Architectural designs for the private university planned by Jordanian developers will not allow the buildings to be converted for residential use, according to a representative.
Yousef Al-Hroub, an architect and planner, said the buildings at Cospicua’s Dock One and Żonqor Point in Marsascala would be specifically designed to serve the functions of a university.
“The designs, which will be communicated to the public, will cater for educational needs and anybody in the industry can tell you it will be very problematic to convert the buildings into apartments,” he said.
Mr Al-Hroub, a representative of the Sadeen Group, was speaking to The Sunday Times of Malta after accompanying Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on a visit to Marsascala yesterday. Dr Muscat was given a briefing by architect Ray Demicoli, who will be responsible for the university campus at Żonqor Point.
Asked how serious the investors were in developing a university and not a real estate project, Mr Al-Hroub insisted the use of a building determined its functionality.
“If you design a building for a certain function it will be almost impossible to simply change its use as is being suggested unless this was catered for at design stage.”
He said converting lecture halls into apartments with bathrooms and bedrooms was not feasible.
Dr Muscat yesterday reiterated that the project would only cater for a university and contractual provisions would ensure the two campuses would remain in use for educational purposes.
The designs will cater for educational needs and anybody in the industry can tell you it will be very problematic to convert the buildings into apartments
Dr Muscat used the visit to urge the owners of the ex-Jerma Palace Hotel, which is abandoned, to “get their act together” and come forward with a sustainable project in view of Sadeen’s investment.
The campus at Żonqor Point has been scaled down and will now use 18,000 square metres of land outside the development zone as opposed to the original 90,000 square metres. It will also include 13,000 square metres currently occupied by the former national pool and a car park.
In its reaction, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, a green group, welcomed the location of part of the campus at Cospicua but questioned whether the Dock One area was the best choice. It also criticised the use of ODZ land at Żonqor.
“It becomes increasingly apparent from the reason for refusal of many sites suggested, that the secret agreement signed with Sadeen promised seafront locations,” FAA said, asking since when was a sea view a priority for an academic institution.
The University Students Council, KSU, welcomed the choice in Cospicua but insisted the Marsascala campus on ODZ land should be relocated to developed areas.
kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com