Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1354201
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 MARCH 2021 7 ARCHITECTURE environment neighbourhood, we see exactly that. The real challenge is intro- ducing something new which can effectively give added val- ue to what is already exist-ing, while not in competition for its focus of attention. When a design is understood to be a necessary con-temporary con- tribution to a city, the accept- able and essential vehicles for use are compatibility, mini- mal inter-vention and respect. Three crucial concepts which are non-existent in the major- ity of projects constructed lo- cally. The Maltese landscape is extremely rich in cultural heritage and yet fragile due to its scale and density. However, unfortunately, the lack of fore- sight is uncontrollably destroy- ing and defacing every streets- cape and village core. The current disappointing state of architecture in Malta is vindicated by the radical ideas of progress, innova-tion and capitalism, in an often-trau- matic expansion of our towns and cities. Forces of investment and plan-ning inefficiencies have marginalised the human aspect in our urban environ- ment, allowing for a chaotic ap-proach for new develop- ments to fill in the blank. All this undermines the value of a place for the community and its sense of belonging, as a consequence of dangerous decisions being taken, deter- mined by the immediate mon- etary value rather than an aes- thetic one. Attributing cultural morals to the intentions of new interventions, will be econom- ically more viable in the com- ing years, as the attractiveness of cities is linked to uniqueness, identity and tradition; which in today's global-ised world is be- ing lost to the faux attributes of a progressive society. While we are rampantly try- ing to develop every square meter of land we can get our hands on solely on the basis of financial motivation, the rest of the world is talking about con- text and the relationships with the past, the city, the material, and the people. The architec- ture profession has the duty to make an integrated ex-change contribution, by creating a conversation with the context. Adjacencies of historical over- lays create an interesting con- tinuous conversation and a way of viewing the past. After all coexistence of different layers of history make our present, but should lay the foundations for our future. Karl Camilleri has success- fully completed a Masters in Architecture at the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Ita-ly. His research focuses on archi- tectural design and the adap- tive reuse of existing build- ings. The author is a recipient of the Malta Arts Scholarship Scheme, financed by the Gov- ernment of Malta. Le Murate Prison turned Residential and Art District, Firenze by Architects Renzo Piano, Mario Pittalis, Giusep- pina Fantozzi, Roberto Melosi (2004). Photo by Piermario Ruggeri