Architecture & Design

Architecture & Design | 13 are taking a thoughtful approach to architectural design. The efforts of architects and developers putting ideals before money and greed make me happy also seeing local craftsmanship being celebrated in a contemporary fashion puts a smile on my face. On the other hand anonymous lazy developments built in single brick badly built replacing a crafted stone building breaks my heart. If I recall well when Sir Norman Foster visited Malta he said what makes Malta unique is the way our urban environment seems to be crafted out of the stone landscape the colour and materiality gives it its own unique quality, and that is something. Alan: Maltese stone pleases me the most, so when I see low-rise buildings coming up in stone, I think it's a step in the right direction again. Not that plaster is not good but if you look back at buildings over time, the plastered ones without maintenance are probably the main reason why we look so shabby. With regards to what hurts the most, it's probably buildings where the design process starts and stops with adhering to planning policies. Can you name a few buildings that should be on the 'travel list' of young and upcoming, but also established architects. Simon: Our family holidays are generally planned around visiting particular buildings as both my wife and I share the same passion for architecture. The list would be endless. But a few that have moved me are the following: • The Pantheon, Rome, Italy • Le Corbusier's studio apartment in Paris, France • Nordic Pavillion, Venice, Italy • The Centre Pompidou, Paris, France • Castelvecchio, Verona, Italy, • SESC Pompéia Sau Paulo, Brazil • Barcelona Pavillion, Barcelona Alan: This is a difficult one to pin point. Personally, I have experienced Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum in New York, The Sydney Opera House in Australia, Daniel Libeskind's Jewish Museum in Berlin, Norman Foster's Reichstag's Dome also in Berlin, Antonio Gaudi's works in Barcelona to name a few. I am not one for planned travel, I would just travel in general and leisurely roam the streets of many different countries around the world. Who do you admire and why? Simon: I'm not much of a person who admires people I don't know. I believe we all have an equal responsibility to do our best and try to leave this place a little better than how we found it. There are many architects I like but I particularly have a soft spot for Sir Richard Rogers. A particularly colourful person who had his struggles with dyslexia throughout his education even failing at the AA (Architecture Association, London), he passed away in 2021, and was particularly concerned with the impact of architecture on society and its importance in the public and political realm. I always refer to Sir Richard Rogers when students are having a hard time, I also remind them to have passion, never give up, love it, dream it, live it, pursue it and travel! some of the best architects never competed their studies e.g., John Pawson, Tadao Ando, Carlo Scarpa etc. not to mention some of the greats. Stamina and optimism are the two most important assets an Architect must possess to be able to push and fight for her/his vision. Alan: I really admire my partner, Simon, who I think is one of the most creative architectural thinkers in Malta and I learn a lot from him everyday. I would advise aspiring architects to travel as much as they can when they are young to see the world, not necessarily to any well known architecture sites, but more to experience different cultures and ways of life. We are a small beautiful island but there are so many cultures to experience. What is your ultimate goal? What do you want to be remembered for? Simon: My ultimate goal professionally is to locally improve the quality of our built and unbuilt environment through my passion as an architect, to leave some fun and interesting thoughtful work for a better place for the generations to come. I also hope some of my passion and optimism rubs onto some of my students. On a personal note, I also hope to be remembered as a decent chap, a good son, father and husband. Alan: My ultimate goal is to look back with pride on a career of good effortless architecture. If I am remembered at all, being remembered for that achievement would be wonderful.

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