BLH 5003 Presentation

THE JESUITS CHURCH, VALLETTA
BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING
NADIA MARTINELLI
INTRODUCTION
Source: Google Maps

NADIA MARTINELLI
METHODOLOGY
Primary and secondary sources consulted
Interviews were conducted
The church was inspected and its environment studied
The exterior and interior of the building were studied in order to address main and
specific areas undergoing deterioration problems.
Photo by author: 14/7/2014


NADIA MARTINELLI
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Accessibility
Items inspected at reachable heights
Information from primary and secondary sources very limited
Further monitoring to be carried out on the state of preservation of individual items.
Internal furnishings covered in dust could not be properly inspected.


NADIA MARTINELLI
THE BUILDING
ST PAUL STREET
MERCHANTS
STREET
ARCHBISHOP
STREET
Photos by author: 14/7/2014
Plan courtesy of the

Restoration Directorate
NADIA MARTINELLI
HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT
Photo dated December 1934 Jesuits Church, Valletta
Plan dated June 1841 P.W. Folder 66

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE EXTERIOR:
Elevation courtesy of the

NADIA MARTINELLI
MAIN FACADE APERTURES

CHURCH BUILDING
Main doorway
-having a small vestibule at
entrance
ORATORY BUILDING
Two timber apertures
fixed light at the top of a
double casement window
- Covered by metal grille
NADIA MARTINELLI
MAIN FACADE DETERIORATION
Severe alveolar weathering

Vegetation growth
Open joints
Black material
Missing parts
Erosion
NADIA MARTINELLI
THE EXTERIOR:
Elevation courtesy of the

NADIA MARTINELLI
SIDE FACADE APERTURES
ORATORY BUILDING
Side entrance - lobby space to Oratories
All apertures are deeply recessed inwards.
Timber double casement windows
-fixed lights at the side or barred with metal grille
-Apertures leading to basement beneath Oratory

of the Immaculate Conception
NADIA MARTINELLI
SIDE FACADE DETERIORATION
Vegetation growth
Open joints
Black material
NADIA MARTINELLI
THE EXTERIOR:
NADIA MARTINELLI
BACK FACADE DETERIORATION
Vegetation growth
Open joints
Black material
NADIA MARTINELLI
THE ROOF

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE ROOF

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE ROOF APERTURES
WINDOWS OF ONORATI ORATORY
CUPOLA LANTERN
NAVE WINDOWS
DOME LANTERN
Photos by author:
19/7/2014
NADIA MARTINELLI
THE ROOF DETERIORATION
Photos by
author:
19/7/2014
AT THE LEVEL OF THE CUPOLA

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE BASEMENT

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR
NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR
NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR
NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE INTERIOR

NADIA MARTINELLI
DETERIORATION AT THE INTERIOR
NADIA MARTINELLI
DETERIORATION AT THE INTERIOR
NADIA MARTINELLI
DETERIORATION AT THE ONORATI
NADIA MARTINELLI
OCCUPANCY
PUBLIC SPACES
PRIVATE SPACES
Source: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20071129/local/callfor-research-funding.186184
Source: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20071128/local/needto-study-impact-of-sending-children-to-institutions.185995

NADIA MARTINELLI
ACTIVE SYSTEMS

NADIA MARTINELLI
ACTIVE SYSTEMS

NADIA MARTINELLI
ACTIVE SYSTEMS
NADIA MARTINELLI
AIM OF THE MONITORING PROGRAMME

TO ASSESS TEMPERATURE, RELATIVE HUMIDITY, CONDENSATION, POLLUTION
AND LIQUID MOISTURE CONTENT TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE POSSIBLE
CAUSES OF DETERIORATION OF FRESCOES FOUND AT THE ST JOSEPH CHAPEL
WITHIN THE MAIN CHURCH AND THE WALL PAINT FOUND AT THE PRIVATE
ONORATI CHAPEL OF THE JESUITS' CHURCH

NADIA MARTINELLI
CHAPEL OF ST JOSEPH
NADIA MARTINELLI
ST JOSEPH CHAPEL
NADIA MARTINELLI
ST JOSEPH CHAPEL
NADIA MARTINELLI
THE ORATORY OF
THE
ONORATI

