Two vertical concrete platforms erected at Haywharf in Pietà last week have caused an outcry. Overshadowing the majestic bastions behind them, a picture of the grey concrete structures ended up making the rounds on Facebook.

“Look what’s coming,” Tim Ellis wrote on his Facebook wall beneath a picture of the development, provoking a torrent of criticisms, with some even dubbing it the Eighth Wonder of the World, modelled on the Colossus of Rhodes.

Others like Peter Ciarlo suggested they could form part of a new film set for The Transformers movie: “They’re building Optimus Prime!”

Andrew Vinci took it one step further, describing the building as “il-macina v2.0”, with reference to the old Labour Party headquarters in Senglea. But the reaction was typical of the shock generated when artist impressions are actually turned into real structures.

I never expected anything this obscene!

The concrete structures and adjacent buildings form part of a €4.8 million project part-funded by the EU to upgrade the army’s maritime base at Haywharf that also includes the extension of the quay.

The vertical structures will support new lifting equipment able to pluck vessels from the water and put them back in at a moment’s notice.

The start of the upgrade process had been announced in November last year and an artist’s impression had also been reproduced.

But while many would have disregarded the news item, Astrid Vella, leader of environmental group Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), did not.

Writing on Facebook she expressed disgust. “When we had tried to object about three years ago, we were told that they are exempt from Mepa permits because AFM structures fall under the national security exemption. But I never expected anything this obscene! Where is UNESCO?”

The project is expected to improve facilities for soldiers and provide a better reception centre for rescued migrants. Whether it will improve the urban fabric of the area is another matter altogether.