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MALTATODAY 27 October 2024

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8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 OCTOBER 2024 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt By a decree given on the 4th October, 2024, by the Civil Court First Hall, the Court ordered that the extract hereunder mentioned be published for the purpose of service according to Article 187 (3) of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure (Cap. 12): By decree given by the Civil Court, First Hall, on the 26th April, 2024, on the application of APS Bank plc (C2192), Tuesday, 12th November, 2024, at half past eleven in the morning (11.30 a.m.), has been fixed for the sale by auction, to be held in Room Number 78, Nearby the Courts Archives, Level -1, Courts of Justice, Triq ir-Repubblika, Valletta, of the following property: Penthouse together with its overlying airspace overlying the block of buildings 'Alucare Buildings' in Triq il-Kappar, Mosta, having access from a common stairwell abutting onto Triq il-Kappar, Mosta, bounded on the north by the said street granting access, on the west by property of Francis Sciberras or successors in title and on the east with property of Marija Vella or her successors in title and valued at four hundred thousand euro (€400,000). The said tenement is the property of Fenech Stephan (ID 309571M). N.B. The said tenement will be sold as described in the acts of judicial sales number 24/2020. Registry of the Superior Courts, this Monday, 14th October, 2024 MARVIC FARRUGIA For the Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals. THE Planning Authority has de-scheduled a 'muxrabija' in Għarb, Gozo, after the owner supported his claim that he had it installed in 1975 with a photo showing it was not attached to his house in 1946, despite the Super- intendence for Cultural Heritage's insistence that the feature still merited protection due to its cul- tural value. The property was one of 35 across Malta and Gozo included in the 2016 list of protected build- ings for featuring a muxrabija – a traditional Maltese architectural element known for its wooden balcony or window with decora- tive lattice screens, providing ven- tilation and shade. The owner, whose property is lo- cated near the Għarb church, suc- cessfully persuaded the PA to re- move the building from the list of protected properties by present- ing a photograph from the Għarb Parish Annual Calendar for 2024, showing a religious celebration in 1946. The photograph indicated that there was no muxrabija on the façade at that time, supporting his claim that he had added the structure in 1975. The Heritage Planning Unit (HPU), responsible for cultur- al heritage within the Planning Authority, agreed with the own- er's request, recommending de-scheduling. They argued that the muxrabija was a modern ad- dition, made from contemporary materials, and therefore did not meet the criteria for cultural her- itage protection. However, the SCH disagreed with this assessment. The state's cultural heritage authority argued that under Maltese law, cultural heritage is defined as any feature older than 50 years adding that the photo simply proved that it was not attached to the building in 1946. "While this muxrabija may have undergone changes over the years, such features are now quite unique, and the SCH did not agree that it should be descheduled based solely on a photo and a dec- laration," said SCH representative Kevin Borda during the meeting where the owner's request was discussed. In a memo issued in August, the SCH also pointed out that the 1946 photograph suggested the presence of architectural features associated with a muxrabija, such as the façade's architectural set- up, the windowsill, and a fixture resembling a lattice cover. Moreover, the Superintendence argued that, regardless of the date the muxrabija was installed, it still held artistic and ethnographic val- ue, keeping alive traditional crafts- manship. Despite this, the PA's Executive Council proceeded with the de- scheduling of the property with all members of the board voting to remove the property from the list of protected buildings. But the property's location within an urban conservation ar- ea, where development is strict- ly limited, means the decision is unlikely to affect the building's development potential even if the 'muxrabija' itself faces an uncer- tain future. What is a muxrabija? A muxrabija is a traditional architectural feature, typical- ly consisting of a wooden frame extending from a window, with peepholes in the front, sides, and bottom, allowing air to circulate while maintaining privacy. Originating in the Middle East and North Africa, the muxrabija helps cool interiors by harnessing natural breezes. Historically, it also served as a "safe window to the outside world" for women, according to folklorist Dr Carol Jaccarini. In Malta, where wood is scarce, older muxrabijiet were often construct- ed from local limestone. The muxrabija is also known by vari- ous names, such as 'in-nemmiesa', 'ix-xerriefa', and in Gozo, 'il-kixx- iefa' or 'il-ġlusija', derived from the French word for jealousy. Dingli cliff-face fireworks factory earmarked for olive oil production Gozo muxrabija loses protected status over DIY reveal from 1975 Heritage or handiwork? PA de-lists Għarb muxrabija after owner presents evidence that traditional feature was a recent addition THE owners of the Pulvich fireworks factory have filed a planning application in a bid to replace a disused factory that has been liter- ally carved into the Dingli cliffs' rock-face, into an olive oil produc- tion and storage facility, with a retail shop at road level. The Pulvich Explosives Industries factory includes a roofless ruin along the main road facing the sea, and is located on 12,600 sq.m of land the company owns along the cliffs. The company also owns another nearby site, previously used as an explosives factory, which had once been earmarked for the de- velopment of a 14-room hotel. An application by Sunroute Hotels was however withdrawn in 2022 following opposition by the local council and Moviment Graffitti. A previous application proposing a larger development was refused in 2021. The site previously earmarked for the hotel development does not form part of the current application, which is limited to the footprint of the existing coastal structures and does not foresee any tourism-related development. Apart from the olive oil facilities being proposed below road level, the facility also includes a small retail shop on road level, with a surrounding open-shelving area enclosed by a wall. The application also foresees the planting of new olive trees. The area where the development is being proposed is a protected Natura 2000 and Area of Ecological Importance where develop- ment is strictly limited.

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