Time for architecture

Today is World Architecture Day and, for the third year running, the Chamber of Architects is holding Timeforarchitecture. T4A3 which will run until October 20, consists of a range of architectural events that should attract both architects and the public. It forms part of a strategy to create space for debate about architecture on the national agenda.

In choosing the theme Transmitting Zero CO2 Emission Architecture to celebrate World Architecture Day, the UIA (the International Union of Architects) aims to demonstrate the ability of architects to contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through the ecological design of buildings and cities.

No less than 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from the construction and transportation sectors. To remedy this, the mobilisation of the world's architects is crucial. It is their responsibility to pass on to future generations a built heritage and urban environment that do not compromise the planet's future and its climate. Through this year's WDA celebration, the UIA hopes to highlight architects' understanding and mindfulness of the current ecological emergency and has invited its members to set up an agenda around this theme.

This year's events will kick off tonight with an exhibition of contemporary Maltese architecture together with Designs, an exhibition organised by SACES, the architecture students organisation in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the University of Malta. This exhibition will run until October 19 and is located on the first floor of the Auberge d'Italie in Valletta, the offices of the Ministry for Tourism and Culture.

On Friday, a half-day seminar will be held in Gozo with the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences of Brenburg on the theme Landscape Architecture In The Design/Build Process and will discuss best practice in Europe and its potential impact on the built and rural environment in Malta.

On Saturday morning, there will be a children's workshop at St James Cavalier, in Valletta. The proposal for this year's children's workshop is Zero-Emission Architecture and it will seek ways in which sustainability can be explained in simple and effective terms such that children may realise the importance of the built environment and its contribution to a greener environment. The work done throughout the morning will be exhibited during the Notte Bianca celebrations that will be held in the evening that same day.

On Sunday there will be a guided tour to the prehistoric temples of Tarxien, Ta' Hagrat and Ta' Skorba, in collaboration with Heritage Malta.

The annual architecture students' workshop will be held between October 19-21 and will be based on the theme Architecture Embraces The Arts.

The events will come to a close on the third weekend with another in the series of Architecture Nights, which will feature world-renowned Austrian architect Peter Lorenz of Peterlorenzateliers. This will be held on October 20 at the Aula Magna, in Valletta.

The theme that inspired this year's events is The Stuff Of Architecture, or the philosophy behind materiality and what architecture is physically made of.

Present for the last weekend will be the presidents of the chambers and associations of architectural professionals attending the UIA regional meeting that will also be hosted here this year.

In the weeks following Timeforarchitecture, the Chamber of Architects hopes to complete a position paper on quality in the built environment. It will look at our evolving landscape and propose new directions for change to cause real and tangible improvements to the quality of our environment.

Then, before the end of the year, architects will meet to discuss change to the profession and to the way it provides a service to clients and the community.

It must become important again to celebrate architecture.

For more information about the events marking T4A3 go to www.ktpmalta.com.

Mr Felice is the president of the Chamber of Architects.