Malta’s unique built heritage being 'lost at alarming rate'

The president of the Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers expressed serious concern about the alarming rate at which Malta’s unique built heritage was being lost to new development. Addressing the Din l-Art Ħelwa Awards for best Architectural Heritage, Professor Alex Torpiano, who is also the Dean of the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of Malta, did not mince his words when expressing his concern about the future of the built environment in the country. He questioned the planning policies that were allowing full scale demolition of the island’s historic and traditional built heritage. He said Malta’s unique built heritage was being lost as new development was not respectful of the past. He stressed the need to encourage the appreciation of the country’s historic built urban environment. Prof. Torpiano questioned planning policies and challenged architects to use higher skills so as to leave future generations ‘new built heritage’ which is sympathetic to that which already exists. After presenting the awards, Prof. Torpiano praised the successful projects and congratulated the winners. He said that they were outstanding examples of developments, which,...