TMID Editorial: Restoration works are not enough

Recently the government has issued statements about ongoing restoration works on historic structures.For example, restoration works are being carried out on the Bastion of St Paul which are part of the Cottonera fortifications.At the same time, there

By: independent.com.mt

Aug 16 2024
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TMID Editorial: Restoration wo

Recently the government has issued statements about ongoing restoration works on historic structures.

For example, restoration works are being carried out on the Bastion of St Paul which are part of the Cottonera fortifications.

At the same time, there are ongoing restoration works on the church dedicated to St Bartholomew in Zurrieq, and on the bell tower of St Mark's Augustinian Church in Rabat, Malta.

The restoration works on the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta concluded earlier this year, and the list goes on. Taking care of our national heritage for future generations ensures the continuation of our national identity and will remind those to come of where we came from.

And so the fact that the government is taking restoration works seriously is great news, and it is carrying out quite a few projects.

There are other projects which it should consider tackling in the future. For example, there are fortifications, such as Fort Campbell, which are in a derelict state. In this particular case, if restored it could be turned into a safe area where families can go for picnics, walks, exploration and enjoy the outdoor space. The area should be kept as is, but the fortifications need extensive work to make safe.

But while the government is undertaking quite a few restoration projects, Malta is being ruined by the decisions being taken by the Planning Authority. In some cases, buildings with heritage value are obliterated through decisions to retain the facade, only to then have poorly designed structures built above.

The parts of Malta considered beautiful are the historic parts. This is not to say that apartment blocks shouldn’t be built. But at the very least let’s come up with designs that are more uniform and that aren’t eyesores to look at. Shoeboxes are not pleasing to the eye. The Planning Authority must be held to account for the uglification of the islands.

While we do need better planning policies, what we also need are Planning Authority members who are willing to take the wider context of a development into account. Why should apartment block A be designed one way, with two apartment blocks on either side looking completely different? It’s messy and creates eyesores.

In addition, when protecting scheduled buildings better care should also be made to protect the context of such buildings, thus more limitations on the kind of development around them should be introduced.

Protecting our heritage must be a priority. While tourists love the traditional looking parts of the country, and its quite easy to see that when Malta is advertised abroad that is what is seen, the Maltese also place great value on those areas. We’ve already lost too much.