ISSUE NO. 75 | MAY 2017 THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KAMRA TAL-PERITI T ER POS P A P EWS N DIADE by LUCEPLAN - A quality LED fitting with sound absorbing panels integrated into it’s design. Visual and acoustic comfort - combined. DEX The Architect May2017.indd 1 16/05/2017 16:17 The Architect adv - 280x280.indd 1 17/05/2017 14:53 contents 12 PRACTICE 04 4 Editorial 5 KTP NEWS 19 6-9 PEOPLE & PROJECTS 10 EU DESK 11 SaceS FEATURE 12 22 12-15 DIN L-ART HELWA AWARDS 16-17 INDUSTRIAL HeritaGE 18 EFAP 19 SANCTUARIES OF THE SOUL 18 16 curreNT 20 20 LEGAL 21 REVIEW / COMPETITION 22 INTERNATIONAL EVENTS “L’architettura deve cantare” Mario Pisani (see pages 12-15) MAY 2017 THE ARCHITECT 3 The Architect adv - 280x280.indd 1 17/05/2017 14:53 THE PROFESSIONAL CENTRE SLIEMA ROAD & The politics GZIRA GZR 06 - MALTA TEL./FAX. (+356) 2131 4265 EMAIL: [email protected] EDITORIAL of space WEBSITE: www. ktpmalta.org To support members of the profession in achieving excellence in their As Malta is plunged into an early election campaign, to understand the impacts that the state of our built practice of architecture and engineering in the interest of the community it is clear that the political debate has been taken environment is having on our communities, and how over by one main issue: the credibility and ability of it is affecting social justice. We must acknowledge The Council of the Kamra tal-Periti for the year 2017 either of the main parties to lead the country. Other that the way we shape both our natural and built consists of Perit Alex Torpiano, President; Perit Simone Vella Lenicker, Vice President; Perit Amber Wismayer, Honorary equally important issues have not featured much in environment has long-lasting effects on our quality Secretary; Perit Chris Mintoff, Past President; Jeanette this campaign, the built environment being one of of life, and particularly on the most vulnerable mem- Abela, Periti Anthony Bezzina, Sandro Cini, David Felice, them. bers of our society. Alberto Miceli Farrugia, Lara Mifsud, Andre Pizzuto. The Architect is the official journal of the Kamra Tal-Periti. This year marks the 10th anniversary from the pub- I borrow, here, the words of Richard Rogers: “When It is published on a quarterly basis and distributed with the lication of The Urban Challenge – Our Quality of Life public space is eroded, our civic culture suffers, even MaltaToday newspaper. The Architect is not to be sold separately. and the Built Environment, the Kamra tal-Periti’s semi- our democracy.” Politics and public space have an The contents of this journal are copyright. Reproduction in part or in full is forbidden without the permission of the editor. nal position paper outlining its vision in this sector. It intimate relationship – both deal with public life, The opinions expressed by writers of signed articles and is therefore opportune to take a look back, and put the relationships we have with others, how we live letters appearing in the magazine are those of their respective together a mini-manifesto, which whoever makes it together. Public spaces are the stage of public life; authors, and neither the Kamra Tal-Periti nor MediaToday Co. Ltd is responsible for these opinions or statements. through the political foray of the coming days would they are the places where we meet to protest, to cel- do well to heed and implement, because we cannot ebrate, to meet and to trade. We must ensure that our Editor: Simone Vella Lenicker afford to make any more mistakes where it comes to public spaces sustain our quality of life. Consulting Editor: Conrad Thake the built environment. This leads me to the issue of governance. We all Design: Kevin Grech Sales: Adriana Farrugia Tel: 21 382 741 ext. 126 Primarily, we need a serious long-term vision which expect our politicians to ensure that they give us assesses our carrying capacity and which determines heaven on earth, that they listen to each and every Printed at: Print It Printing Services where we want to place our country in the coming whine, and centre their policies around the individ- Published by: years. This vision must take into account both our ual’s needs. Yet politics is wider than that. It includes spatial resources, as well as other matters such as public consultation, it needs public participation, and climate change, resource management, pollution, today I firmly believe that it must also rely on respon- infrastructural upgrades and the natural environ- sible citizenship. Each and every one of us, and here I address my fellow professionals, must take a good, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 4016, Malta ment, the latter being the main victim of our race to Tel: +356 21 382 741, Fax: +356 21 381 992 build more and more intensely. We cannot afford to long and deep look