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contents

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FINO AMEX .52

FINO AMEX .52

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FINO AMEX .52

PRACTICE 04

4 Editorial 5 KTP News 6-9 People & Projects 10 EU Desk 11 SACES

The real pleasure comes from knowing I’ve earned it.

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FEATURE 12

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MARCH 2012

the architect

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This is not the forum to discuss the merits of any of these cases, certainly not until the relevant authorities have concluded their investigations and the proper legal mechanisms have been allowed to fulfil their function. This is, however, an opportune moment to remind the community at large of the continuous endeavours being made by the Kamra tal-Periti to uphold and enhance the integrity of the profession and the quality of professional services provided by its members and to ensure that the interests of the community are safeguarded.

The mission statement of the Kamra tal-Periti is “To support members of the profession in achieving excellence in their practice of architecture and engineering in the interest of the community”. This mission statement is, as it should be, central to the Kamra’s work and, in 2007, led it to embark on the drawing up and implementation of a quality agenda aimed at improving the quality of and the delivery of services

by Periti, in the interest of the built environment, the community and the profession itself. This included the drafting of a whole suite of legislation, subsidiary legislation, and position papers which, after having been endorsed by the Kamra’s voting members at its General Meetings, were presented to Government for promulgation. It is with pleasure that I can report that the amendments to the Periti Act proposed by the Kamra have now reached the second reading stage in Parliament. It is expected therefore that within a matter of weeks these amendments shall come into force, and the Kamra can then concentrate on enacting and enforcing the provisions therein.

The amendments will bring with them a number of changes, including the introduction of a substantially revamped Code of Professional Conduct. The Code, as proposed, stipulates a number of obligations, such as the duty of all Periti to maintain high ethical standards,

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to continue to strive to raise the standard of service they provide and to ensure that high standards of excellence are a fundamental goal in the provision of professional services. The Code also stipulates the obligations of a Perit towards the public interest including seeking to improve the quality of life through excellence in design, as well as bearing in mind the effect of their work on the widest interests of all those who may reasonably be expected to use or enjoy the product of their work or otherwise be affected by it.

While the mere existence of such a Code is no guarantee against its abuse, its enactment will empower the Board of Professional Conduct to investigate, in a more comprehensive and in-depth manner, those allegations of misconduct brought before it. The new legislative framework will also ensure that the Board’s decisions will be enforceable by law, be they the imposition of fine, an admonition or a recommendation for suspension or withdrawal of a warrant to practice as a Perit. Thus the ultimate aim of ensuring high standards of excellence as well as penalising improper conduct, abuse or malpractice in the profession can be more easily achieved.

To support members of the profession in achieving excellence in their practice of architecture and engineering in the interest of the community

The Council of the Kamra Tal-Periti for the year 2012 consists of Vincent Cassar (President), Simone Vella Lenicker (Vice President and Honorary Secretary), Malcolm Gingell (Treasurer) and Council members Ruben Paul Borg, Keith Cole, Anthony Fenech Vella, Joseph Galea, Alberto Miceli Farrugia, Danica Mifsud, and Damian Vella Lenicker.

The Architect is the official journal of the Kamra Tal-Periti.

It is published on a quarterly basis and distributed with the MaltaToday newspaper. The Architect is not to be sold separately. The contents of this journal are copyright. Reproduction in part or in full is forbidden without the permission of the editor.

The opinions expressed by writers of signed articles and letters appearing in the magazine are those of their respective authors, and neither the Kamra Tal-Periti nor MediaToday Co. Ltd is responsible for these opinions or statements.

Simone Vella Lenicker Editor

The Malta-EU Steering & Action Committee (MEUSAC) issued a call for proposals from constituted bodies and civil society organisations in order to assist in the affiliation and participation of such entities in European groupings, associations

Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 4016, Malta Tel: +356 21 382 741, Fax: +356 21 381 992 Email: admin@mediatoday.com.mt

ISSUE NO. 58 | MARCH 2012

and an additional €300 were collected.

On behalf of the Council of the Kamra talPeriti, the Editorial Team thanks all those who participated in this call.

ACE

Last December, the Kamra tal-Periti issued an appeal to its members to submit donation to the Malta Community Chest Fund.

A total of €600 were collected and presented during the L-Istrina event which took place on Boxing Day. In addition, the Kamra had asked members to donate to the family of one of its collaborators,

The Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE), which is the representative organisation for the architectural profession at European level, at its General Assembly held on the 25th and 26th of November 2011, in Brussels, re-elected Selma Harrington as President for the second term and the two-year period 2012-2013.

She is joined on the Executive Board by reelected members Lionel Dunet (France), Wolfgang Haack (Germany), newly elected Michel de Keyser (Belgium), Matjaz Durjava (Slovenia) and Nicholas Galabov (Bulgaria) as well as by the current members by rotation: Pawel Kobylanski (Poland), Konstantinos Belibassakis (Greece), Mauro

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KAMRA TAL-PERITI

the Architect on Facebook

Our readers can now keep in touch with various aspects of the local architectural and civil engineering scene through this journal’s Facebook page “TheArchitect.KTPJournal”.

Since its launch, this page has attracted near-

Cover: Approach to the award-winning public toilets from Theatre Street. Photo by Norbert Francis Attard.

MARCH 2012

MARCH 2012

ly 200 “likes”, mostly from Malta, but also 11 from the UK, 3 from the USA, 2 each from Portugal, Russia, and Italy, and 1 from Cambodia. The demography of the page fans is highly concentrated around the 18-34 year old age group, presumably mostly due to the fact that Facebook users tend to belong to

Latini (Italy), Christos Savva (Cyprus) and Pierre-Henri Schmutz (Switzerland). Perit Vincent Cassar, President of the Kamra tal-Periti, submitted his nomination for election onto the ACE Executive Board, but was not successful.

UMAR

Contributions

Civil Society Funds

Editor: Simone Vella Lenicker Design: Kevin Grech - MediaToday Sales: Adriana Farrugia Tel: 21 382 741 ext. 126 Printed at: Union Print Published by:

In parallel with these developments, it is also deemed prudent to acknowledge and commend the positive declarations regarding the built environment expressed in Government’s recently published National Environment Policy. This states that “It is increasingly recognised that poor design has social implications: beauty as an element of quality creates psychological benefits that contribute to a balanced society, and to overall quality of life. Well-designed buildings and spaces should complement the character of the places where they are found, providing a sense of place and identity. We will address quality in design in the following manner. First, we will place significantly more emphasis on quality in design in the spatial planning process, encouraging development that is designdriven.”

The Kamra tal-Periti cannot but welcome this commitment, and it is indeed with renewed enthusiasm that it calls once again on Government to take on board the various recommendations outlined in its publication entitled “The Urban Challenge: Our Quality of Life and the Built Environment”.

During the Kamra tal-Periti’s Annual General Meeting held last December, a new Council was elected for the year 2012.

The Council’s composition is as follows: Vincent Cassar, President; Simone Vella Lenicker, Vice President and Honorary Secretary; Malcolm Gingell, Treasurer; and Council Members Ruben Paul Borg, Keith Cole, Anthony Fenech Vella, Joseph Galea, Alberto Miceli Farrugia, Danica Mifsud, and Damian Vella Lenicker. The Council has already set itself a number of tasks for the year ahead, and will keep Members abreast of progress over the months through this journal, the Kamra’s website www.ktpmalta.com and various email communications. One of the main tasks will certainly be related to the amendments to the Periti Act which, at the time of going to print, had reach the second reading stage in Parliament.

and/or federations. This Call for Proposals covered activities held or to be held during the period 1st November 2011 to 31st October 2012. The funds available under this Fund may cover a percentage of up to 80% of the eligible expenses borne by the respective Civil Society Organisation. The Kamra tal-Periti submitted an application, and was successful in obtaining € 10,000 worth of funding which will be used to pay its subscription to various EU organisations such as the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE), the European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE) and the European Forum for Architectural Policies (EFAP) and to assist in participation in overseas events and meetings organised by such organisations.

KTP NEWS

Two particular incidents that have taken place over the past days have shocked the architecture and civil engineering profession to the core. The recent allegations against a perit employed by an Authority in the Public Service and the collapse of a structure on a construction site in Għadira a few days ago hit the headlines on most local media, and inevitably the profession fell under public scrutiny, with a number of allegations against the persons directly involved in the cases, as well as at the profession in general, being flung around, and a few more thrown in for good measure.

THE PROFESSIONAL CENTRE SLIEMA ROAD GZIRA GZR 06 - MALTA TEL./FAX. (+356) 2131 4265 EMAIL: info@ktpmalta.com WEBSITE: www.ktpmalta.com

NEWSPAPER POST

EDITORIAL

A duty of care

New Council for 2012

the younger generations, though we hope to attract more of our seasoned followers in the coming months. The Editorial Team invites all readers to join this fan page, and to use it as a platform to discuss, submit suggestions and comment both on the journal and on the various aspects affecting our built environment.

The next General Assembly of UMAR (Union of Mediterranean Architects) will take place in Istanbul on the 22-23 March 2012, under the hospitality of the Chamber of Architects of Turkey. Elections for the new Executive Board will take place during this General Assembly. Perit Anthony Fenech Vella, currently UMAR Treasurer and Member on the Council of the Kamra tal-Periti, has submitted his nomination for re-election.

Membership 2012

Membership subscriptions became due at the end of December 2011. Those periti, graduates and students who have not yet renewed their annual subscription are invited to do so as soon as possible. Details on membership fees can be obtained from the Kamra’s office or by sending an email to info@ktpmalta. com. One of the benefits of membership is the right to have one’s details included in the Kamra’s online Members’ Directory, found at www.ktpmalta.com.

This online directory also includes a section containing details of partnerships of warrant holders. All members interested in having their details listed on this page are invited to contact the Kamra for further information. All members will receive a membership card which will entitle them to various other benefits such as reduced rates at the Kamra’s various events planned for 2012.

