The Restoration Directorate has just won several awards for projects it carried out. The Valletta Design Cluster, which from a historic but abandoned building was brought back to life, won three local awards and ended up an international finalist. This attests to the fact that the Public Service is endowed with skills to carry out work of excellence, in this case in the architectural and historical heritage of our country.

The Valletta Design Cluster project was aimed at regenerating and rehabilitating a historic Knights-period building that has now been transformed into a community incubator for cultural purposes and for artistic and creative activities. The project helped save a historic building while stimulating the regeneration of the south of Valletta. The rooftop space was transformed into a garden for public enjoyment.

This project carried out by the Restoration Directorate received several recognitions. Earlier this year it was chosen as the best project in two categories of the Malta Architecture and Spatial Planning (MASP) Awards, in the Rehabilitation and Conservation and Open Public Spaces Category. A few weeks ago it was also awarded the Prix D’Honneur (Category A) in the Din l-Art Ħelwa awards for architectural heritage. The project was also one of 52 finalists from 1,100 projects submitted by all European Union countries to the New European Bauhas Award. This is indeed a prestigious international recognition.

Another recognition was granted to the Local Council Restoration Projects Scheme. This scheme provides a framework through which Maltese communities, as represented by their Local Councils, submit proposals for the restoration of vernacular buildings and historical monuments that are valuable to them. The scheme was first launched in May 2015, and since then 38 different locations have benefited from the realisation of 39 projects. The projects are executed from beginning to end by the multidisciplinary team of the Restoration Directorate, which includes a section for graphic documentation, architects specialised in the field of restoration, refurbishers and other professionals, and skilled restoration workers. Projects carried out under the scheme range from small-scale projects (such as stone crosses, statues and niches found in our squares and on old house façades) to medium-scale projects (such as historic buildings and monuments dating back to the period of the Knights of Malta, rural chapels, etc.). The popularity of the scheme with Local Councils is evidence of its success. Recently the Local Council Restoration Projects were awarded a Diploma (Category A) in Din l-Art Ħelwa’s awards for architectural heritage.