Malta’s new National Museum of Art at Valletta’s Auberge d’Italie will open to the public in 2018 and will house artworks produced up until the 20th century.

Speaking at the official presentation yesterday of Muża, as the museum will be known, Heritage Malta chairman John Buttigieg said the museum will encourage social mobility by enriching the Maltese to become more cultured and educated.

Eighteen designs had been submitted for the Valletta 2018 flagship project, all of which will form part of an exhibition which will run until October 21. The winning design was that presented by a multinational team  DTR, CYAN Engineering and Martello Media.

The museum will encourage social mobility by enriching the Maltese to become more cultured and educated

The main and lateral facades of the Auberge will be restored and tenders for the execution of works will be out next year.

The museum will have two access points  on Merchant Street and Pjazza de Valette. A possible third access point is currently under discussion.

The main courtyard will function as a public space including a Muża bookshop, a cafe and other services. The cafe will have glazed walls overlooking Pjazza de Valette.

The main Muża galleries will be located on the first floor while conference and exhibition facilities will be available at ground floor.

The second floor will host a study collection, library and small conference facilities.

The museum will be energy efficient and is expected to generate the energy it consumes, it will recycle used water and will also promote the intelligent use of natural light.

The museum hit the headlines last June after Alex Torpiano, a partner at TBA Periti, expressed his frustration over the disqualification of his office’s entry in the Muża contest, which had been awarded the highest score by the technical jury.

The reasons for the disqualification were purely administrative and bureaucratic, he had said.