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In November 2011, Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs George Pullicino presented letters of appointment to the members of the Building Regulation Board, which was set up following the coming into force of the Building Regulation Act (ACT No. XII of 2011). The Board is composed of Perit Ivan Muscat as Chairman and six other members, namely Mr Alfred Borg, Ing Oliver Degiorgio, Perit Carmel Mifsud Borg, Ing Elizabeth Muscat Azzopardi, Ing Helga Pizzuto, and Perit Simone Vella Lenicker. Mr Emanuel Psaila is the Board Secretary.

This Board, together with the Building Regulation Office, has the task of regulating building standards in Malta, and will be issuing regulations in this regard.

World Architecture Festival 2011 Media-TIC, Barcelona, Spain, designed by Cloud 9 based in Spain, beat off competition from hundreds of buildings around the globe to win the ‘World Building of the Year 2011’ award at the prestigious World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards in Barcelona last November. The presentation of the WAF Awards took place during the largest global celebration of architecture - the World Architecture Festival, which took place at the Centre Convencions International Barcelona (CCIB).

The project was commissioned by The Consortium of the Zona Franca CZFB and @22Barcelona, an experimental district in the city. The architects were extremely interested in the digital city model based on information, communication and technology, with the idea of a city where what matters is knowledge, added value and patents. In short the

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objective was for the architecture to be in sync with the city’s values. The building is divided with large companies on the upper floors, smaller spaces for emerging companies below and the first floor features a cibernariun and auditorium offering courses and programmes to city residents.

The building was selected from 16 finalists to win the highest accolade in global architecture by a 'super-jury' of the world's most influential architectural and urban designers, led by the distinguished Michael Sorkin. Speaking at the awards presentation, Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director said that the building was 'a magnet for people with a whole range of ideas'. It won, he said, for the scale and degree of difficulty of its ambition, and because it was a symbol of an emerging movement in the city of Barcelona. Also, he said, it opens up conversations of concerns about energy and

Barcelona (CCIB) in Barcelona, the shortlisted designers then pitched against each other,

The Waterhouse at South Bund.

Photograph by Derryck Menere

INSIDE: World Festival of Interiors 2011 The Inside Festival took place last November, and saw some of the most inspired and accomplished interior projects worldwide battle it out across nine categories - Hotels; Bars & Restaurants; Culture & Civic; Retail; Residential; Transport; Display; Offices and Creative Re-use.

The jury whittled down hundreds of entries to a diverse shortlist of 44 completed projects. At the Centre Convencions International

Media-TIC, Barcelona. Photograph courtesy of World Architecture Festival

The double-helix staircase designed by Architecture Project. Photograph by David Pisani - Metropolis

during live presentations to be awarded Category Winner.

The Creative Re-use Category Winner was local practice Architecture Project, with a project for the remodelling of an old three storey house on St Barbara’s Bastion in Valletta, now used as offices and residential space. “The winner, we felt, pushed the boundaries to the limit with a successful and creative adaption of a historical building by inserting a strong spatial element,” said the judges. “This building is also a strong and significant asset to Malta.”

Local planning guidelines require buildings housing office and residential uses to provide separate entrances to the two spaces. This requirement, and therefore, the need to create two staircases, became the key design challenge for the architectural team. They applied the concept of the “double-helix” to the two staircases, thus enabling the entrances to be distinct, leading to the offices and residential unit separately, while the intertwining staircases are conceived as one sculptural mass.

Partnering with this logistical need was the client’s willingness to take the opportunity to create a statement-making design solution.

The client’s openness towards experimenting with form meant that the team was largely able to create something which was more MARCH 2012

experimental and boundary-pushing than conventional projects provide the chance to.

The different uses for the property are divided as follows: the ground floor houses a common reception space, creating an initial barrier between the outside world and the unique environment experienced inside the property.

The first floor is taken up by rentable offices, and here to maximise on space a mezzanine level was introduced. The second floor is taken up by the client’s offices, whilst the third is the penthouse floor - the residential part of the project which the client also rents out.

The World Interior of the Year Award was bestowed on The Waterhouse at South Bund, Shanghai, China. Designed by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, the Waterhouse is a fourstorey, 19-room boutique hotel built into an existing three-story Japanese Army headquarters building from the 1930’s. The boutique hotel fronts the Huangpu River and looks across at the gleaming Pudong skyline. The architectural concept behind Neri&Hu’s renovation rests on a clearly articulated contrast of what is old and new. The original concrete building is restored while new additions, built over the existing structure, is built out of Cor-Ten steel, reflecting the industrial past of this working dock by the Huangpu River.

Neri&Hu’s structural addition, on the fourth floor, resonates with the industrial nature of the ships which pass through the river, providing an analogous contextual link to both history and local culture.

Further information on the awards and all category winners can be obtained from www.insidefestival.com.

“CITY GATE – a diary of demolition” The City Gate of Valletta has been rebuilt four times and is currently undergoing a new change - the old gate, dating back to the sixties, making way for a new entrance designed

by Renzo Piano. As a result of this transformation, new spaces of interaction between the citizens and the town itself will be created.

Popular perception of the identity of Valletta today is ambiguous, stemming from the continuous development of the city from a fortified city into an urban capital. Following the Great Siege of 1565, Francesco Laparelli, the master-mind behind the blueprint of the town, created a fortress city which was subsequently modified, improved and, in some places, demolished. This is perhaps best epitomised by the evolution of Valletta’s main entrance, each subsequent transformation of the area not only expressing a new architectural vision but also a contemporary positioning of the city itself towards its own history.

Each time change takes place, the correct balance between past and future, permanence and transience is at stake, transforming the city and its architecture into a placeholder for collective dreams and memories and a container for contemporary myths.

Bettina Hutschek’s experimental documentary “CITY GATE – a diary of demolition” was commissioned by Architecture Project (AP) to explore the formation of space not only through building, but also through removal.

The 35-minute film aims at understanding the interactions created and modified, at the various stages of the project, between the building, the public and the city. It shows, from various angles, the successive removal of the gate, and provides a subjective approach to city memory and oblivion that establishes a historic link between Valletta’s past and future.

This project was made possible through the support of the Malta Arts Fund. “CITY GATE – a diary of demolition” will be screened at 4, Sappers Street, Valletta until the 16 March as follows: Monday to Thursday, 10.00–16.00hrs; Friday 10.00am-13.00hrs. For more information visit www.ap.com.mt and www.bettina-hutschek.com.

& people & projects

& people & projects

Building Regulation Board

sustainability and shows that when addressing issues of sustainability, architects should lead the charge and this was the project that has most taken on this challenge.

Hanimaadaoo International Airport, Maldives, designed by Integrated Design Associates Limited was awarded the ‘Future Project of the Year 2011’ award and the iconic 76-story Beekman Tower at 8 Spruce Street, New York, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, won the ‘Structural Project of the Year 2011’ with the prize going to engineer WSP Cantor Seinuk.

The WAF Awards see unsung local buildings take on internationally acclaimed projects in what is the world’s biggest architecture contest. Unlike other architectural competitions, architects present their work in front of leading industry judges and a live public audience as they compete for the accolade of ‘World Building of the Year’.

For more information visit www.worldarchitecturefestival.com.

Sustainability snaps Keeping in touch with the jargon and what’s going on

The Eco-innovation Action Plan (Eco-AP) The European Commission has launched a new Eco-innovation Action Plan as part of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

In particular, this Action Plan complements the ambitions of the Europe 2020 Innovation Union and Resource Efficiency flagship initiatives. It proposes ambitious new actions to help achieve the Europe 2020 goals and sets out a framework for eco-innovation.

Eco-Innovation is any form of innovation resulting in or aiming at significant and demonstrable progress towards the goal of sustainable development, through reducing impacts on the environment, enhancing resilience to environmental pressures, or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of natural resources.

The key elements of the Eco-innovation Action Plan are the following: - Using environmental policy and legislation to promote eco-innovation; - Supporting demonstration projects and partnering to bring promising, smart and ambitious operational technologies to market; - Developing new standards to boost eco-innovation; - Mobilising financial instruments and support services for SMEs; - Promoting international co-operation; - Supporting the development of emerging skills and jobs and related training programmes to match labour market needs; and - Promoting eco-innovation through European Innovation Partnerships.

The Commission noted that an ambitious EU eco-innovation agenda will help to respond better to global environmental challenges and to seize the opportunities on the global markets in line with the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy. It will provide the Commission and the Member States with new tools to achieve the Europe 2020 goals and sets out a future framework for eco-innovation.

The Commission Communication (899/2011) states that the “European Commission with the Member States and in cooperation with international standardization bodies will set up an interactive process to identify and prioritise those areas where the development of standards and performance targets has the greatest potential in terms of driving eco-innovation. Some examples of such areas that could be considered as from 2012 are: - on-site verification of characterisation of waste; - drinking water and sewage collecting system pipes; - waste treatment activities in response to Article 27 of the Waste Framework Directive.; - sustainable construction materials and insulation of buildings to support the implementation of the Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings.”

Source: MEUSAC

MARCH 2012

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I nternationally acclaimed Dutch architect Herman Hertzberger has been named as the recipient of the 2012 Royal Gold Medal. For Hertzberger, the structure of a Herman Hertzberger. building is not an Photgraph by Hans van end in itself; it is lit-den Bogaard erally the framework for the life that goes on inside it, a life that is determined by its users. This goes for a school, a home or an office – all building types that he has transformed in a 50-year career in architecture.

Herman Hertzberger was one of the leaders in the movement away from functionalism in the mid-20th century. Influenced by semiotics, linguistics and structural rationalism, he sought to identify an underlying order in a building's construction that is not related purely to its function. He saw this as analogous to the deep grammatical structures in language explored by Claude Lévi-Strauss; just as grammar is brought to life in speech, so the fundamental tectonic order in buildings is given social meaning by the way in which they are inhabited. Because for Hertzberger, inhabitation is all.

