Waterfront project wins European conservation medal
Denmark's Prince Henrik for award ceremony in Malta
The Valletta Waterfront Project has won a medal for conservation of architectural heritage from the European Commission and Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Heritage.
It is only the second time that such a medal has been awarded to Malta.
In all, five top prizes, in the form of monetary awards, as well as nine medals (2nd prize) and 17 diplomas (3rd prize) have been won from a field of 214 applications and nominations.
The awards recognise best practices in heritage conservation on a European level. Europa Nostra is the representative platform of over 200 heritage NGOs active throughout Europe.
The waterfront project is by Architecture Project partner David Drago. Architecture Project was also awarded the top prize for the Valletta Waterfront Project in the Din l-Art Helwa Architectural Heritage Awards for 2005.
The award will be presented to the firm at the Europa Nostra Congress to be held in association with Din l-Art Helwa, the national trust, at the Hotel Westin Dragonara on May 19.
The prestigious event will be presided over by Europa Nostra President, HRH Prince Henrik, the Prince Consort of Denmark.
The applications and nominations were assessed by independent experts and evaluated by the Heritage Awards Juries in recent months.
The range of exemplary initiatives submitted illustrate the many facets of Europe's cultural heritage, ranging from the restoration of buildings and sites, their adaptation to new uses, new building projects in conservation areas, urban and rural landscape rehabilitation, to archaeological sites, care for collections, outstanding research and dedicated service to heritage conservation.
The European Heritage Awards were jointly launched in 2002 by Europa Nostra and the European Commission in the framework of the Commission's Culture 2000 programme.