NADIA MARTINELLI
THE
ORATORY
OF THE
ONORATI
NADIA MARTINELLI
PARAMETERS TO BE
MONITORED
LIQUID MOISTURE CONTENT ANALYSIS - To define the topographical distribution
of the salt decay and to identify the possible sources of liquid water.
LONG-TERM MONITORING OF TEMPERATURE AND RH - since salt decay is
triggered by variations in temperature and relative humidity (RH), monitoring the
microclimate of the wall paintings is indispensable to understand the
development of observed decay.
CONDENSATION ANALYSIS - Vapour water condensing on the surface of the wall
paintings might react with pollutants in the atmosphere, such as CO2 and/or SO2,
to form corrosive acids.
ANALYSIS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE CONTENT IN THE AIR -Quantitative analysis of

sulphur dioxide within the surrounding air should be carried out since this
pollutant is well known as a source of sulphates.
NADIA MARTINELLI
METHOD OF MONITORING
LIQUID MOISTURE CONTENT
Six drilled samples may be taken at different heights and at four different depths
up to a maximum of 10cm.
Drilled samples are first weighed on the same day of sampling; then placed in an
oven at a temperature of 110oC for 24 hours and later allowed to cool in a
desiccating container. Samples are to be weighed and returned to the oven for
another 24 hours to reach constant mass.
LMC = (WH2O/WDRY) X 100 (%)
where WH20 = weight of water contained in g,
WDRY = weight of dry sample in g.
NADIA MARTINELLI
MONITORING OF TEMPERATURE AND RH
This should be carried out for a minimum

of one year cycle using data-loggers which
can monitor the temperature and relative
humidity.
The data loggers should be placed so as to
monitor the climate close to the wall
painting of the St Joseph chapel and the
wall paint at the Guardian Angel chapel
and at the east wall of the Onorati Oratory.
The temperature and RH are to be taken
every five minutes and averaged and
recorded every hour.

NADIA MARTINELLI
6m
4m
1.5m
NADIA MARTINELLI
6m
4m
1.5m
NADIA MARTINELLI
WEATHER STATION
Parameters to be compared with
air relative humidity, the air
temperature, global solar radiation
on a horizontal plane, wind speed
and wind directions, rainfall and
surface temperatures.
NADIA MARTINELLI
CONDENSATION ANALYSIS
The surface temperatures of the
wall paint at the chapel and the
east wall of the Onorati Oratory
may be checked using a Raytek
infrared surface thermometer.
The resulting temperatures are
then compared to the climatic
conditions within the room at the

time of the monitoring.
NADIA MARTINELLI
SULPHUR DIOXIDE ANALYSIS
A passive diffusion tube may be
placed in the Oratory and at the
chapel to quantify the amount of
sulphur dioxide which may cause
the occurrence of gypsum on the
wall paintings.
The tube may be hung 5cm away

from the painted wall and left
exposed for 3 weeks.
NADIA MARTINELLI
THE DATA COLLECTED

LIQUID MOISTURE CONTENT ANALYSIS
May indicate whether liquid water enters porous masonry through infiltration or capillary rise
which is enhanced by the presence of salts and by low temperatures.
CONDENSATION ANALYSIS
Condensation takes place when the temperature of a surface < temperature at which the air is
saturated with water vapour. It can occur at the surface or in pores.
SULPHUR DIOXIDE ANALYSIS

In the presence of highly soluble salts these can absorb considerable amounts of water vapour
to form solutions i.e. Porous materials absorb moisture from the environment.
TEMPERATURE AND RH MONITORING

The network of sensors along the vertical section of the church allows the description of:
The stratification of the air in the interior atmosphere
The evolution in time of the specific humidity
The identification of the areas where the evolution is more evident
NADIA MARTINELLI
THE DATA COLLECTED

IS THE DAMAGE CAUSED AT THE FRESCOE AND AT THE ORATORYS PAINT CAUSED BY
SULPHATES AND MOISTURE MOVEMENT IN THE STONEWORK THROUGH INFILTRATION
AND CONDENSATION?
Thermohygrometrical cycles lead to deterioration depending on frequency and
amplitude. They are responsible for the conveyance of salts and deposition of pollutants.
The maximum amount of salt that will dissolve in a given amount of water, at a given
temperature, will depend on the solubility of the particular salt. Solubility rises with an
increase in temperature.
When the ambient relative humidity becomes lower than the equilibrium relative
humidity of the saturated solution, evaporation from the walls takes place. When water
evaporates, the salt solutions will become more concentrated. When the concentration of
a solution exceeds saturation it becomes super saturated and the condition for
precipitation (i.e. excess solute crystallizes out of solution) is reached. Salts dispersed over
large areas can become concentrated locally as efflorescence on surface areas and as
subfluorescence below the surface of porous materials.
The rate of evaporation depends greatly on the immediate environmental conditions.
Mainly temperature, relative humidity and the rate of air movement.
NADIA MARTINELLI
HYPOTHETICAL MONITORING RESULTS
30cm
HEIGHT FROM GROUND (CM)