Structurally, Hertzberger's buildings are characterised by a clear articulation of the supporting lattice. This creates a series of cellular zones within which minor elements like sills, benches and thresholds are used to prompt human occupation. His debt to anthropology is manifested in his particular concern for these defined territories which are both joined and separated by liminal or threshold elements. These 'in-between' pieces set up a dialogue between adjacent spatial orders, as well as encourage social interaction.

Hertzberger’s first completed building was an industrial laundry in Amsterdam. This he perched on top of an early 20th century building, marking the start of a lifelong concern with extending the life of buildings, by others and his own, for example, the Vrendenburg Music Centre in Utrecht (197378), which is currently being rebuilt from the outside in.

Every Hertzberger project contains a strong

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YKK Dormitory, Kurobe, Japan. Photograph by Nobuaki Nakagawa

Given in recognition of a lifetime's work, the Royal Gold Medal is approved personally

by Her Majesty the Queen and is awarded annually to a person or group of people whose influence on architecture has had a truly international effect. RIBA President Angela Brady, who chaired the Honours Committee which selected the Royal Gold medal winner said: 'Herman Hertzberger has transformed the way we think about architecture, both as architects and people who use buildings. His architecture is about form and space which he defines as "place which has not been appropriated". Throughout his career his humanity has shone through in his schools, homes, theatres and workplaces. The RIBA is delighted to recognise the importance of his achievements and the effect his designs have on people and place.' This year's RIBA Honours Committee was chaired by RIBA President Angela Brady with architects David Adjaye, Yvonne Farrell, Niall McLaughlin, Sarah Wigglesworth and Sir Terence Conran.

Source: www.architecture.com (RIBA)

AIA Gold Medal The Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) awarded the 2012 Gold Medal to Steven Holl, FAIA, and the Architecture Firm Award to VJAA, the Minneapolis-based firm noted for its consis-

Music Palace Vredenberg, Utrecht. Photograph by Herman Hertzberger

idea, and his principles are best illustrated by the many schools that he and his studio have built in the last 50 years. The stairs and corridors are not isolated elements, but are essential to the life that fills the building; to see and being seen are the first steps towards a more satisfactory and fulfilling existence. His celebrated Montessori School in Delft (1960-66), an ongoing work in progress, rethought the way classrooms are laid out: L-shaped rooms creating different zones, all linked by wide, zig-zagging corridors. The images of children sitting, conversing and playing on broad wooden steps in the Apollo Schools in Amsterdam and in the conversation pit in the Delft

school have inspired many architects of schools across northern Europe and across the decades.

What Hertzberger wants is an architecture that can be interpreted and used by the inhabitants in many ways. He is an advocate of the open society in which encounters are not planned, but occur in a spontaneous, natural manner. His architecture facilitates such a use and stresses more the sight and contact lines than the representational character of the facades. For him architecture is not only a social activity, but should also stimulate the user into finding his or her place in society. It has to give meaning and it has to be able to receive meaning.

tently rigorous approach to research-driven form-making. The Gold Medal and the Architecture Firm Award are considered the profession's highest honour.

Holl and his firm, Steven Holl Architects, have completed projects that tackle the urban-scale planning and development conundrums that define success in the built environment. He has been able to work with diverse clients to get projects executed, all while being a tenured professor at Columbia University. His explorations have served as an inspiration to his colleagues. "I am really surprised and happy. It's an amazing day," said Holl. "I am definitely going to have a good birthday tomorrow!"

Founded in 1995, VJAA has won acclaim for the way it uses architectural research to create buildings uniquely and empirically attuned to geography, climate, history, and culture. The firm’s three principals (Vincent James, FAIA, Jennifer Yoos, AIA, and, Nathan Knutson, AIA) have led VJAA on a wide-ranging search for what they call the “embedded intelligence” of projects: the essential markers of place, function, materiality, and craft, which lie beneath each work and serve as an armature for its development.

Ricardo Legoretta The Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta passed away in Mexico, on 30 December 2011, aged 80. Emblematic figure of Mexican architecture and author of over a hundred works, he was laureate of the UIA Gold Medal in 1999 and the first Mexican architect to be honoured, last November, with the Praemium Imperiale for architecture, awarded by the Japan Art Association.

MARCH 2012

The Judicial Tower In October 2011, The Times carried an article titled “All judges and magistrates must stand tall”, dealing with the need for the judiciary to act competently and professionally. Ironically, the title of this article came back to haunt, less than four months later, for a different reason – the construction of new Judicial Chambers in Valletta, which are certainly “standing tall” and towering over Bakery Street! Although construction has been ongoing for a number of months, it seems to have taken a while for public outrage at the development to manifest itself and for the project to make the headlines in the local press and on social networking sites.

An application for development permission was submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) in July 2001 to “demolish the existing building and retain the existing facades. It is also proposed to extend the existing building with eight floors of offices for the judiciary.” The application site concerned the property at 27, 27A, Strait Street. During the processing of the application, the applicant included the property at 191, Bakery Street, which directly backs the original application site, and amended drawings were submitted proposing an “extension of three (3) additional storeys within the part facing Strait Street and the extension of four (4) additional storeys, at a setback from the facade on the part facing Old Bakery Street.”1 Additionally the proposal included a steel bridge linking the new chambers to the existing Law Courts.

Consultations were carried out with various bodies. The Valletta Rehabilitation Committee, for example, objected to the additional floors on Bakery Street, since “although these will be recessed, they would still be highly visible and the beautiful skyline of the street would be ruined.”

The Planning Directorate recommended that the application be refused since the

The Dayton House, Minneapolis. Architect - VJAA. Photograph by VJAA.

The Vanke Center - Horizontal Skyscraper in Shenzhen, China. Architect - Steven Holl Architects.

Photograph by Iwan Baan.

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people & projects

people & projects

RIBA Royal Gold Medal 2012

“proposed height is unacceptable.”1 It however recommended, that should the Development Control Commission (DCC) consider accepting the application, then the setbacks approved in relation to the extension of a neighbouring property at 193, Bakery Street, be applied to the case at hand, namely a setback of 5.3m from the building alignment at Level 5, and an additional setback of 4.2m from the latter at Level 6. The Directorate further recommended against the introduction of the bridge across Strait Street.

Basing solely on the information publicly available on the MEPA website, it appears that when determining this application, the DCC’s concerns centred mainly around the introduction of the bridge, and there is little mention of the additional floors.

Eventually the DCC approved the application, after the proposed bridge was elimi-

nated from the designs.

Reactions to the project included those of Simone Mizzi, executive president of Din l-Art Ħelwa, reported by The Times as saying that the structure created a precedent “to the future of permitting with regards to the heights and skyline” of Valletta, and describing the project as “shocking.” The Kamra tal-Periti, through its President Perit Vincent Cassar, described the new building as an “eyesore”. The sensitivity of Valletta, both in terms of its UNESCO World Heritage Status, and also in view of its bid to be the European Capital of Culture in 2018, cannot be taken lightly.

It was subsequently announced that the Director-General of the Law Courts will be submitting an application to “demolish a substantial part of the two storeys”2 and to “eliminate the negative visual impact.”

While the decision is welcome, it is interesting that the onus has been put on the applicant to submit a new application to demolish something which has just been built. Although the proposed approach may indeed give a solution to the eyesore, the fact remains that the granting of the permit in the first place is condemnable and has set a dangerous precedent. Furthermore, the lack of justification for the decision in the first place continues to scream out.

The government’s reported statement that “from 2008 onwards, the need was felt to reform the planning authority to, among other things, increase sensitivity towards the importance of protecting the environment and historic heritage”3 makes no sense at all. What does it mean? That decisions taken before 2008 are open to challenge? A response from the authorities to this question is necessary.

References: 1 – Development Planning Application Report, MEPA 2 – The Times (online), 9 February 2012 3 – The Times (online), 26 January 2012

Letters to the Editor Ricardo Legoretta

MARCH 2012

Letters from our readers to be considered for publication are most welcome. Letters for inclusion in Issue 59 are to reach us by the 30th April 2012.

Please write to: The Editor, “the Architect”, Kamra tal-Periti, The Professional Centre, Sliema Road, Gzira GZR1633, or send an email to thearchitect@ktpmalta.com.

All contributions will be acknowledged.

the architect

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& EU DESK

In 2009, the Inter-Ministerial Commission for the European Capital of Culture (IMC_ECoC) was established to coordinate the national preparations for the bidding process of the event in Malta, to be held in 2018, to ensure that Malta’s delivery of this cultural event be of the highest possible calibre, demonstrate excellence on a European level and generate the greatest possible benefit for Malta.

The IMC_ECoC was also established to ensure coordination between all relevant ministerial stakeholders for the preparation and implementation of the bidding process and the event, and is made of representatives from different Ministries and entities. These representatives participate in different workgroups to coordinate planning for the event.

Following the launch of the bidding process, on 17 December 2010, the Valletta 2018 Foundation was set up, with the aim of submitting the bid of Valletta to be a European Capital of Culture (ECoC) in 2018. The Foundation was formally established on 17 October 2011, the same day that the application of Valletta as an ECoC was formally submitted to the Managing Authority (the then Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism, the Environment and Culture).

The founders of the Valletta 2018 Foundation are the Valletta Local Council and the Local Councils Association. The founders are also governors of the Foundation together with the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise

Malta Arts Festival 2011 by Darrin Zammit Lupi

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and Industry, the University of Malta and the IMC_ECoC. The Valletta 2018 Foundation was responsible for submitting the bid for Valletta. The bid, the working title of which is V.18, includes the entire Maltese territory and supports the development and promotion of different forms of cultural activity spread throughout the islands. The Foundation delivered the first draft of its application form, also referred to as the bid book, on 17 October 2011. Following the Pre-Selection Panel meeting in January 2012 and the aimed-for short-listing of the candidacy, the Foundation will prepare the submission of a final version of the application

by August 2012. Valletta aims to be awarded the title following the Final Selection Panel meeting to take place in October 2012.

