Architecture & Design

12 | Architecture & Design Could you touch on your design process? Simon: Personally, I describe the design process as "making sense of the scribble". Where the scribble represents all the parameters that must be addressed during the design process. These don't necessarily always complement each other with regards to context, environment, budget, client, materials etc. It is the job of the architect to turn the scribble into a functional work of art that addresses all these parameters in harmony together. This influence of thought came from an art teacher I had early on who taught us how to produce a drawing from a scribble done by another person. In 2017, I gave a talk explaining this approach at the ARCHITECTURAL POLICIES CONFERENCE & EFAP GENERAL ASSEMBLY - The New In The Old - Contemporary Architecture in a Historic Context. Today, as a team and with our different skill sets, we do just that. Alan: Firstly we need to really understand what someone wants out of their space, whether it's residential or commercial, we need to get down to a personal level and think about how the end user will want to experience the space. Then comes a deep study into the context, surroundings, history maybe or whatever makes sense for that project. From then on we sketch a lot to formulate ideas and come up with what we think is best for the property. What is your take on modern buildings and how do they fit into the traditional Maltese building styles? Simon: I believe that there is good architecture and bad architecture. Modern buildings may work perfectly in harmony or in contrast of each other. There must be a meaningful conversation between the two. I see buildings as people. You may have a mixed community of ages that live harmoniously with each other or in contrast with each other or one that just does not work. The old needs the new and the new needs the old. I guess it is a Ying and Yang situation. Alan: I strongly believe that we should build for our time and need to find appropriate ways to create harmony with traditional buildings. Modern buildings in Malta is a vague subject as money, greed and inconsistent planning policies have resulted in a questionable architectural period for us. What current Malta architecture pleases you and what hurts? Simon: There are many young architects today who T H E H U B , P W C , Q O R M I M E T H O D E C H A R L E S & R O N , VA L L E T TA P h o t o c r e d i t : P h o t o c r e d i t : C h r i s S a n t F o u r n i e r P h o t o c r e d i t : S e a n M a l l i a P h o t o c r e d i t : A l e x A t t a r d

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