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10 COMMERCIAL 8.12.2022 Another successful PA initiative sees traditional balconies restored around Marsamxett area MANY people associate the Planning Authority (PA) only with building per- mits and development regulations, which happens to be only one side of its work. e PA also actively works to im- prove our urban landscapes by promot- ing best practices, building aesthetics, and preserving historical architecture. Amongst other initiatives in the field, the PA has recently successfully con- cluded all works on the Valletta Mar- samxett Grant Scheme. is scheme offered residents living within the Mar- samxett area of Valletta the one-time opportunity to get fully funded for works associated with restoring or re- placing their open or timber balconies, facade apertures, railings, wrought iron grills and corbels. Professional fees and the costs of any scaffolding during work were also being covered by the scheme. It is not coincidental that in this initia- tive, the PA has focused on the historic Valletta quarter of Marsamxett. Long steeped in history, this place suffered the brunt of many wars, including AXIS bombings in the Second World War. Falling outside the commercial heart of the capital, Marsamxett had seen little investment in its buildings for many years, so it ticked all the boxes as a quar- ter in need of attention. is quarter goes back hundreds of years to a time long before the build- ing of the 'new capital' - so it longed for some much-needed TLC. What's in a name? Many times, you can tell a lot from a place name. For- merly known as 'Marsa-Muschetto', it became known as Marsamxett in the local vernacular. e place's name consists of two words, namely 'Marsa', which in Siculo-Arabic means a 'har- bour' and 'Muscheto', which in Sicilian means a musket, that's a muzzle-loaded long gun used in the 16th century. Over the past years, the Planning Au- thority has been at the forefront in pro- viding financial grants to assist property owners in restoring the façade of their residences – including the traditional balcony – or as it popularly referred to in the Maltese language, 'il-Gallarija'. e Maltese closed wooden balcony is one of the most traditional elements within our historic urban landscape and a vital and influential feature within the local streetscape. One can see compara- ble balconies in Spain, Italy, Tunisia and elsewhere in Europe. However, some historians think that the local origins of the wooden clad 'gallarija' may be from the late Middle Ages, when the Sicu- lo-Arabs, with their strong North Af- rican influence, ruled our islands. e 'Muxrabija' window (made of wood or stone) is another element considered the closed balcony's predecessor and traces its origins to the Arab period. It was only through the increased availability and affordability of wood in the local market, sometime in the ear- ly 17th century, that the popularity of the closed wooden balcony propagated and grew in numbers, most especially among the well-to-do in Valletta, the ree Cities and palazzo owners in the towns and villages. During the 19th century, under British rule, increased importation and greater affordability of wood made it easier for the masses to afford a closed wooden balcony. is helped create a new type of craft 'guild'; that of the wooden bal- cony carpenter. With its proximity to Sicily, it is no surprise that many building facades carry so many things in common with those found across the short stretch of sea to the north. Baroque architecture, amongst other styles, can often be seen, and the PA's initiative offered to support facade works and the restoration of ap- ertures. Unfortunately, after the Second World War, many buildings, particularly those in the Marsamxett area, were neglected or badly restored, which depreciated the area's traditional urban characteris- tics and streetscape. Speaking about this PA project in Marsamxett, Oliver Magro, Chairper- son of the PA's Executive Council, said that "today, when walking through most parts of Valletta, one can feel a renewed sense of pride. It is great to see that our capital is nowadays where culture, gas- tronomy, art, entertainment and hospi- tality converge. Valletta is today one of Malta's most desirable destinations." "Of course, Valletta is not just some- where people go for work, culture, shopping, or entertainment. e city is home to thousands and bettering their lives remains a top priority." e funding was made available to qualifying residents, excluding offices, commercial buildings, non-government organisations or religious buildings. 59 properties benefitted from this scheme resulting in a €700,000 invest- ment in Marsamxett alone. Magro hailed this project as another successful one for the PA, concluding that "the scheme was equally about ar- chitectural preservation, as it is to im- prove the social dimension of families living in this area."

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