The title of European City of Culture is one of the most prestigious the EU grants a city and is considered an opportunity for the host city or region to not only showcase its cultural and creative talent but also to benefit longer term from the legacy of the ECoC year. Past ECoCs have seen a rise in local economic activity, boosts to tourism and positive changes in areas such as social and urban infrastructure.

V.18 is now an important step nearer its coveted ECoC title following the positive outcome of the EU pre-selection evaluation panel’s visit to Malta on 18 January 2012. After the official submission of the V.18 bid last October, the Valletta 2018 Foundation faced its most significant milestone yet with the presentation of the V.18 candidacy to an EU pre-selection panel. The pre-selection panel’s role was to assess whether the bid delivered a credible and passionate vision underpinned by strong governance structures to enable it to fulfill the promise of a European Capital of Culture.

The EU panel comprised 13 eminent names in the European cultural sphere – seven members were nominated by European institutions; six by Malta. They bring complementary and significant experience to their panel roles drawing on their various professional backgrounds in the performing arts, cultural management and the social aspects of cultural programmes. Several of the panel have man-

by Luke Lapira

aged or adjudicated past ECoCs. The panel members were chosen on the basis of their substantial experience and expertise in the Cultural sector, in the cultural development of cities or in the organisation of a European Capital of Culture. The structure of the evaluation panel guarantees a balance between local and national interests while safeguarding the European dimension.

The Malta-nominated members were: Malta Arts Festival 2011 by Darrin Zammit Lupi Mr Mario Azzopardi, director of the the bid vetted by renowned culture profesMalta Drama Centre, theatre director, poet and journalist; H.E. Prof Vicki Ann sionals and to have gained at this first stage in Cremona, an academic specialising in the- the external vetting process the reassurance atre studies and a diplomat; internationally- that V.18 was on the right track to take Malta’s renowned architect Prof Richard England; ECoC candidacy forward.

Prof of Philosophy, poet and playwright Joe This green light now enables V.18 to move Friggieri; Ms Cynthia de Giorgio, curator of on to the final stage of the selection process St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation; and Mr which will see the Valletta 2018 Foundation Sandro Zerafa, Paris-based musician and artis- active in two distinct, but complementary areas. Its first task is to direct the panel’s feedtic director.

The seven European members were: Mr back into polishing the bid book in preparaConstantin Chiriac (Romania), former vice- tion of the final presentation to the panel in chairman of Sibiu 2007 and currently direc- October. Pre-selection is defined as an iterative tor of the national theatre Radu Stanca; Mr stage and designed to help candidates hone Manfred Gaulhofer (Austria), Director-General their bids. The Foundation’s second main aim of Graz 2003 and manager of many European is to move Valletta 2018 from purely a vision to projects who has acted as chairperson of for- a more public and tangible stage which sees mer ECOC Evaluation Panels; Mr Steve Green the V.18 team help stimulate and crystallise (UK), consultant and researcher in cultural pol- project ideas ready to develop a draft proicy; Sir Jeremy Isaacs (UK), television producer gramme for 2018. and executive, and former General Director of “There is much to work on completing the the Royal Opera House and Covent Garden; bid in the coming months; a period which Mr Jordi Pardo Rodriguez (Spain), scientific sees the Foundation engaging more with the coordinator of the Culture Lab at Barcelona public as well. The whole ECoC process is a Media Foundation. He directs and develops steep, but enriching learning curve. The preprojects in Europe, Latin America and Asia; Ms selection panel’s feedback should encourage Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Luxembourg), for- V.18 and its stakeholders to ensure our next mer Minister for Culture, MEP and member of milestone in October is reached as successthe Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of fully,” said David Felice, Chair of the Valletta Europe, currently chairwoman of many nation- 2018 Foundation. al and international cultural organisations; and Dr Elisabeth Vitouch (Austria), a member of the Further information: Committee of the Regions' Commission for Valletta 2018 website: http://www.valletta2018.org Culture and local councillor in Austria.

V.18 Project Coordinator Karsten Xuereb said Facebook: Valletta 2018 on Facebook. that it had been a valuable experience to have Twitter: http://twitter.com/Valletta2018 MARCH 2012

University life is a unique period for all students that go through it: flexible lecture hours, examinations, deadlines, semester projects, meeting peers. Yet the campus life experienced here in Malta differs quite greatly from that enjoyed by our international colleagues, which is perhaps the prime motive for the rise in popularity of study abroad opportunities offered at the University of Malta.

ISEP, Erasmus and Vulcanus are amongst the programmes backed by the staff at the University’s international office that provide students with the opportunities to study abroad.

Having been accepted into the ISEP program, I read for the third year of my degree at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln within Lincoln, Nebraska USA. Applying for such a program is quite tedious, but definitely one that is worthwhile. In order to get approval to participate in an exchange programme one must ensure that the courses offered in the desired host university are compatible and similar to the material to be carried out locally. Academic advisors in the faculty ensure this similarity before approving the tentative study units to be pursued. Having successfully completed all this, the host university must accept this application, subject to availability. If all works out, the candidate can then begin preparing for the exciting experience ahead.

The student exchange program would then take care of all of the necessary paperwork, while the university provides a travel grant to the student taking part. In the case of the ISEP programme I went on, tuition fees,

meal plans and housing were all catered for, together with a grant in order to aid with flight expenses and visa charges.

The architecture program that is offered at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln is unique compared to that provided locally in the sense that one is truly subjected to the idea of working in a studio environment. The studio professors each give a presentation prior to the commencement of the semester, such that students select their professors based on which projects and studio style they would prefer to adhere to. Upon selecting, the students are then sorted out into studios and settle in with their respective tutors and begin the semester projects as planned out. The experience of working in such an environment is irreplaceable as there is a constant flow of ideas and exchanges with peers and tutor as you get projects done together (especially when pulling a string of all-nighters!). This gears one to the system of working in an architectural office on a design team, pushing out a design with a common goal, while maintaining a sense of individuality within the designs.

Perhaps the greatest opportunity gained when studying abroad is true immersion in a foreign culture and the development of one’s personal and professional character.

Due to Malta being such a small country,

Studio at UNL

Dorm room at UNL

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SACES &

Studying Abroad

V.18 EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE

Golden gate Bridge

the University campus is, inevitably, a commuter campus with students residing away from the campus and commuting to lectures.

Living on campus meant the opportunity was available to live in a dormitory with roommates – an experience that in itself is very different to what one normally experiences when studying at home. In many cases, such as mine, students are paired up with another roommate also studying abroad. This allows the student to gain a better understanding of the host country’s culture, but also the culture of the other students within the university.

Also, by studying and living in a community such as a dormitory, spending time meeting new people and making friends with locals students develops a sense of community, which may not be developed as easily on a commuter campus, but is highly beneficial to any workplace. Also, as aforementioned, there is a greater cultural understanding that is developed with these new connections. This cultural understanding allows one to better understand cultural habits, the reasons and traditions behind feasts and holidays (such as Thanksgiving) together with the great opportunity to travel the country with locals and experience it not only from the tourist’s perspective, but also as a local experiencing different elements of their culture.

Travelling abroad also provides an opportunity to see and experience an architectural expression not often seen in Malta. This is beneficial because it provides a wider perspective and better understanding of differ-

Farnsworth House, Plano, Illinois

ent styles of architecture that exist throughout the world. In my travels to the USA, I was lucky enough to experience hands on works by architectural masters such as Mies Van Der Rohe (Farnsworth House, Lakeshore Drive), as well as other architectural wonders (Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, Willis Tower, Gehry’s Disney Centre … amongst others).

Studying abroad is an unforgettable experience for all those who have had the opportunity to do so. It expands a sense of understanding and appreciation of other cultures, enhances the education and professional qualities of a candidate, and develops personal character attributes that cannot be taught within a traditional classroom setting.

Students who study abroad not only come back with experiences that benefit themselves, but also the field of architecture itself. the architect

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DLH awards

DLH awards

DLH ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE AWARDS 2011 Reviewed by Dr Conrad Thake The Din l-Art Ħelwa Architectural Heritage Awards scheme has now firmly established itself as an annual fixture in the local architectural calendar. The awards scheme was originally conceived in 2005, to mark Din L-Art Ħelwa’s fortieth anniversary. The ethos of the scheme is to encourage architectural excellence in the Maltese context, with specific reference to the rehabilitation and reuse of historic buildings, and the regeneration of the historic urban fabric. The awards are intended to give recognition to architects, designers and all those active in the field of restoration. Its objective is to encourage excellence in restoration, the re-adaptive use of historic buildings and sustainable urban regeneration projects.

Din l-Art Ħelwa has established a close working relationship with the Kamra talPeriti, in encouraging and recognising the efforts of architects who seek design excellence in reviving historic buildings and spaces in a sensitive and sustainable manner that address contemporary needs and aspirations. The award scheme sends a clear message that old buildings can be successfully restored and that good contemporary architecture has an important role in enhancing the quality of our living environment.

The results of the seventh edition of the DLH Heritage Awards, were announced in a ceremony held last December at the Din L-Art Ħelwa headquarters in Valletta.

Mr Martin Scicluna, former DLH Executive and President of the Adjudication Panel, prior to the official announcements of the awards explained that the “criteria for the judgement is based on the quality of the work executed, its historical, cultural, educational and social relevance, the research conducted and the aesthetic and visual merit of the project.”

This year fewer projects than usual were submitted for the jury’s consideration and one could argue that this is a reflection of the sluggish state of the economy and the local construction industry.

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Strait Street Public Convenience - facade. Photo by Norbert Francis Attard Above - The facade of Villa Aspinall before restoration.

Right - The Villa after restoration.

Photos by Perit Aaron Abela

There were no submissions in Category A - Major Regeneration Projects, or Category C - Restoration and Conservation projects.

There were, however, two commendable projects submitted in Category B dealing with Rehabilitation and Re-Use of a building.