100cm
300cm
400cm
600cm
LIQUID MOISTURE CONTENT (%)

3
4
5
7-10cm
4-7cm
1-4cm
0-1cm
7-10cm
4-7cm
1-4cm
0-1cm
7-10cm
4-7cm
1-4cm
0-1cm
LMC (%)
7-10cm
4-7cm
1-4cm
0-1cm
7-10cm
4-7cm
1-4cm
0-1cm
NADIA MARTINELLI

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY
90
80
70
60
OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE
50
OUTDOOR RH
NEAR FRESCOE TEMPERATURE
40
NEAR FRESCOE RH
NEAR CHAPEL WALL TEMPERATURE
NEAR CHAPEL WALL RH
30
NEAR ORATORY WALL TEMPERATURE

NEAR ORATORY WALL RH
20
10
NADIA MARTINELLI

NADIA MARTINELLI
IDEAL PARAMETERS FOR VISITOR COMFORT AND

THE PRESERVATION OF THE BUILDING FABRIC
Maintenance of building fabric
Defects in guttering system to be repaired
Water draining system must be checked on a regular basis
Damaged deffun must be repaired to prevent water penetration
Apertures from the basement overlooking the Street should be permanently
closed off since these are creating a draft and causing temperature and RH
changes and pollutants entry into the building.
Window apertures should be repaired such that water does not penetrate
the structure.
Pollution can be contained by installing well-sealed doors and windows or by
traffic control.
NADIA MARTINELLI
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anon., n.d. P.W. File Folder 66. s.l.:s.n.
Bernardi, A., 2008. Microclimate inside Cultural Heritage buildings. Lombardia: il
prato.
Camuffo, D., 2014. Microclimate for Cultural Heritage. Second ed. Waltham: Elsevier.
Frendo, J., 2001. Studies on the Fabric deterioration of the Church of Santa Caterina
d'Italia. s.l.:Unpublished dissertation.

Galea, M., 2004. The Jesuit Church in Valletta. Malta: the author.
Mahoney, L., 1996. 5000 Years of Architecture in Malta. Valletta: Valletta Publishing.
Micallef, J. H., 2004. A study on the desalination of paintings on Globigerina Limestone
: the wall paintings at the former Jesuits' College, Valletta.. s.l.:Unpublished
dissertation.
NADIA MARTINELLI

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THE JESUITS CHURCH, VALLETTA

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

Source: Google Maps

Photo by author: 14/7/2014

Photo by author: 14/7/2014

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Photo by author: 19/7/2014

Photo by author: 19/7/2014

Plan courtesy of the

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

Photo dated December 1934 Jesuits Church, Valletta

Plan dated June 1841 P.W. Folder 66

Elevation courtesy of the

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

MAIN FACADE APERTURES

Photo by author: 14/7/2014

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

Photo by author: 14/7/2014

MAIN FACADE DETERIORATION

Photo by author: 14/7/2014

Severe alveolar weathering

Elevation courtesy of the

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

SIDE FACADE APERTURES

Photo by author: 14/7/2014

Photo by author: 14/7/2014

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

-Apertures leading to basement beneath Oratory

SIDE FACADE DETERIORATION

Photo by author: 18/7/2014

Severe alveolar weathering

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

Photo by author: 18/7/2014

Photo by author: 18/7/2014

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

Photo by author: 18/7/2014

BACK FACADE DETERIORATION

Photo by author: 18/7/2014

Severe alveolar weathering

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

Photo by author: 19/7/2014

Photo by author: 19/7/2014

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

Plan courtesy of the

Photo by author: 19/7/2014

Photo by author: 19/7/2014

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

Plan courtesy of the

THE ROOF APERTURES

WINDOWS OF ONORATI ORATORY

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

THE ROOF DETERIORATION

AT THE LEVEL OF THE CUPOLA

Photo by author: 19/7/2014

Photo by author: 19/7/2014

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

Plan courtesy of the

Photo by author: 14/7/2014

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING

Plan courtesy of the

Photo by author: 14/7/2014

BLH 5003 _ ENVIRONMENT AND MONITORING