Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1492791
16.2.2023 11 COMMERCIAL ing the true potential of an interior space of new or refurbished commer- cial buildings or public buildings and maximise the benefit of environmen- tal influences such as natural light, sound, and ventilation and incorpo- rate innovative material. The Urban Planning Concept Award, also open to university archi- tectural students, is given for pro- jects still in their concept stage and where innovative planning solutions are identified through which existing challenges in a given space may be addressed. Maria Spiteri, MASP Awards organ- iser said "We are humbled with the record number of entries we received for this year's edition of the MASP Awards. The response by Periti, ar- chitectural firms, interior designers and architecture students shows the pride and dedication professionals working in the architecture and de- sign industry have in their work." Spiteri remarked, "with the high quality of submitted projects, the jury members have a difficult task on their hands to identify the winners." Once again, this year, the jury will be made up of a number of high-pro- file professionals within the industry. Chaired by the Past President of the Commonwealth Association of Architects, Perit Vincent Cassar, the jury members will include Dr Sandro Debono, a museum thinker and cul- ture strategist representing the Of- fice of the President, Dr Kevin Gatt, Architect and Lecturer at the Univer- sity of Malta with a specialisation in sustainable development, Dr Wendy Mifsud, an Architect and Planner with interest in participatory ap- proaches to decision-making in spa- tial planning and Frank Salt, an influ- ential and respected entrepreneur. The foreign members will include Katherine Neathercoat, Director and Head of Interior Design at Scott Brownrigg, who leads the creative de- sign direction of the award-winning Interior Design team, Saša Randić, an Architect and former President of the Croatian Architects Association and Prof. Guendalina Salimei, an archi- tect and founding partner of t-studio, Professor at the University of Ascoli Piceno, and the University of Rome La Sapienza and editor of the maga- zine il Progetto. Technical experts are also appoint- ed for each category to assist the jury in evaluating. The small projects category, which was introduced this year, was also popular, receiving ten entries. This category is aimed at projects that, through quality design, creativity and originality, managed to work within a relatively small area (not more than 170 sqm). The other categories include Reha- bilitation and Conservation, Design Award for Good Architecture, Build- ing and Structure, Restoration, Public Open Spaces, Commercial and Public Buildings, Interior Architecture for Residential Projects, Residential Ar- chitecture, Architectural Photogra- phy and Architectural Engineering. The public will also be allowed to vote for their favourite architectural and design project between 20 Febru- ary and 12 March. Voting will be carried out online through the MASP website www. maspawards.com. The project which receives the highest number of votes will win the Public Vote honour. The public vote is separate from the main MASP Awards 2022 judging process, in which professional judges and technical experts assess entries. The MASP Awards fall under the Patronage of the President of Malta. The winners will be announced at an award ceremony held on Saturday, the 1st of April, 2023.