Dr Mario de Marco, at the time in his capacity as Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture and the Environment, presided over the awards ceremony, and presented the first diploma prize to Perit Aaron Abela for his restoration of Villa Aspinall in Tarxien. The judging panel commended the rehabilitation of this historic palatial townhouse within the village core, which was completed within a tight financial budget.

This nineteenth-century townhouse, part of which had served for several decades as the local police station, was restored in a sensitive manner and rehabilitated to serve as the office premises of a leading pharmaceutical company. Although the exigencies of an operational office can be onerous the architect ensured that the provision of ancillary services did not compromise

the integrity of the original building. Villa Aspinall successfully combines utility and practicality with the visual and aesthetic integrity, a glowing example of how a restoration of this kind can contribute to the regeneration of a town centre. It offers an excellent example of how a large town house can be used successfully for other

purposes without resorting to a tabula rasa approach of demolition and re-building.

The second diploma in the same category was presented to Perit Chris Briffa, for a most unusual project, the highly imaginative restoration, rehabilitation and re-use of the Public Convenience in Strait Street, corner with Old Theatre Street, Valletta.

MARCH 2012

From times of antiquity, a good indicator of the level of civilization in any city is by the state of their public lavatories. A visit to any Roman city such as Ostia Antica, Leptis Magna or Timgad will reveal spacious public lavatories utilising rich materials such as travertine.

Briffa set out to challenge the normal perception of a public convenience by designing the Strait Street Public Lavatories so that they do not just respond to sanitary requirements but are also exciting, colourful and stimulating settings which could also be provocative in nature - spaces which, besides serving their obvious function, also serve as spaces where artists, local and foreign, can exhibit different forms of art, be they installations, graphic media, sculpture or film.

That the Strait Street Public Convenience also captures the zeitgeist of Strait Street in its glory days is an added bonus. Perit Briffa has taken up the challenge of transforming what is usually considered a mundane and vestigial space into a stimulating environMARCH 2012

Fully accessible cubicle. Photo by Chris Briffa

heritage and to continue to participate in the Din l-Art Ħelwa Architectural Heritage Awards.

The panel of judges for the 2011 edition of the awards was composed of Mr. Martin Scicluna, former DLH Executive President, Architect Dr Conrad Thake representing the Kamra tal-Periti, distinguished art historian Dr Keith Sciberras and Maria Grazia Cassar, Council member of Din l-Art Ħelwa.

Editorial Note

Male cubicle signage alluding to Strait Street's heyday.

Photo by Chris Briffa

ment that stimulates one’s sensory perceptions. The one in Strait Street is the first one in a series of five public conveniences in Valletta to be given this highly original treatment. When Valletta becomes the European Capital for Culture in 2018 no space within our capital city, no matter how mundane its function, should be overlooked.

Female wash hand basins and make-up area.

Photo by Chris Briffa

Dr. Mario de Marco congratulated the winners on achieving these prestigious awards.

He stressed the importance, to Malta's culture and tourism, of ensuring the highest standards of architectural heritage, aesthetics and good design. He encouraged Maltese architects to continue working on safeguarding Malta's outstanding cultural

It is understood that the Valletta Local Council submitted an application for additional ERDF funding to the amount of approximately €700,000 to restore and integrate the other four Valletta public conveniences with the Strait Street Project.

This application was recently refused by PPCD (Planning and Priorities Coordination Department). This is indeed a pity since projects of this calibre should be promoted and assisted, rather than shot down due to lack of funding. the architect

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An overview of the experiences and lessons in contemporary urban design strategies, employed to assist communities towards a more sustainable quality of life in the UK

BY SARAH MUSCAT As an architecture student, I have frequently examined the connection between people and the built environment, and explored ways to enhance it. My interest in improving the quality of life of communities through the regeneration of the public realm saw me specialising in urban design, drawing master plans for historic towns and bland neighbourhoods.

The publication of ‘The Urban Challenge’ by the Kamra tal-Periti and the Government’s commitment to ‘adopt the required measures to improve transport infrastructure, environment, energy and risk prevention and urban regeneration’ as expressed in the ‘Operational Programme II’ document, highlighted the need to sustain a growing, knowledge-based, competitive economy and improve Malta’s attractiveness and the quality of life.

Following the principles set by the EU Sustainable Development Strategy 2001 (the GothenburgAgenda),theMalteseGovernment has drawn up a ‘Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Islands 2007-2016’, but is currently experiencing a shortage of skilled expertise in this field. Consequently, I was awarded a Strategic Educational Pathways Scholarship (STEPS), to further my studies in urban design and sustainability at Newcastle University.

The Masters in Urban Design programme at Newcastle University aimed to develop understanding and the ability to evaluate change in physical, economical and social environments, to improve understanding of the nature and process of urban development and design, and to develop skills for promoting and implementing sensitive change to the built environment. Core modules included ‘Principles and Practice of Urban Design’, ‘Urban Design

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Residential development in Gateshead

Seminars’ by Prof Ali Madanipour, ‘Cities and Buildings – contemporary issues in urban design’ and fieldwork in Brussels. Topics covered included sustainable built environment, codes for sustainable homes and neighbourhoods, and the sustainable design and management of residential, commercial and cultural initiatives.

The year commenced with us students introducing ourselves and our professional backgrounds. The range of student profiles was very varied – recent graduates, professionals,

planners, and architects, from countries including China, USA, India and other European countries. Working with people from such different backgrounds opens up a new global dimension to discussions and design concept development. Throughout the year, this attribute proved to be both a challenge and a benefit. Cultural differences often lea to a range of opinions at any stage of a given task.

Nevertheless, such encounters present a good opportunity for information exchange and broadening of one’s horizons to learn about

others’ points of view. It also offers a chance to develop interpersonal skills including intercultural competence.

Most of the design projects we worked on were based in Gateshead. The Gateshead Council is very active in studying innovative urban design schemes to achieve its ‘Vision 2030, the Sustainable Community Strategy for Gateshead’. A creative quarter was designed for a rundown area just behind The Sage and a new residential scheme was developed for a former freight depot site. The proposed initiatives are in line with ‘Fit for a City – Gateshead Centre Regeneration Delivery Strategy’ and the latter was chosen to feature in the 20102011 Year Book of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at Newcastle University. The programme further introduced us to concepts including Transition Towns and Co-Housing, which profess small-scale local responses to the global challenges of climate change, economic hardship and shrinking supplies of cheap energy.

With economic growth shrinking across Europe, funding environmental and social development is becoming increasingly difficult, hence it is down to local authorities and residents to seek alternative ways towards sustainable living. This was a theme I sought to investigate further through my selected theme for the Masters Design thesis project. Focusing on local economic development and urban design in disadvantaged areas including small towns and villages across Europe, the process entailed working with local communities, professional bodies and voluntary organizations to present a scheme for Newcastle West End. Newcastle’s West End is one of England’s most deprived areas, with Benwell, the district’s heart, struggling in domains including crime, education, skills and training deprivation.

MARCH 2012

Creative quarter behind The Sage, Gateshead

Various attempts to regenerate the area did not solve the legacy of decline as they failed to involve the local community and tackle the underlying issues. Consultations with local authorities and organisations further highlighted the difficulties to embark on sustainable development initiatives given the current economic climate. Nevertheless, my literature review established various ways to improving the quality of life and economic reading of such places through holistic regeneration, good urban design, long-term masterplanning and community empowerment.

Consequently, a list of aims and objectives was produced, including the identification of key local economic development strategies and their feasibility and the creation of an urban design scheme based on a sound knowledge of the local economic development principles, drawn in collaboration with other relevant authorities. Site analyses including land use, movement, built form and open space analysis, outlined various strengths and opportunities within the site, which were being overlooked. Discussing these qualities with the local authorities, professionals and the Institute for Research on Sustainability, led to the development of a conceptual framework for the site.

The vision for the selected area looked at maximising the qualities of the site, for the benefit MARCH 2012

of its residents. This through the creation of a sustainable mix of uses that would not only reflect the socio-economic state of the local population, but would actively respond and assist them to reach their aspirations. The site offered flexibility and room for change; the intelligent use of open spaces could provide family homes, employment and meeting spaces which would enrich the whole community.

Hence, the concept built on the knowledge of the needs and aspirations of the local residents and ways of achieving these through best practice case studies, to draw a sustainable and realistic scheme for Benwell’s District Heart.

Three key sites were chosen to enhance the qualities of the district heart, namely the under-used Industrial Estate, an embellished housing clearance site, and an adjacent housing clearance site within the same quarter.

Having three distinctive new nodes of activity throughout the main spines would ensure that any activities and progress generated by the proposals, would have a beneficial impact on all the district heart, rather than limited at one specific point.

This strategy further assisted the inclusion of different types of interventions, thus enabling a self sustaining economic and social development in the area. This resulted in the development of an intergenerational co-housing scheme at the housing clearance site, the cre-

ation of a square surrounded by retail outlets and public services at the embellished open space opposite a shopping centre and the transformation of the Industrial Estate into a mixed use area which entails a training facility for small wind turbines and a combined heating and power plant that would reduce fuel poverty in the area.

Developed in line with BREEAM Communities Assessment Method for sustainable development, NAREC (National Renewable Energy Centre, UK) expressed its support for the small wind turbine facility, whilst the government is also promoting alternative energy production systems, thus further research suggested that funding was available for both projects, alongside funds for deprived community development and low carbon living. Presenting the finalised masterplan to the local authorities I had collaborated with, the proposal was deemed to be creative but at the same time was realistic in plans and sensitive to the needs of the area. The work produced is currently assisting Newcastle City Council in refining their plans for Newcastle’s West End. Principles and lessons drawn from my experience in the United Kingdom could certainly contribute towards ensuring best practice in sustainable design and development in Malta, as in other southern European countries through regional cooperation. Indeed, the ‘Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development’ document binds countries including Malta, to work together towards sustainable development, economic growth and the improvement of living standards.