inside and question: what have Email: [email protected] continue to plan in an ad hoc manner, depending on I done to ensure that my interventions in the built the whims of individuals who come forward with a environment have left it better than I found it? How proposed project. Planning is about leading and clear have I contributed to improving the quality of life, not direction, not about following and haphazardness. only of my clients, but also of neighbouring residents ISSUE NO. 75 | MAY 2017 THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KAMRA TAL-PERITI We also urgently need a National Architecture and users? Policy, Malta being one of the few European countries All construction activities have an impact on the not to have one. The recent EFAP conference hosted public, and therefore all actors in the sector must in Malta (see page 18) highlighted this fact, and gave think beyond their own needs and act also in the the Kamra tal-Periti the added impetus to push for public interest. Good design is about creating places this more strongly. The setting up of Design Review that are functional, durable, viable, suitable for peo- Panels would complement this, by providing a system ple to use, and that reflect the importance of local of peer review which ensures that we begin to assess character and distinctiveness. projects on the basis of quality, and in particular on The profession must lead by acknowledging the their contribution to their surrounding context. role it plays in all this. Shaping a quality built environ- In his Encyclical “Laudato Sì”, Pope Francis states: ment is a privilege as much as it is an obligation, and “I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about we must enter into a more intimate dialogue with our POST NEWSPAPER how we are shaping the future of our planet. We politicians to forge a better politics of space. need a conversation that includes everyone, since COVER: the environment challenge we are undergoing, and Cittadella Visitor’s Centre in Gozo, by Martin Xuereb & Associates - Silver Medal, DLH Awards its human roots, concern and affect us all.” This dec- Simone Vella Lenicker (see pages 12-15) laration could not hit home more closely – we need Editor 4 THE ARCHITECT MAY 2017 KTP News & ENVIRONMENT AND KTP NEWS DEVELOPMENT PLANNING STANDING COMMITTEE CONSULTATION PROCESS In a letter to the Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, the Kamra tal- Periti (Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers) referred to the Development Planning Act enacted in 2016, and in particular to the procedures estab- lished therein regarding revisions to the Spatial Strategy and to Subsidiary Plans and Local Plans, which require that the Parliamentary Standing Committee for the Environment and Development Planning is consulted on such revisions during the same period as the Planning Authority carries out consultation with the general public. The Committee is required to give its comments on the revisions during the same public consul- tation period. The Kamra tal-Periti stressed that, for tem that had been in place for a number to be a natural tendency in the Maltese applications which are subject to EIAs, the Committee to be truly effective and of years. The new GeoServer provides property development sector to function among other things by indicating why representative, it should have at its dis- significant functionality, and will also in this manner. The grey areas in these a plan/policy is referred to as the basis position the outcome of the public con- allow for the sharing of data gathered two regulations can be easily avoided, if of the decision or why 'any other mate- sultation while considering the proposed by other departments and authorities. SEAs are more detailed. rial consideration' is considered as more revisions. This would aid the Committee The Kamra tal-Periti congratulates the Among other things, the proposed important than the plan/policy. This is in considering, reviewing and under- Planning Authority on the launch of its Regulations talk about the power of the particularly important in cases where standing better the proposal and the new portal, particularly in view of its Environment and Resources Authority ERA is not favourable to the proposal. reactions to the proposed changes by speed and the upgraded graphic repre- (ERA) to request the Planning Authority The Kamra also stated its opinion that the public who, after all, these Members sentation of data. (PA) to refuse, dismiss, withhold, or the proposed changes require additional of Parliament are elected to represent. restrict permission, for a range of rea- resources within the ERA, in particular The Kamra tal-Periti suggested that the EIA REGULATIONS sons. A ‘request’ is not an ‘advice’, and regarding monitoring obligations.