Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1435356
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 DECEMBER 2021 8 NEWS JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage has concluded that Palazzina Vincenti – an iconic modernist building in St Julian's dating back to the late 1940s hotel – merits inclusion in the list of protected buildings. The building fronting the George Bord Olivier main road, is threatened with complete demolition for a bland 14-storey, 136-room hotel presented by de- veloper Carlo Stivala, in plans by architect Robert Musumeci, the Labour government advisor on its planning reforms. But the Superintendence said the property merits scheduling, so that it may be protected and retained "due to their historical, architectural, social, research, representative, contextual and rarity levels". Moreover the proposed hotel is considered objectionable in view of its adverse visual impact on the nearby urban conservation area of St Julian's, and in close vicinity of several scheduled properties such as Villa Leoni, Casa Caruana Dingli and Cha- teau en Mar. The landmark is a defining part of the St Julian's streetscape, marking the mid- point between Balluta and the St Julian's bays. Palazzina Vincenti was de- scribed by Malta's cultural watchdog as a "well-propor- tioned modernist residence" that was previously the resi- dence of Gustavo Romeo Vin- centi, "one of the most prom- inent architects of the first half of the 20th century, particularly well known for his architectural style that was heavily influenced by geometric shapes and forms". The property was also a "pio- neering example of modernist architecture that made use of reinforced concrete in a domes- tic setting" and its design as "one of the best modernist examples in Malta". The building is also representative of a period of ex- perimentation with "materials, geometry and styles", influenced by international architectural movements. While it is the SCH which makes an assessment of the val- ue of properties proposed for scheduling, it is the Planning Authority's executive council which has to approve the sched- uling. The request to protect the building was originally made by architect Edward Said in Feb- ruary 2019. The SCH says that for the past months it has been studying the works of Gustavo Vincenti with the intention to schedule "the best example" of his legacy. It also said that it has assessed Said's report and concluded that the property has such historical and architectural value, that it has "officially com- mended to the Planning Author- ity that the property is sched- uled, in accordance with Article 58 of the Cultural Heritage Act". Other buildings designed by Vincenti, who was both an ar- chitect and a developer, include the Italian embassy and Vincen- ti Buildings in Valletta, a large block of apartments constructed in the 1930s. Ultimately his versatility led him to shift towards modernism and experimentation with rein- forced concrete, therefore evok- ing a new architectural language. Some of his buildings are influ- enced by Swiss French architect Le Corbusier. According to Said, this style is epitomised in Vin- centi's personal mansion in St Julian's "where fillet-edged cubic volumes pierced picture win- dows and divided with spacious concrete cantilevers all sit on a podium of garages". Superintendence calls for scheduling of St Julian's modernist icon Palazzina Vincenti, now threatened by demolition Call to schedule modernist icon Palazzina Vincenti Palazzina Vincenti is threatened by demolition for its replacement with a 14-storey tower hotel. The iconic modernist building was designed and lived in by architect Gustavo Vincenti, who also built Valletta's Vincenti Buildings PHOTO JAMES BIANCHI MATTHEW AQUILINA On the 26 th anniversary of your tragic and mysterious disappearance together with the other passengers of the Piper Lance 9H-ABU We miss you so much dearest Matthew, love Mama, Papa, Daniel & Adrienne, Gillian, Emma, Sophie, Luisa, Anna, Nino, Mattia, Luca, family and friends. Please remember Matthew in your thoughts and prayers. MATTHEW AQUILINA On the 26 th anniversary of your tragic and mysterious disappearance together with the other passengers of the Piper Lance 9H-ABU We miss you so much dearest Matthew, love Mama, Papa, Daniel & Adrienne, Gillian, Emma, Sophie, Luisa, Anna, Nino, Mattia, Luca, family and friends. Please remember Matthew in your thoughts and prayers. AN updated COVID-19 certif- icate will include the booster and third dose details, within 14 days of its administration. Vaccine recipients can visit certifikatvaccin.gov.mt, follow the instructions, log in the date of the last dose and press "re- print". Until everyone receives the in- vite for the booster, the vaccine certificate of two doses will re- main valid, wherever mandato- ry to present the certificate, in- cluding travelling to Malta. Malta on Saturday recorded 59 new infections over the past 24 hours with hospitalisations in- creasing by six patients. There were 60 recoveries, bringing the total number of ac- tive cases to 1,347. The latest data shows that 21 COVID patients are being treat- ed at Mater Dei Hospital, two of whom are receiving intensive therapy. No deaths were recorded over the past 24 hours. Since the start of the pandemic, Malta has registered 468 deaths. Meanwhile, the roll out of the COVID vaccine booster has continued at a steady pace with 129,330 doses having been ad- ministered so far. COVID-19 certificate to include booster dose details