During my stay in Newcastle I have also familiarised myself and engaged with various organisations such as Northern Architecture and Design Network North, attending seminars and events. Furthermore, I collaborated with a number of wards within Newcastle,

urban&design

urban&design

Newcastle university teachings in urban design for a sustainable future establishing contact with a number of architecture firms, ward councillors and professionals, whilst learning more about the architecture and urban design practices in England and the EU. Further information about the MAUD programme at Newcastle University, can be attained through the MAUD programme blog of which I am a co-editor. The blog can be viewed at http://nclurbandesign.org/.

The research work disclosed in this publication is funded by the Strategic Educational Pathways Scholarship (Malta). The scholarship is part-financed by the European Union – European Social Fund (ESF) under ‘Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013, “Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life”.

Extracts from Design thesis

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The last quarter of 2011 saw the Kamra tal-Periti engaged in a number of events, some of which have become part and parcel of its annual calendar. It is through these events that the Kamra keeps in touch with its members as well as the general public, and through which it aims to increase awareness about our built environment.

Civil Engineering Encounters 2011 “Engineering and the Protection of Cultural Heritage” was the title of one of the events under the Civil Engineering Encounters umbrella which took place on the 4 November 2011 at the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta, which was packed to its brim with enthusiastic attendees. A number of papers were presented, the first titled “The protective shelters at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra: Impacts, dilemmas and values” by Reuben Grima, Katya Stroud and Alex Torpiano. The second paper presented that evening by Alex Torpiano was titled “Engineering interventions at the service of the protection of the built heritage”.

Ruben Paul Borg and Federico M. Mazzolani also presented a paper dealing with “The structural vulnerability of historic buildings in the Vesuvian area: The historic centre of Torre del Greco and the Vesuvian villas.”

The keynote lecture was presented by Federico M. Mazzolani and focussed on “The protection of historic buildings.” The seismic protection of historical buildings is being looked at with greater and greater interest, above all in the Euro-Mediterranean area, its cultural heritage being strongly susceptible to undergo severe damage or even collapse due to earthquakes. The cultural importance of historical constructions limits, in many cases, the possibility to upgrade them from the seismic point of view, due to the fear of using intervention techniques which could have detrimental effects on their cultural value.

Consequently, a great interest is growing in the development of sustainable methodologies for the seismic protection of the existing constructions. In this context, this presentation focused on the conception, experimentation and modelling of techniques for the seismic protection of historical buildings. The activity has been developed within the “PROHITECH – Earthquake PROtection

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Focus R

of HIstorical Buildings by Reversible Mixed TECHnologies” European research project, in which sixteen academic Institutions belonging to twelve Euro-Mediterranean Countries (Italy, Algeria, Belgium, Egypt, Macedonia, Greece, Israel, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey) were involved. Within that research project, several seismic protection techniques have been studied both in experimental and numerical ways, so that a deep and comprehensive understanding of the faced issues has been achieved.

The proposed systems for the seismic protection of historical constructions typical of the Euro-Mediterranean area are mainly based on reversible mixed technologies, which use, also in combination, FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymers) elements, steel sleeves, steel or aluminium shear panels, steel connectors. The

applications described show the advantages of the proposed techniques for the seismic protection of historical buildings, since they address both the protection of the constructions in case of seismic events and also the preservation of their cultural value.

The last Civil Engineering Encounter for 2011 took the form of a day conference titled “FOCUS R - Restoration, Renovation, Requalification - The Contemporary Project in the Historic Context.” Held on the 3rd December at the Corinthia Hotel in St George’s Bay, this event was held under the patronage of the Faculty for the Built Environment of the University of Malta, and in collaboration with the Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale, Università di Napoli “Federico II”; the Università degli Studi di Ferrara; the Dipartimento di Architettura, Università degli Studi di Ferrara; TekneHub, Rete Alta Tecnologia Emilia-Romagna, Piattaforma Costruzioni; and Tecnopolo, Università degli Studi di Ferrara.

Architectural restoration is often at the frontier of scientific research. Restoration addresses complexities, through innovative techniques, new technology and construction processes, whilst respecting tradition, particularly the European tradition in restoration. From Restoration it is therefore possible to extract design methodologies of high quality in order to tackle effectively renovation and requalification. Through an integrated design approach, professionals and technical experts must coordinate with the stakeholders, authorities and production companies, throughout the design process in order to achieve the best solutions through innovative technologies.

The proceedings of these two Civil Engineering Encounters are recorded in a publication titled “Challenges in Conservation of Architectural Heritage” which is available from the Kamra tal-Periti and which can also be downloaded from www.premiorestauro. it, a website intended to be a virtual space,

for ongoing discussion beyond the FOCUS R events.

Architecture Nights 2011 Another highly successful series of events that have become synonymous with the Kamra’s annual calendar is that known as “Architecture Nights”. The last event for 2011 in this series focussed on the challenges of the Corinthia London Hotel project, particularly those of converting this old, milestone building in London into a modern, flagship hotel. Corinthia Hotel London is sited on a triangular site on the corner of Northumberland Avenue, a short walk from Whitehall and Trafalgar Square. Built on the site of the Metropole Hotel and the adjoining 10 Whitehall Place, the project required innovative design to overcome problems associated with pre-developed city sites. During

The proceedings of the last two Civil Engineering Encounters are collated in a publication entitled Challenges in Conservation of Architecture

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the construction, novel engineering solutions were developed and employed to meet the unique design specification.

Speakers included Corinthia CEO Simon Naudi who addressed the tendering, acquisition and planning of the Corinthia London project; Chris Edwards, who spoke about the contracts, phasing, project risk and problem solving aspects of the build; Ian Flewitt, who addressed the problems of developing the site and techniques used to enhance space; and Edward Davies who illustrated the interior architecture and design of the hotel through a series of photographs and drawings. Around 120 people attended this event.

L-industrija tal-propjeta’ – fejn sejra?

Another event on the Kamra’s calendar consisted of a business breakfast organised in together with the Malta Developers' Association, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors. The event took place at The Palace Hotel in Sliema on the 11 October 2011.

Focussing on the state of the construction industry and the property market, the various speakers outlined a number of issues affecting this sector of the economy.

Aspects tackled included the number of vacant dwellings, which according to the 2005 census stood at around 53,000, and in particular the role these properties could play in sustainable development since they could be refurbished or redeveloped instead of further building on virgin land. It was also noted that a big chunk of these vacant properties did not comply with sanitary and planning legislation and it is therefore very difficult for their owners to sell them.

Other topics tackled by the speakers included the recently re-launched Permanent Residents' Scheme and the need for further incentives for public private partnerships.

The Minister of Finance, the Economy and Investment, the Hon. Tonio Fenech, delivered the closing speech.

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The Northall Restaurant at the Corinthia Hotel London

Annual General Meeting The Kamra’s Annual General Meeting was held on the 15 December 2011. A good number of periti attended, and were able to learn more about the Kamra’s work during the past twelve months. Perit Vincent Cassar delivered the President’s speech, wherein he stated that “We are at the beginning of an exciting time as during the coming year we will be experiencing a number of changes in the Periti Act and its Subsidiary Legislation.

In fact the next Council will have a hard year ahead as, provided that the amendments to the Periti Act and the Subsidiary Legislation are enacted, a number of essential processes have to be put in place. Among other items these include the need for the introduction of Continued Profession Development (CPDs) for all periti, the requirement for all periti to possess PII cover and for the Kamra to keep a register of such periti, and the introduction of Registers for the different types of periti in line with the new course structure at the University.”

President Cassar referred to vast number of events, projects and activities that the Kamra was involved in during 2011 including:

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the MEPA reform, which has now reached is first year since implementation; the Council was active in the various discussions held with MEPA, particularly regarding procedures and policies – at least 25 meetings with MEPA officials were held in order to be able to react to aspects of the reform that were of concern to the profession and to bring to MEPA’s attention complaints on the system and recommendations for improvement which the Council received from members; the Children and the Built Environment project, which started off three years ago as a pilot project with the involvement of two schools, one from the private sector and the other from the public sector. Following a seminar for teachers held in 2009 and at which seminar the results of the pilot project were explained to those present, eight schools participated in the programme in the scholastic year 2009/2010.

However, although there were about twelve (12) schools wishing to participate in the 2010/2011 programme, the project had to be scaled down due to

events &

& Events

A busy end to the year & plans for 2012 lack of adequate funds; the Kamra’s participation in various events organised by the various international bodies it is affiliated with such as UMAR (Union of Mediterranean Architects), UIA (International Union of Architects) and ACE (Architects’ Council of Europe), and in particular the organisation in Malta of the General Assembly of ECCE (European Council of Civil Engineers).

In concluding, the President stated: “One of my key priorities as KTP President was to ensure that the Chamber continues to fully support and promote the profession, and work towards improving the conditions that regulate the same profession. I hope that I have to the best of my abilities fulfilled my task. As to the future I feel that we need to emerge stronger than before to meet the challenges of the new scenarios, opportunities and challenges being presented to us both locally and abroad. I am proud to be part of this challenge and my only hope is that many more will join the Kamra and take an active part in its proceedings and activities.”

Elections for the new Council took place at the end of the General Meeting. The Council’s composition is as follows: Vincent Cassar, President; Simone Vella Lenicker, Vice President and Honorary Secretary; Malcolm Gingell, Treasurer; and Council Members Ruben Paul Borg, Keith Cole, Anthony Fenech Vella, Joseph Galea, Alberto Miceli Farrugia, Danica Mifsud, and Damian Vella Lenicker. The Council has already set itself a number of tasks for the year ahead, and will keep Members abreast of progress over the months through this journal, the Kamra’s website www.ktpmalta.com and various email communications. One of the main tasks will certainly be related to the amendments to the Periti Act which, at the time of going to print, had reach the second reading stage in Parliament. the architect

17

by Perit David Grima

Since the earthquake in L’Aquila in Italy in 2008, many people across the Mediterranean have been shocked and worried. The earthquake was rated as 5.8 on the Richter scale and 308 people lost their lives. Widespread damage was caused to the buildings and infrastructure.

