Architect - Jaques Muir & Partners

Client - The Pontifical Mission, Jerusalem

Brief description of works carried out –

On 1980, a Cambridge company was given the task of releading the domed roof above the Edicole. This also involved forming a false ceiling below the iron trusses forming the dome using a galvanised expanded metal lath on a suspension system finished with haired lime plaster. Cooks carried out all the works involved with the ceiling at the time. Because of financial restraints the ceiling was not decorated at that time. In 1995 a benefactor came forward and offered to pay for the ceiling to be finished to an American design. However as the surface of the original ceiling was not suitable to receive the pearlescent paint which was intended to be used, Cooks were invited back to apply two further coats of haired lime plaster to achieve the desired finish. Before carrying out this work it was necessary for the existing ceiling to be carefully cleaned to remove all traces of candle soot which had been deposited since the original contract had been carried out. At approx 800m², the ceiling is believed to be the largest single area of haired lime plaster carried out in the 20^th century, anywhere in the world.