Giorgio Costantino Schinas facts for kids
Giorgio Costantino Schinas (born 1834, died 1894) was a talented architect and civil engineer from Malta. He had Greek family roots. An architect designs buildings, and a civil engineer plans big projects like roads, bridges, and water systems. Schinas was good at both!
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Who Was Giorgio Schinas?
Early Life and Education
Giorgio Schinas was born in Valletta, Malta, in 1834. His parents were Costantino Schinas and Elisabetta Camilleri.
He loved learning and studied at several universities. He went to the Royal University of Pavia and the Reale Scuola d'Applicazione degli Ingegneri in Turin, both in Italy. He also studied at the University of Malta. In 1863, he officially became a civil engineer.
His Career in Public Works
After finishing his studies, Schinas started working for the government. This is called the civil service. He helped manage important projects for the public.
From 1888 until he passed away, he held a very important job. He was the Superintendent for Public Works. This meant he was in charge of all major building and construction projects for the government. He also had special permission to work as an architect and a land surveyor.
Schinas's Main Projects
Giorgio Schinas designed some very important buildings and structures in Malta. His most famous works are still standing today.
The Parish Church of St. Cajetan
One of his most well-known designs is the Parish Church of St. Cajetan in Ħamrun. He worked on this church between 1869 and 1875.
Schinas used a mix of different building styles for the church. He combined ideas from Gothic Revival and Baroque styles. Gothic Revival uses pointed arches and tall spires, while Baroque is known for its grand and dramatic designs.
He had also planned a special tower for the church. It was meant to look like a Romanesque Revival turret (a small tower). However, this part of his design was never built.
Luqa Water Pumping Station
Another important project by Schinas was a water pumping station. This station is located in Luqa. Pumping stations are vital for moving water to homes and businesses. This shows his skill as a civil engineer, not just an architect.
Other Roles and Later Life
Besides his work as an architect and engineer, Giorgio Schinas had other important roles. He was a professor of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Malta. This means he taught students about numbers and how the world works.
He was also a member of the Council of Government. This council helped make important decisions for Malta. He was part of it because of his official position.
Giorgio Schinas was married to Marianna Cassar Torreggani. He passed away on June 27, 1894.
