of Conservation B.Cons. (Hons.) and the
Master of Applied Conservation Studies M.Cons., appointed by the Senate of the
University of Malta. Both Boards, until 2009, were set up jointly between the
University of Malta and Heritage Malta. In November 2009 the B.Cons. Board of
Studies was reconstituted by the Rector, on behalf of Senate, to include solely
former members of the Board who form part of the academic staff of the
University of Malta, as well as Ms Antonia Sammut representing Heritage Malta,
and the students’ representatives. The M.Cons. Board of Studies continued to
function without change until the last student had presented her dissertation and
had sat for her viva voce examination. During the last academic year Prof.
Cassar also chaired three Boards of Examiners, and the Final Classification
Boards, for M.Cons. students and one Board of Examiners and a Final
Classification Board for one B.Cons. student. Other information is given above
under Section 3.
During the Academic year 2009-10 Ms Roberta De Angelis supervised a B.Cons.
degree final year dissertation entitled “The Wall Paintings at the Entrance Hall of
Verdala Palace, Buskett: Original Technique and Condition Assessment”
(Student: Sarah Gafà). Ms De Angelis also examined the dissertation and
attended the viva voce examination.
On the 20th October 2009, Ms Roberta De Angelis was invited to deliver a onehour lecture to the 2nd year students in Conservation Studies (B.Cons. (Hons)) at
Bighi. The lecture entitled “Giuseppe Calì -The dome painting of the Chapel of
the Crucifix, Parish church of Cospicua” was part of the study unit “Manufacturing
techniques of wall paintings” (CRS2103).
From December 2009 to May 2010 Ms De Angelis also delivered 16 hours of
lectures as part of the study unit CRS2106 “Methodology and Science of
Conservation Techniques of Wall Paintings and Architectural Surface” on
cleaning, consolidation and re-adhesion of wall paintings (2nd year and 3rd year
students of the B.Cons (Hons) course). She also participated to the assessment
of the students consisting of a written essay and an examination.
Perit Shirley Cefai lectured regularly during the first semester of 2009-2010 on
the B.Cons. course. The study units included the first year study unit CRS1014
“Conservation and Restoration History”, the second year CRS2000
“Conservation and Restoration Theory I” and the third year CRS3000
“Conservation and Restoration Theory II”. This also involved the assessment of
these study units, which included a presentation of a critique of a case study.
This involvement in teaching will also continue during the academic year 20102011. Perit Cefai also regularly delivered lectures to postgraduate students
following the MA course in Cultural Heritage Management, run by ICMCH. She
lectured on “Development of Conservation”.
5.4.2 Din L-Art Ħelwa (DLH) http://www.dinlarthelwa.org/
In October 2009, Din L-Art Ħelwa approached the Department of the Built
Heritage to ask for assistance in its conservation programmes. An agreement
was reached wherein the Department is now advising DLH on a consultancy
basis, principally to ensure that technical reports received can be properly vetted,
that conservation work is carried out properly and in accordance with method
statements received and general advice and strategy. This includes primarily the
wall paintings at the Churches of Ħal Millieri and Bir Miftuħ, and in the future
Victory Church, and will also include some advice on buildings they hold in trust.
During the past year, the Department of the Built Heritage has carried out regular
environmental monitoring at the Church of Bir Miftuħ and has been involved in
several meetings with the conservator Sig. Giuseppe Mantella, and Ms Maria
Grazia Cassar from DLH regarding the scientific investigations, and the
conservation, of the frescoes inside the Church.
In connection with the collaboration taking place with the Department of Classics
and Archaeology on the conservation of the Zejtun Villa archaeological site, Prof.
Cassar and Dr Nicholas Vella from Department of Classics and Archaeology on
1st September 2010 gave a presentation to Board members of DLH to ask for
financial support for the conservation of the site. The outcome of this meeting
was positive (see also Section 5.1.5 above).
In August 2010 the Department was again approached by DLH and its services
were requested to draw up condition surveys and method statements for the
conservation and restoration of three buildings situated in Majjistral Park, Għajn
Tuffieħa. These are to take place with the help of 4th year students in the Faculty
for the Built Environment under the supervision of members of the Department of
the Built Heritage, and a 5th year from the same Faculty student doing her
dissertation under the supervision of Prof. A. Torpiano.
5.4.3 Scientific Committee for the Conservation of the Megalithic Temples
Prof. JoAnn Cassar and Perit Shirley Cefai are members of the multi-disciplinary
Scientific Committee for the Conservation of Megalithic Temples, which also
includes members from Heritage Malta, which cares for the sites. Other members
include archaeologists, a conservator and a biologist. The Committee was set up
by the Minister of Education and Culture. Regular meetings are held when
decisions on major interventions on the megalithic sites are taken; site visits to
the Temples are carried out whenever the need arises.
5.4.4 Bord tal-Warrant tar-Restawraturi
Prof. Cassar was until December 2009 a member of the Board tal-Warrant tarRestawraturi, set up by the Minister for Education and Culture (now under the
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, the Environment and Culture). In
September 2010, Prof Cassar was requested to help in the drawing up of
amendments to the Cultural Heritage Act which concern Conservation
Professionals, by Dr Jeanine Rizzo, a lawyer engaged by the Parliamentary
Secretary to oversee the amendments. Several meetings took place throughout
September 2010, and a draft was prepared for presentation to the Parliamentary
Secretary for his views.
