The winners of the 2016 Malta Architect Awards, organised by iMNG Ltd and sponsored by the Planning Authority and Jaguar, were announced during a special ceremony held recently at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

Vincent Cassar

The Rehabilitation and Conservation Award was won by Martin Xuereb for the restoration and upgrading of the Cittadella in Victoria. Also in this category, two special commendations went to Air Stream Group for the refurbishment of Hangar No. 3 at the AFM Airwing Quarters and to Dorianne Cachia and Amanda de Giovanni from the Restoration Directorate for the rehabilitation and restoration of part of the landfront fortifications of Vittoriosa.

Martin Xuereb won the Public Buildings Award for the rehabilitation and re-use of a British-period reservoir, transforming it into a visitors’ facility. A special commendation also went to Ray Demicoli for his project comprising the replacement of what was previously a cluster of derelict and non-descript structures, known as the House of the Four Winds, into a delicate, pavilion-like structure in a highly sensitive location abutting the fortifications onto Marsamxett.

The Residential Projects Award went to Bernard Vella and Ian Camilleri Cassar for the redevelopment of an existing residence in Triq l-Imrieħel, Birkirkara.

Sarah Calleja and Alexia Rausi won the Interior Design Projects Award for designing the Photo City shop in Valletta. Two special commendations in this category also went to Archi Architect Studio for the refurbishment of an apartment in Ta Xbiex and to Alan Galea, Simon Grech and Andrew Vinci for the interior design of the new Engel & Volkers Sara Grech offices in Mrieħel.

The Hospitality and Leisure Projects Award went to Ian Critien and Andrea Vassallo Cesareo for their project related to the conversion and change of use of a residence to a guest house in St Ursula Street, Valletta.

The awards

Mario Balzan from the Water Services Corporation got the Infrastructure and Engineering Award for the laying of underground water pipes using trenchless technology methods for the North Infrastructure route from a site at Tat-Tomna to Bingemma and another route from Ta’ Barkat Sewage Treatment Plant at Xgħajra to the Sant’Antnin Sewage Treatment Plant in Marsascala.

The Young Architect Awards was won by Paula Agius Vadala and Kata Abela Cassar for the interior design and refurbishment of the offices of a religious institution.

Vincent Cassar, chairman of the jury, who presented the awards, said he hoped the awards would, in time, introduce a culture of excellence with the profession. “Excellence cannot, and must not, remain a cliché word we only aspire to or use in places or events but needs to become the DNA and mindset of the profession of an architect.”