Architecture & Design

18 | Architecture & Design O ver the past weeks, the Planning Authority (PA) has scheduled Palazzina Vincenti in St. Julians and three late 19th-century British Forts in Marsaxlokk and Haż Żabbar respectively. As a result of this scheduling, Palazzina Vincenti in St Julians will not be demolished as the property has been declared a Grade 2 building. Although there is a pending planning application for the demolition of this 20th century building, now, with this protection status given to the property, the development application will need to be radically modified to ensure that the palazzina is restored back to its original glory, which it so well deserves. The Authority concluded that Palazzina Vincenti has outstanding historical and contextual value and is a pioneering example of modernist architecture that made use of reinforced concrete in a domestic setting in the Maltese Islands. Built in the post- World War II period, the Palazzina was designed and constructed by Perit Gustavo R. Vincenti as his own personal residence and is one of his masterpieces. It is one of the best modernist examples on the Island, whereby Vincenti's mastery in playing with circlular and square geometric shapes is taken to an unprecedented dimension with its protruding forms and sculpted spaces. The PA also granted the highest protection status, that of Grade 1 to Fort Tas-Silġ, Fort Delimara and Fort San Leonardo. In the late 1800s, the British were increasingly concerned about potential threats in the Mediterranean, particularly regarding the vulnerability of Malta to attack. Italy had recently become a unified state and was flexing its political and military power. As Malta was located nearby, it was crucial to strengthen the defence infrastructure. Yet, British Malta's risks did not stop with Italy. Heavy military losses for the British during the Crimean War and the First and Second Anglo - Boer Wars contributed to the British re-thinking and re-designing their defences and strategies. The southern side of the island was left with little or no defences since the departure of the Knights of St John, so the strategically placed forts helped to control access to specific areas of the southern landscape and shoreline. These forts were constructed using locally sourced limestone and are architecturally notable for the close collaboration between British Royal Engineers, Maltese builders, and local artisans and tradespeople. The buildings feature a Victorian style typical of defence structures that were commonly erected between the late 1850s and late 1890s. The forts were designed with typical period features, including ditches, barracks, and defensive walls. However, they also have unique elements like capioners, Guthrie rolling bridges, and metal-plated Planning Authority Issues Protection Status for Palazzina Vincenti and Three British Forts TAS-SILĠ TAS-SILĠ PA L A Z Z I N A V I N C E N T I FA C A D E

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