Although Italy lies in a tectonically complex region, it must be noted that other countries have survived far more powerful earthquakes with much less damage caused.

It is well known that poor building standards were applied when constructing the now collapsed buildings. The concrete elements seem to have been made of poor concrete with inferior materials being used. The structural systems used were also inferior and not designed to withstand any lateral forces as caused by earthquakes. Cities such as California and Tokyo have constructed far larger and more complex structures which have survived very powerful earthquakes. Therefore, since the L‘Aquila earthquake many people in Malta have been asking whether the deswign of buildings locally makes them resistant to earthquakes.

There are various possibilities, though one must understand that seismic forces are inertia forces, so that when an object such as a building experiences acceleration (as caused by an earthquake), an inertia force is generated when its mass resists the acceleration. The single most important factor determining the inertia force in a building is its weight. The force is proportional to the mass or weight and the heavier an object the greater the inertia force.

Therefore it is ideal to build as lightweight a structure as is practicable.

When designing larger buildings such as office blocks or hospitals it is vey important for the engineer to carefully plan out the building.

Examples of this are the positioning of the services cores and stairwells. These often provide the most resistance to lateral forces and it is important that their positions coincide with the centre of mass so that the building is as stiff as possible.

Smaller buildings which are well constructed and considerably light will easily survive a moderate earthquake. The fact that these smaller buildings are well tied together using

18

the architect

This image depicts serious damage that occurred to a multi-storey building in Chile. In this case the lower storey columns collapsed, resulting in the loss of lives. Good designers will avoid this type of collapse and aim for a strong column - weak beam interaction system within the structure.

This picture depicts a simple explanation of the forces that occur during an earthquake.

concrete slabs or beams will add to the rigidity and hence overall resistance to an earthquake.

What is perhaps more worrying are the larger apartment buildings. A very common structural system in Malta has been to support apartment blocks on pre-stressed concrete slabs (planki). These slabs are often preferred due to the fact that basement garages are often constructed beneath the apartment floor levels, with different wall layouts being used at basement and upper levels. These planki consist of separate concrete elements which are not adequately tied into the supporting wall structure (or even into each other sometimes). This lack of continuity and adequate support prevents adequate load transfer which could be catastrophic in an earthquake. Today, various large buildings are being constructed using reinforced concrete transfer slabs which offer far better protection in case of earthquakes and are also cheaper to construct as they are specifically designed for each building.

The vertical wall systems that support planki or transfer slabs should also be well tied together using steel and concrete to prevent any unwanted sliding in the case of an earthquake. Framed buildings always perform better and abroad it has become very common to construct residential buildings out of concrete or steel frames. The floor slab is normally designed as one continuous whole and the walls are then constructed out of gypsum. This creates a lighter structure as well as a more flexible one which performs very well in the case of an earthquake. This system allows the client to be more versatile with his building and it allows a prospective buyer to position walls wherever he/she deems fit without the hassles of creating openings in masonry walls.

Foundations are also considerably important and it is crucial that a building is well supported if it is to respond well to ground movement caused by any seismic activity.

A very interesting and popular structural system is adopted in Japan and other seismic zones where earthquakes are common.

Here, buildings are mainly constructed out of frames and designed with the view of directly minimising the loss of life. The engineer always ensures that the supporting columns would be the last elements to fail as their collapse would lead to the whole building collapsing and hence a larger loss of life. One would ensure that the horizontal slabs or beams would fail prior to the vertical column and wall elements in the case of a powerful earthquake. This concept was used when

designing a large office building block in the south of Malta. The structure was designed to withstand an earthquake and the vertical elements were protected so that they would be the last to fail. All horizontal beams were also designed to fail gradually rather than in a sudden brittle manner and all this was made possible by making full use of the ductility of reinforced concrete.

By designing a stiff but considerably lightweight building one can ensure that a building will respond well in the case of an earthquake. Through careful design and detailing the loss of life and even overall damage could well be minimised.

Heritage beneath Sliema

by Perit Edward Said

In recent years, now that enough time has passed, much attention has been given to the rediscovery of one of the greatest feats of civil engineering ever carried out in this country. I am here referring to the excavation of kilometres of underground passages and chambers designed to provide refuge for the civil and military population of Malta during the Second World War from the brutal air-raids inflicted by Axis bombers. What I find impressive is that this immense task was carried out with almost surgical precision under the supervision of a hierarchy of overseers including civil servants, architects, master masons and various craftsmen, in accordance with carefully drawn-up architectural plans and briefs, whilst the bombs were literally falling around them.

As the ports and aerodromes bore the brunt of the attacks, the sleepy seaside resort of Sliema was often targeted.

Records show that by the end of 1941, at least 94 such public air-raid shelters had already been excavated here. These were

This image shows a tall building under construction.

As has become common in many countries, tall buildings are being designed using a concrete core within the middle of the building. The outer perimeter of the building is constructed using a steel or concrete frame. The central core provides most of the stiffness needed in order to resist the lateral forces resulting from the seismic activity.

This construction worker is placing U-Bars and carefully detailing the steel rebar within the soon to be poured concrete member. It is important that all reinforced concrete members are well detailed and well anchored into their supporting structural members. By carefully anchoring structural elements one is ensuring that the structure is stiffer and will offer more resistance to vertical and horizontal loads.

MARCH 2012

heritage &

earthquake

Guidance on designing Earthquake Proof Buildings in Malta

Cubilcle within the refuge below the Sliema Government School

MARCH 2012

located in strategically selected sites with entrances positioned in easily identifiable and reachable spots in the streets of the town.

For over ten years now I have visited and researched a number of these forgotten subterranean spaces and learned much about their design and peculiarities. As in Valletta, the larger refuges, such as one beneath Prince of Wales Road (today Manwel Dimech Road) incorporated a copious water reservoir, providing cover for at least 500 people. Other purposecut shelters such as those in the vicinity of Dingli Street had to be reinforced with masonry shells roofed in elliptical vaults as the rock attained a friable, sometimes argillaceous composition. At least two other refuges beneath Tower Road and Old College Street included chapels.

The countless cubicles excavated by the public for private use are a study unto themselves with their different modes of personalisation trying to give a semblance of the homes above, be it in the patterned tiles used as floor finishes, to the niches meant for lighting or storage, and the bedding and seating arrangements. The Dingli Circus and Victoria Terrace shelters were fitted with electric lighting, the fittings of which still exist today.

The treasure of drawings and surveys found at the archives of the Works Division as well as the records at the National Archives show the meticulous organisation described earlier of this undertaking.

What they do not show are the unspoken lengths of tunnels excavated below private properties for sheltering purposes.

One can only guess what lies beneath the larger houses and their gardens; sadly many of these having been recently lost to development.

What is most precious and precarious in my view however are the people who have vivid memories about what life was like beneath Sliema. Speaking to veterans clearly shows that ultimately despite the bitter, sometimes squalid conditions they had to endure, these cavernous warrens

Vaulted air-raid shelter below Don Rua Street, Sliema

Dingli Street, Sliema, during an air-raid. Note the striped shelter hood on the right (Courtesy Sliema Scouts Group)

were the salvation of the Maltese during those very tough times.

The Sliema Local Council together with the Sliema Heritage Society is committed to continue studying these sites, generat-

ing more awareness about their historic value and ensuring that they are safeguarded from any damage. An illustrated publication on the subject is also being planned. the architect

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“Conrad Thake has researched and assessed Scamp’s work in Malta as well as elsewhere, before and after his four year stay amongst us. He has produced not only a fascinating work of scholarship and critical revaluation, but has also put Scamp in historical perspective. In the process it adds to our understanding of an important period of our social, economic and political history in the middle decades of the nineteenth century.”

President Emeritus Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici

in Malta

CONRAD THAKE

“The monograph re-dimensions the stature of William Scamp as a key player in the shift from the Baroque rhetoric of the Knights of St John to a new architectural expression that better reflected the new political-so cio-economic realities forged by the French and Industrial Revolutions. He comes out as an inspired multifaceted, state-of-th architect who experimented with new e art materials and techniques.”

Professor Mario Buhagiar Head Department of History of Art, University

of Malta

disastrous and Scamp was brought in to rectify the situation and take the project forward.

Scamp’s re-working of the initial design saw the construction of the bell tower at the back of the cathedral and this can be considered as the architect’s contribution to Valletta’s unique skyline. This section of the book is well supplemented by previously unpublished plans (personally signed by Scamp) that are housed in the collection of St Paul’s Collegiate in Rabat. A detailed and informative explanation of these plans is carried as an appendix.

This is an important publication that is well produced with ample high-quality illustrations. The images support the text rather than the reverse – as has been the case in some recent publications. I am convinced that there is scope for a mini-series on architects that worked in Malta during the British period.

This volume may therefore be considered as a foretaste of others to come. The author is to be congratulated for this effort as well as urged to pen the next one.

Who is the architect who drew this wonderful watercolour drawing of the Valletta skyline from the Marsamxett Harbour side, and during which period was he active in Malta?

The winner of this competition will be entitled to a copy of the book “Modernist Malta: The Architectural Legacy.” Send your entries to: The Editor, The Architect Competition, Kamra tal-Periti, The Professional Centre, Sliema Road, Gzira, or by email on thearchitect@ktpmalta.com.

The first correct entry drawn on the 30 April 2012 will win. Only residents of the Maltese Islands are eligible to participate. Members of the Editorial Board and their families are not eligible to participate.

The winner of the competition carried in Issue 57 is Mr Stephen Micallef.

Congratulations! The image published shows St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Valletta and the architect who supervised its construction was William Scamp. the architect

MARCH 2012

Thomas Demand: Model Studies Acclaimed German artist Thomas Demand is best known for his large scale photographs that question the medium as a faithful record of reality. His exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary is a result of a residency at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles where he discovered the archive of the celebrated architect John Lautner (1911 – 1994). Lautner’s glamorous and curvaceous homes have featured in many films, including the 1971 Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. Demand himself has a keen interest in architecture. His own art involves making painstaking paper models of architectural interiors and other built environments and then photographing them.

