Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1442703
11 COMMERCIAL 13.1.2022 Planning Authority issues emergency conservation for three 'heritage at risk' properties THE Planning Authority has issued Emer- gency Conservation Orders (ECO) for the immediate protection of three properties; Palazzina Vincenti in St Julians and two ver- nacular properties in Qala, which it termed as "heritage at risk". Built straight after the Second World War, Palazzina Vincenti is a pioneering example of mod-ernist architecture where the ex- perimental use of reinforced concrete for domestic purposes was introduced. e Palazzina was built by one of Malta's most prominent architects of the first half of the 20th century, Gustavo Romeo Vincenti. e property, which served as his resi-dence up until his death in 1974, is one of the best modernist examples on the Island, whereby Vincenti's mastery play with the circle and square geometric shapes is taken to an un- prece-dented dimension with protruding forms and sculpted spaces. e ECO has been issued in light that that a development application has been sub- mitted to the Planning Authority with the intention of demolishing the property. is application has ren-dered the property at risk with the irreversible loss of Malta's cul- tural heritage. For this pur-pose, the prop- erty is being regarded as Grade 1 scheduled property by virtue of its historical, architec- tural, and contextual values. is was not the only property Vincenti de- signed in the Sliema - St Julian's area. He had a pri-vate summer residence further up Triq Ġorg Borg Olivier which was built in the Art Nouveau style, and he was also the designer of another scheduled house in Triq Sir Adri- an Dingli, Slie-ma. Vincenti is perhaps most known for "Vincenti Buildings", a scheduled building which re-placed the "Forni della Si- gnoria" in Triq id-Dejqa, Valletta. In Gozo, the PA issued an Emergency Conservation Order (ECO) on two vernac- ular properties in Triq Wied is-Simar, Qala. e Authority believes that these 2-storey properties, that are of ev-ident antiquity and cultural heritage value are at risk, espe- cially given that a planning applica-tion has been submitted proposing the demolition of one of the properties. Under this order, the properties carry a Grade 2 Protection status. Both properties carry typical traditional rural vernacular architectural characteris- tics including a minimal number of aper- tures on the façade with small proportions. e buildings are roofed over with a plain cornice and devoid of a 'parapet' wall. e ECOs which have a one-year validity period will enable the Authority, in collab- oration with the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, to carry out a full and thorough assessment of the buildings to determine the long-term level of protection the prop- erties merit. e ECOs also oblige the owners of the properties to ensure that the buildings do not incur any further damage and that their upkeep and maintenance shall be exclusive- ly their responsibility by means of a contin- uous maintenance programme.