The €1.6 million re-design of Castille Square has come under fire from prominent architects.

While welcoming the decision to pedestrianise the space, they argue that a much better design could have been produced had the government issued a public call.

Designed by the Works Department, the project was unveiled by the government on Monday and must be finished by next November’s Commonwealth Summit.

Chris Briffa, named one of the top 40 European architects under 40 in 2012, said even a first-year architecture student would have come up with a better design.

Alex Torpiano, dean of the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of Malta, said it was a pity that again Maltese architects had not been given the opportunity to showcase their talents.

Urban planner and architectural historian Conrad Thake expressed reservations about “the rather intrusive design”, with its intricate diagonals and obtrusive light fittings at the centre, which would detract from visitors’ appreciation of the baroque features of Castille.

Read more on Times of Malta.