Despite the absence of people and his often deceptively ordinary scenes, they are loaded with significance. He has made models of the Oval Office of the US President, the tunnel in Paris where Princess Diana had her fatal accident and a Florida counting station where a contested vote in 2000 elected George W.Bush instead of Al Gore. Demand’s exhibition is based on 12 architectural models he discovered in the Lautner archive. Demand’s own models are destroyed immediately after he has photographed them. “They have one peak of perfectness, of immaculate beauty, sometimes just for a day or two. If you don’t catch the shot on that day, it’s gone,” he has said. In contrast Lautner’s models are old, bruised and well-used, a humble counterpoint to his heroic, spectacular architecture. www.nottinghamcontemporary.org Now to 18 March 2012; Danish Architecture Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark

Drawing by Drawing This exhibition explores architects' drawings as a medium; the exchange of ideas and visions through drawing – exemplified by the network of people around the architect Svein Tønsager.

It collects drawings and observations from some of the world's leading architects, offering a unique opportunity to gain insight into a visual universe centred around the creation of architecture. As a technical and artistic genre, architectural drawing goes back more than 2,000 years – architects have always drawn by hand. Within the last twenty years, digital drawing tools have massively contributed at a global level to changing both the way architects work and the visualisation of the physical shapes of architecture. Architectural drawing has been changed forever. Visitors to this exhibition can experience more than one hundred modern suggestions as to how architectural drawing may be presented MARCH 2012

and become a form of artistic expression. www.dac.dk Now to 23 March, 2012; Scottish Parliament, Glasgow, Scotland

Design and Democracy 'Design and Democracy' presents in Parliament the work of recently graduated designers from Scotland's renowned art schools. Whether they are designing for health, sustainability or are advocates of co-design, their concepts demonstrate the positive role that design can play in our everyday lives. The exhibition is the result of a unique partnership between Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, The Glasgow School of Art, Gray's School of Art and the Scottish Parliament. www.gsa.ac.uk Now to 03 April 2012; Museum of Design, Zurich, Switzerland

Black and White: Designing Opposites

Now to 09 April 2012; Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, Germany

RAPPORT. Experimental space structures Jürgen Mayer H. (*1965), founder of the Berlin architectural office J. MAYER H., gained a national and international reputation for his innovative buildings, objects and interventions into space. His team works at the interface between drafts and free dynamic forms. The experimental space structures offer new insights into his interdisciplinary approach. For the museum’s 10-metre high entrance area J. Mayer H. has developed a walk-in installation. Walls and floor are clad in carpeting, on which data security patterns are printed in black and grey. The work’s space-consuming concept negates the strict geometry of the entrance hall. The considerably enlarged, repeating patterns produce a flickering impression and transform the white cube into a playful scenario of interpermeating forms and structures. Supplementary three-dimensional models translate the twodimensional patterns into concrete forms. www.berlinischegalerie.de Now to 22 April 2012, MAK Exhibition Hall, Vienna, Austria

Black and white polarise and are seen as radical and particularly expressive.

The two colours are shaped by contrasts such as light and darkness or life and death. Common to both is a claim to absoluteness but also the expression of demarcation or distance, as well as protest. The ways in which they are used relate to specific cultural circles and are illustrated in various social phenomena. In architecture, design and fashion black and white generally stand for values such as abstraction, elegance and timelessness, but beyond this understanding there opens up an entire cosmos of motifs and cultural traditions. Thus design in black and white interprets this cultural spectrum or reformulates it. With its rich contrasts this exhibition explores the design potential of the outermost extremes in the spectrum of colours. Following an introduction to the cultural and social meaning the spotlight is turned on the idea, application and effect of black and white in architecture, design and fashion of modernism and the present day. www.museum-gestaltung.ch

Envisioning Buildings - Reflecting Architecture in Contemporary Art Photography This event is an exploration of the agency of contemporary art to influence thinking about architecture as an interrelated discipline.

“Envisioning Buildings” reflects the MAK’s commitment to producing exhibitions and publications that engage art/architecture/ design and conjoin them in a way to test whether, and how, they can be transformed. www.mak.at Now to 29 April 2012; Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK

Albertopolis: the Development of South Kensington and the Exhibition Road Cultural Quarter Drawing on previously unseen objects from the V&A and RIBA collection, this display charts the development of South Kensington and the Exhibition Road Cultural Quarter from 1851 up to the present day. It examines how the site became

West elevation of the Science Schools and proposed extension, by Sir Henry Cole, 1868.

Museum number: E.2034-1921.

Copyright: © V&A Images.

the architectural embodiment of Prince Albert’s ambitious cultural aspirations. www.vam.ac.uk Now to 12 May 2013, Danish Design Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark by Design The exhibition 'Denmark by Design' shows the development in Danish design from 1945-2010. Decade by decade you will be able to follow Danish design's focus on the individual, the home, the workplace, the public space and resolutions to societal issues. The exhibition explores the trends that has been over time and how these trends have influenced the designers' solutions and modes of expression. The exhibition also explores the new generation of designers and companies that will design the decades to come - and maintain Denmark's position as a leading design nation. www.ddc.dk Now to 15 July 2012; Design Museum, London, UK

Designs of the Year 2012 The Design Museum’s Design Awards, ‘the Oscars of the design world’, showcases the most innovative and progressive designs from around the world, spanning seven categories: Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics and Transport and Product. A high profile judging panel will decide the best entries in each of the seven categories. Category award winners and the overall winner of the Design of the Year Award 2012 will be announced at an Awards event in April 2012. Visit the exhibition blog at designsoftheyear.com. www.designmuseum.org 12 April to 15 June 2012; RIBA, London, UK

Contemporary Norwegian Architecture: Landscape and Intervention by Reiulf Ramstad and Jensen & Skodvin Reiulf Ramstad Architects and Jensen & Skodvin Architects are two of the most high-profile and innovative practices based in Norway. This exhibition explores their work, highlighting rural contemporary Norwegian architecture through the National Tourist Routes in Norway scheme. A selection of Tourist Routes projects - completed across the country - are displayed by each practice, in addition to a range of other buildings that have been undertaken, including housing and public works. www.architecture.com

the architect

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international events

book review & competition

COMPETITION 20

Cottonera waterfront will integrate the dock into the Cospicua urban fabric and will also allow the general public into this masterpiece of naval engineering.

Further up Galley Creek in Birgu one is struck by what must be one of the most imposing buildings lining the Grand Harbour – The Maritime Museum. Since its opening in 1992 the museum has welcomed thousands of visitors who in turn have admired maritime artefacts, paintings and displays. Many of these visitors leave the museum with little or no idea as to the history of the building that houses it. In the volume under review, one finds an in depth appreciation of an architectural gem that was built on the site on another – the Galley Arsenal. The author uncovers a degree of sensitivity towards Malta’s built heritage as some people were not happy with the notion of pulling down historic buildings in order to make way for new ones. Descriptions of building techniques contained in this volume are very detailed yet fluid enough to be grasped by the lay reader. The constant expansion of the museum should open up new spaces to the public thus ensuring the upkeep of this monument to industrial architecture.

Chapters five and six of the book cover Scamp’s last major contribution in Malta – the Anglican Cathedral. A project to build this place of worship had got off to an inauspicious start.

Richard Lankesheer, a royal engineer, had drawn up plans that were ‘insensitive’ to local practices and materials. This oversight proved

(1801-1872)

An Architect of the British Admiralty

CONRAD THAKE

In Malta, one finds a disproportionate concentration of people and buildings – the majority of which are concentrated around the harbour area. The inhabitants of our islands have, through the ages and in some form or manner, left an architectural legacy. Be it through the late Neolithic monuments, medieval street patterns or Baroque palaces, the passage of time has been recorded in Malta’s main terrestrial resource: stone. Not all periods of Malta’s history are proportionately represented. Over time, degradation, re-utilisation and recent urban expansion have all contributed to the loss of significant elements of the island’s built heritage. This is especially true for the ancient period. Such a dearth of information however, does not deter archaeologists and ancient historians from piecing together patterns for ancient urban and rural settlements that are no longer in existence.

On the other hand, remnants from Malta’s colonial past abound and yet until recently these have been overlooked. The rich architectural legacy left by the British covers more than military and naval installations but stretches to industrial, funerary as well as domestic facets.

The publication of “Malta – War and Peace” was a bold step taken by C. Thake and Midsea Books to address this imbalance by providing an important overview of British period

architecture in Malta. Thake’s latest publication focuses on the work of a specific British architect, William Scamp, who was active in Malta for a period of four years (1841-1844). Through this work, Thake addresses another imbalance.

Whereas much is known about architects and military engineers who were active during the rule of the Order of St John, the same cannot be said for the British period. The book is divided into seven chapters covering Scamp’s early years, his three major works in Malta and other work the architect completed after leaving the island.

Scamp’s first assignment in Malta was that of constructing a naval dockyard. A previous attempt to install such a facility was made some 30 years earlier. However, as a site, the Birgu ditch proved a hard nut to crack and the project had to be abandoned after much effort and financial loss. The person in charge of this disastrous undertaking rowed out into the Grand Harbour and drowned himself. There would be no room for such failure in the new construction and Thake’s thorough research clearly highlights the meticulous planning that went into Scamp’s preparation for this project.

We also read that the people of Cospicua were contrary to the building of the dock on land appropriated at the head of Galley Creek as it would deny them access to the sea. The project went ahead and the fact that this facility was used up until the late twentieth century is testimony to the high standards aimed for and achieved. The current rehabilitation of the

of the British Admiralty in Malta

Author: Dr Conrad Thake Published by: Midsea Books Reviewed by T. Gambin

WILLIAM SCAMP (1801-1872) – An Architect

William Scamp (1801-1872) - An Architect of the British Admiralty in Malta

Now to 15 April 2012; Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, UK

William Scamp