The Grand Harbour area has become a location of great interest for the two major political parties which have both presented plans intended to help to upgrade the more depressed areas whilst injecting the much-needed impetus of economic activity to rehabilitate the area.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) is pleased to note that the Government has adopted the FAA suggestion that the breach in the fortifications between the Lower Barrakka and the Siege Bell be refilled, thus restoring the legibility of the fortifications encircling Valletta. FAA is also pleased to note also that the main focus of this project will be the urgent restoration of the fortifications. However FAA fails to understand how both Dock 1 as well as the Smart City project have not been incorporated in the document since both involve a great deal of construction and a holistic approach should therefore be taken, examining both projects within the Grand Harbour regeneration plan, thus avoiding duplication of services, utilities and buildings which would be detrimental to the whole area.
FAA regards this as the only opportunity Malta will ever have for architects and designers to build a designer city which would be this century’s contribution to 21 st century architecture. A Smart City to pass on to future generations, with every building reflecting good design, advanced technology and innovative modern architecture which pleases the eye while respecting our environmental obligations and also blending well with the area’s historic context.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar believes that the project should be planned and designed from beginning to end with all building heights of the various blocks pre-determined, balanced and complementary without in any way dwarfing the fortifications which are a very important historical element of the Grand Harbour area and a magnificent example of 15 th , 16 th and 17 th military architecture.
This should not be a deterrent for the investors; it has to be recognised that Smart City is to be a prestige project in a unique location. The Maltese Government therefore should insist that Smart City be designed and built within the context of this particularly sensitive and historical location.
The project is also characterised by deep excavations; yet nothing has been stated about the judicious use of the excavated stone. FAA trusts that this precious resource will be excavated in a manner that it can be used for construction and not dumped at sea, as has been the case at Tigne point and other similar projects.
On the other hand the vast quantities of construction material required by the project should ideally be transported to the site by barge, in order to avoid the increase in traffic jams and fuel emissions that long-wheel and heavy construction vehicles would cause in the area’s already congested roads.
FAA is extremely concerned at the Labour Party’s proposals to revive the former‘Connections’ project which was thankfully shelved after thorough discussion and deliberation. The Connections project involved connecting Marsamxett to the Grand Harbour, by tunnelling through rock beneath the fortifications, straight through water cisterns, crypts, and tunnels thus weakening and endangering the very foundations of a number of monuments as well as those of private houses. This is expected to facilitate sea traffic between Valletta, Sliema and Cottonera; however experienced sea captains have aleady pointed out that the currents such a tunnel would create would make it impossible to navigate. This project had also been discarded due to the fact that in-depth studies had shown that the project is not financially viable. The solution to better connections between Valletta, Sliema and Cottonera would be to develop a stronger transport network based on better and stronger boats which would be able to navigate round the tip of Valletta with ease as well as a more efficient and less polluting public bus transport service.