A lot has been said about the imminent fate of the 19th century barrack block at Fort Chambray especially since the approval of the development of the fort by the Planning Authority in December to which Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna - the Malta Heritage Trust has objected in writing.
Detractors are claiming that the said barracks have little historic and architectural value as they were not built as part of the original fort by the Knights Hospitaller but by the British. This is false since it is natural for a historic monument as old as Fort Chambray to go trough a process of continued modification and adaptation caused by its continued uses. One of the fundamentals of cultural heritage conservation is that of respecting the different historic periods manifest in a building to conserve its integrity known as multi-layering of history. Dismantling the façade and sides of the barrack block for re-erection elsewhere in the fort is a travesty of good heritage conservation practices and should not have been granted for the end result will be yet another modern building with a pastiche front and sides unless carried it out scientifically which is expensive and requires expert builders and conservation technicians the type of which are not readily available in Malta. This method is very often resorted to by developers to sweeten down the fact that they would be interfering with a historic or architectural monument. Past examples such as the dismantling and rebuilding of the British barracks and tower block at Tigne' Point in Sliema are clear failing examples of this. Although at the time they were hailed as 'memory screens' representing the one time 19th century Tigne' camp seen today they mean absolutely nothing to the passer-by.
FWA appeals that the decision concerning the military barracks at Fort Chambray be reconsidered. Given their size these barracks still offer a great opportunity to be sympathetically converted into high-end accommodation enjoying a prime view as part of the same approved development.
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