Preserving Valletta’s skyline (1)

I write in relation to the misplaced decision by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to grant permission for construction of extra floors on an existing building in Strait Street, Valletta.

At this point in time, I believe that most readers are aware of the debate between the Chamber of Architects, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, Din l-Art Ħelwa and the public on one hand and the government through Mepa on the other over the ill-meant government project in Strait Street. As an architect and ardent patriot of our capital city, I am highly concerned about this unwarranted plan by Mepa to join two adjacent houses in Strait Street and raise it to eight floors so as to house the judiciary chambers and a Drugs Court.

The status of Valletta as a monumental capital city is threatened by such unplanned developments. It is common knowledge to all that Valletta has not only been designated as an urban conservation area but also as a Unesco World Heritage Site. This status is now being threatened by the encroachment of Valletta’s supposedly protected skyline in the form of mushrooming extra floors on a number of buildings as well as other unsightly additions viewable from across the harbour.

The continued development of high-storey buildings into the classified skyline of the capital, like the one between Old Bakery and Strait streets, spells further doom for it, when it can possibly earn the prestigious recognition as the European Capital of Culture (ECOC) in 2018. Losing out on this award also means losing out on the opportunity for the city to hold a string of cultural events that would leave a long-term cultural legacy.

Needless to mention, this is no good thing for a city that prides itself as a cultural hub in the region as well as globally. This is something that Mepa, as the national authority responsible to regularise development in our capital city, cannot be allowed to do.

It is evident that there is a conflict of interest within the government because it is well known that it has committed a huge financial allocation to the culture sector despite the difficult economic times so as to win the bid for ECOC while it continues to shoot itself in the foot with such constructions.

In addition, the extensions on the building in Strait Street are in total disregard of the narrow width of the road below it. This does more harm than good because it goes a long way to adding to the already existing headache of traffic congestion in the city. The street itself needs some clearance to enable an easy flow of traffic and humans.

To this end, there is no doubt that the skyline of the capital city needs to be preserved if its prestige is to be maintained and improved further. There is need for the authorities to strike a reasonable balance between old and new, where there can be better use of roofs while preserving the skyline. Addition of extra floors on buildings is not the way to go.

It is high time a debate regarding the style and scale of new buildings in Valletta were held. We cannot take the sorry state of affairs any more, where there are no planning policies setting height limitations for buildings in Valletta. Mepa has to act fast to revert this bad decision by either downsizing the project or else dismantling it completely.