5.5 External to UoM – foreign
5.5.1 Erasmus agreements
Erasmus agreements have been signed with the following European universities:
•
•
Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia (IUAV), Italy
Centre for Sustainable Heritage, University College London (UCL), UK
•
•
•
•
Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Universita’ degli Studi di
Pisa, Italy
Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp (Belgium)
Artesis Hogeschool Antwerpen (Belgium) - new
Department of Geography, University of Portsmouth (UK) - new
Lecturers from these Institutions have been invited over the years to lecture
postgraduate students registered for the MSc in Conservation Technology for
Masonry Buildings.
During the academic year 2009-2010, the following visits took place:
•
•
•
Prof. May Cassar and Dr Joel Taylor from the UCL Centre for Sustainable
Heritage (November 2009)
Prof. Mottershead and Dr Inkpen from the University of Portsmouth
(January 2010)
Dr Olivier Schalm from Artesis Hogeschool (March 2010)
Other foreign lecturers on the course, supported by University of Malta funds,
were Dr Stavroula Golfomitsou (from Athens), Ms Sandra Davison (from London)
and Ing. Arch Gennaro Tampone (from Florence).
In January 2010 Prof. Cassar participated in the Athens Experimental Course
within the Framework of “Educational Linkage Approach in Cultural Heritage
(ELAICH)” EuroMed Project, where she gave a lecture to High School students
(see also Section 2.1 above).
In April 2010, Prof. Cassar visited the Artesis Hogeschool Antwerpen where she
delivered a series of lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and
staff members, at the Conservation School. This visit took place through an
Erasmus exchange.
In June 2010, Prof. Cassar visited the UCL Centre for Sustainable Heritage,
where she delivered a series of lectures to postgraduate students following an
MSc in Sustainable Heritage. This visit took place through an Erasmus
exchange.
5.5.2 Lecture by Prof. Miloš Drdácký and Dr Zuzana Slížková
On 9 October 2009, Prof. Miloš Drdácký and Dr Zuzana Slížková of the Institute
of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech
Republic and the Centre of Excellence ARCCHIP delivered a lecture to
undergraduate and postgradaute students at the Faculty for the Built
Environment on "Innovated Diagnostic Methods for the Characterisation of Stone
and Mortar". Prof. Drdácký and Dr Slížková were invited to give this lecture by
the Department of the Built Heritage. http://www.arcchip.cz/
5.5.3 Invited presentation by Prof. JoAnn Cassar
Prof. Cassar was invited to give a presentation during the international seminar
on “La rinascita del barocco”, organised in Valletta (Malta) on the 13th and 14th
November 2009. Prof. Cassar’s presentation was entitled “Il calcare Globigerina
di Malta Composizione, proprieta’ e deterioramento.”
5.5.4 Update on staff members’ PhD studies
Perit Shirley Cefai is currently registered as a MPhil/PhD student with the
University of York (UK). Her supervisor is Dr Jane Grenville. Her research is
based on the anthropological and social aspects of conservation. She will
eventually link this to the social context of Malta. Her research will lead to the
understanding of how conservation in Malta has developed and how the
influences of the different schools of thoughts which infiltrate Malta actually have
influenced, if at all, the local methodology in conservation projects. She is
investigating the social context of Malta and integrating it with a theoretical
framework. The theoretical framework discusses the four main strands of
colonialism, islandness, language and memory. The case studies which were
decided on after the Thesis Advisory Panel of October 2009 are St John's Cocathedral, the Opera House site and Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra archaeological
park.
Perit Claude Busuttil has recently registered for a PhD with the University of
Sorbonne - Paris IV (France). The supervisor of his thesis is Prof. Michele Virol
of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History whilst the co-supervisor
is Dr Stephen Spiteri. Perit Busuttil was in Paris between the 6th and the 9th of
October to discuss his research project with his supervisor. It was agreed that
research should start in Malta first at the AOM archives in the NLM. This year he
was awarded a University of Malta scholarship which will now allow him to
commence his studies.
6. Publications
J Cassar - 2010. “The use of limestone in a historic context – the experience of
Malta”. In: Limestone in the Built Environment: Present Day Challenges for
Preservation of the Past. Smith, Gomez-Heras, Viles & Cassar eds. Geological
Society, London, Special Publications 2010; v. 331; p. 13-25.
J Cassar - 2010. Co-editor of Geological Society of London Special Publication:
Limestone in the Built Environment: Present Day Challenges for Preservation of
the Past. Smith, Gomez-Heras, Viles & Cassar eds. Geological Society,
London, Special Publications 2010; v. 331.
J. Cassar (in print) (co-author with M. Galea, R. Grima, K. Stroud and A.
Torpiano) Shelters over the Megalithic Temples of Malta: debate, design and
implementation. Environmental Earth Sciences (Special Issue), Springer-Verlag.
R. De Angelis (co-author) – 2010 “Tracing the History of Wall Paintings through
Visual Documents: the Vault Painting of the Main Hall at Verdala Palace, Malta.”
In: Source and Serendipity: Testimonies of Artists’ Practice. Ed. Erma Hermens
and Joyce H Townsend, Archetype.
Prof. Cassar is an Associate Editor of the Quarterly Journal of Engineering
Geology and Hydrogeology (Geological Society of London) and in 2010 attended
an Editorial Board meeting of the journal in London. She has also carried out
reviews for international journals, including the Journal of Cultural Heritage
(Elsevier), Environmental Earth Sciences (Springer) and Construction and
Building Materials (Elsevier).
Prof J Cassar
Head.
Department of the Built Heritage