Architects welcome preservation of Rediffusion House

The Chamber of Architects has welcomed the government's decision to withdraw the application to demolish what was formerly known as Rediffusion House in Guardamangia.

Public Broadcasting Services were applying to be able to demolish the building, along with Television House, in order to build new headquarters and a complex of apartments and commercial premises. However the government intervened and the broadcaster withdrew the application after Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar and the Chamber voiced their concern.

The move comes as an example of refreshing foresight that breaks the recent trend adopted by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, which, the Chamber said, deems old buildings as taking precedence over the preservation of contemporary buildings, some of which are iconic examples of excellence in local architecture.

Undeniably, in the fast developing societies of today, buildings need not be older than a century to deserve preservation, the Chamber insisted. "Indeed the reasons why we preserve our built heritage depend on more important criteria, certainly not the gravely misguided notions of nostalgia.

"Had this planning application been accepted, it would have led to the irretrievable loss of one of the pioneering examples of 20th century modern architecture in Malta."

The building may have seen better days but the broadcasting landmark represents a milestone in the development of architecture in Malta in its historic progression from the Baroque to Neo-Classicism to Victorian-era Eclecticism to the Modern Movement, the Chamber added.