Description
The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, a recognised UNESCO site, is an underground prehistoric cemetery. Although an environmental control system was installed in the 1990s, technological advances and improved understanding of the challenges have necessitated the redesign of its environmental management to ensure the preservation and continued access to the site, which attracts around 26,000 visitors a year. This project benefits from €748,425 from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2009-2014. It seeks to ensure the stabilisation of the site through the application of current technologies. The main elements of the project are: • Studies to assess the condition of the site in terms of conservation, geology and organic residues; • Elimination of harmful materials and residues; • Installation of a micro-climate management system, with both passive and active control measures; • Investigation and replacement, of overlying connections to water mains and sewers.
Summary of project results
Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, a commitment to preserve the Hypogeum on behalf of the international community was crucial. UNESCO missions underlined the importance of maintaining stable climatic conditions within the site to ensure its preservation. Technological advances and improved understanding of the challenges faced made it clear that its environmental management needs complete review and redesign to ensure the long-term preservation of such a unique site for generations to come. Besides its intrinsic value, and in spite of the restricted visitor number, the site remains one of the most sought after tourist attraction sites and contributes greatly to Malta’s tourism industry. The project outputs included: • Four baseline studies resulting in a Condition Assessment, Biological Survey, Rate of deterioration and Geological Survey of the Hypogeum, laying the foundation for the subsequent structural works. • Structural Works, including replacement of existing roof, maintenance of internal steel structure, mechanical and electrical works including environmental control system, restoration works of both external facades and other ancillary works. The newly-rehabilitated site, together with a newly refurbished Visitor’s Centre, was officially opened on 28th April 2017. These contributed towards reaching the desired final outcomes. The Hypogeum today boasts of improved insulated performance of the building envelope, after all the organic and harmful materials were removed; a new, advanced micro-climate management system, which was installed, ensuring the stability of the environment within the site; the four baseline studies allowed for a better understanding of the processes currently active within the site, and hence better interpretation and presentation of the site. Through these various outputs financed under the EEA FM, this world heritage site was restored, renovated and protected, thus successfully achieving the main outcome of PA16 and above all, ensuring long-term conservation of such a culturally important site and giving better access to visitors for continued heritage appreciation. Visitors unable to secure one of the limited daily tickets to the site can now explore it through a new immersive show in the redesigned visitor centre, where visitors can still get a glimpse of, and experience, this unique prehistoric heritage site through a new immersive, audio-visual presentation within its re-designed interpretation centre. Excavation tools and elements pertaining to the discovery complement the audio-visual tour.
Summary of bilateral results