2018: 8th of May; Project approved for Grant with a Financial Plan of €2,744,855.34 inclusive of VAT.
2018: Tendering process for Management and development include: Architects, Engineers, Archaeologists and Health and Safety.
2018: Tender for the provision of services and supply of materials for the SCOPE Project: Rehabilitation, restoration and repair works of the facades and internal areas of St.Augustine’s Priory launched.
2018: Tender for the provision of services, supply of materials and installation, mechanical and electrical services for the redevelopment and rehabilitation of St.Augustine’s and Installation of Panoramic Lift and related works.
2018: Tender for the provision of services, supply of materials and installation; related to health and safety, accessibility, security, lighting systems including; CCTV, firefighting and air-conditioning, audio-visual and inter-active systems.
10 July 2019:
Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia launches the St Augustine’s Convent intensive restoration project.
2019, July 3: Surveying and Monitoring Restoration and Conservation Works on the Frontispiece.FONDAZZJONI SOĊJO-KULTURALI AMBJENTALI AUGUSTINAERDF.05.113 SOCIO-CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS PROMOTING HERITAGE EXPERIENCESThe project is based on the adaptive re-use of the St.Augustine’s convent in Valletta. The Fondazzjoni Socjo-Kulturali Ambjentali Augustina is delivering a Community Interpretation Centre. The CIC will be set on 5 levels with a developing theme from underground level to 1st floor. It will spread through the corridors of the priory with connections to the Church, the Convention Centre (Multi-purpose Hall) and the Interpretation area which includes several systems from archaeology of building to galleries and archives.Currently surveying and monitoring restoration and conservation works on the church frontispiece (1765-1940s): Architects Arnaud Schwartz and Zdenka Jakevic, Mr Denis Darmanin and Dr Malcolm Borg.
2021, March 19: Interpretation PlanCurrently the Interpretation Plan compiled in 2017 is being reviewed in the light on the new archaeological findings. The plan integrates all the elements which form the local historic urban landscape. The heritage assets making up one of the largest blocks in the City of Valletta (UNESCO WHC) all contribute to the city’s rich socio-cultural landscape. SCOPE Project (ERDF.05.113) is part-funding the development and implementation of the Interpretation and Accessibility plans.Project Coordinator: Dr Malcolm BorgHistorian: Denis Darmanin
2021, March 11: Recovered: Old chapel at St.Augustine’s ChurchDuring the restoration works on St.Augustine’s Priory which are part-funded by the European Union through the SCOPE Project (ERDF.05.113) the side chapel of the earlier Augustinian church of Valletta(Our Lady of Safe Haven) has been fully recovered. The centralised planned chapel with a saucer dome supported by heavy piers is probably a late 17th century extension. It is partly underground owing to the steep gradient in the area. The chapel connected the old priory to the old church over the courtyard. It may have been accessed through a covered way from Old Bakery Street. The chapel was leased until recent years and was used as a store. It will now host a collection of statues as part of the St.Augustine’s Interpretation Centre.
2021, March 26: Extracts from the Monitoring Report SCOPE ERDF.05.113Mr Ustin Caruana aka “Skippy” is working on the final sections of the frontispiece and pedestal. The pedestal was @Risk with sections impacted by weathering and pollution. The intricate decoration was missing through flaking and pulverisation. Now the scrolls are reinstated, the rosettes redefined and restored and the binding acanthus leaf reintegrated. The scroll had a flag post which was treated and cleaned. The cross was split and broken in parts. It had to be remodelled and recast. An example of the intricate work Maltese masons were and are capable to create in the local stone. Dr Malcolm Borg (Project Coordinator) Photos Mr Denis Darmanin (Monitor) and Mr Dennis Attard (FSKAA).
2021, April 16: Joining the dots: The current restoration project part-funded through SCOPE Project (ERDF.05.113) is possibly the only intervention post-war. The restoration programme has revealed a severely impacted church facade and a blitzed section of the Priory. Apart from the physical restoration the Interpretation Centre will re-build and retrace the story through old photographs and mapping. The selection of photos below show the complex pre-war and during World War II when Valletta was blitzed. The free-standing quoin at the top of Old Bakery Street is the ruin from the Auberge de France (Order of the Knights of St.John). In the foreground is St.Augustine’s and the impact of axis bombing.
15 November 2021:
Hon. S. Zrinzo Azzopardi’s visit: The SCOPE project is based on the adaptive re-use of the St.Augustine’s convent in Valletta. The Fondazzjoni Socjo-Kulturali Ambjentali Augustina is delivering a Community Interpretation Centre. The complex includes; An Interpretation Centre distributed on 5 Levels, the Church and a Convention Centre/ Multi-Purpose Hall. The centre will include; a shelter, crypt, the cloister and galleries portraying the history of the Manderaggio, the church and priory and galleries exhibiting various religious artefacts. There will be a developing theme from underground level to the first floor. All the areas will include diverse tangible and intangible heritage assets from the archaeology of the building, artifacts, galleries and archives. The soft opening is scheduled for 2023.
2022, May 3: ERDF.05.113 SCOPE moving ahead….Currently on the last phase of the project a significant part of the facades have been restored. Details and decorative elements are being restored and also areas of the frontispiece and steeples. The internal sections and elevations have been cleaned and post-war accretions removed to reveal the stereotomy of the priory.
2023, July 12: ERDF.05.113 (SCOPE) – Socio-Cultural Organisations Promoting Heritage Experiences
The works on the basement level are nearing completion. Paving is near closure (here FSKAA has adaptively reused over 20 sqm of stored and excavated hard and soft stone pavers from the archaeological works and monitored trenching works). The restored chapel has been completed with only snagging and lighting to complete. The cafeteria/kitchenette have been restored and tiled with lighting and power installed. TheMagazines 1,2,3 and 4 with long barrel vaulted ceilings have been restored and repaved and near closure.
2023, October 30: ERDF.05.113 (SCOPE) – Socio-Cultural Organisations Promoting Heritage Experiences (Final Stages)In the past weeks the team was testing the Energy Efficient Lighting scheme for the restored sections of the Community Interpretation Centre. This scheme includes; the Crypt, the Magazines, the ossuary and the Courtyard. One of the main themes at -2 will be the archaeology of building. The whole system was refurbished making it accessible to all following our policy. The scheme according to the Project Brief is directed at interpreting the architecture and space. A big thanks to our collaborators. (Dr Malcolm Borg obo FSKAA)
2023, December 24: ERDF.05.113 (SCOPE) – Socio-Cultural Organisations Promoting Heritage Experiences (Final Stages)In the past weeks the team was testing the Energy Efficient Lighting scheme on the facade. The whole system was refurbished after the facade restoration involved the removal of the old lighting system and all metal inserts. The scheme according to the Project Brief is directed at highlighting the architectural stereotomy. A big thanks to our collaborators.