FAA and University collaborate on architecture students'competition

In a new initiative organised by Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) in conjunction with the Faculty for the Built Environment, architecture students are applying their studies to real situations in order to come up with sustainable solutions.  This entered an exciting stage yesterday morning when six teams of third-year architecture students presented their preliminary project proposals for a hostel to be built instead of the abandoned desalination plant at Hondoq ir-Rummien, Gozo.

Using sophisticated power point presentations, each team gave the outcome of their research on the history of the site, the topography, prevailing wind and sun conditions, as well as structural alternatives for which inspiration was drawn from similar buildings all over the world. The end-uses proposed were a surprising variety of environment-related concepts, with some teams opting for a classic biology field-work hostel, others recommending a climate change study centre, while others still were more enterprising in involving the local farming community and proposing a restaurant on site serving cuisine based on fresh local produce.

After their presentations the students were addressed on the wider scope of the FAA competition which is sponsored by Qala Council with the brief of designing a National Park, as the area had originally been designated. Ms Patricia Camilleri, President of The Archaeological Society Malta showed that although the area is not considered a prime archaeological site, it still harbours a wealth of archaeology including catacombs, cart ruts, troglodytic structures and other remains that may date back to the Bronze Age.  She also spoke about the Valletta Convention, with which the parties undertake to provide for the ‘creation of archaeological reserves, even where there are no visible remains on the ground or under water, for the preservation of material evidence to be studied by later generations’.

Landscape ecologist Dr Louis F Cassar gave a very interesting delivery on environmental management, primarily coastal issues, outlining the various habitats that colonise the south-east coast of Gozo and stressing the need for meaningful public participation and assessments at landscape scale.  Dr Cassar called for a broader action framework that went beyond ecological concerns for protected areas, which should clearly demonstrate the relevance of economic, social and cultural impacts in relation to conservation and development. Solutions including landscape connectivity and restoration ecology techniques were proposed to mitigate negative impacts such as that caused by landscape fragmentation and loss of habitats.

Dr Anton Micallef, a beach management specialist, explored the various different types of beaches, highlighting processes that cause damage to such beaches and how these should be avoided, especially the common practice in Malta of dumping concrete to ‘improve’ the facilities on rocky beaches. Understanding the social uses of beaches and the social value of landscapes was also discussed, with Dr Micallef concluding with a detailed explanation of his work on an international system of beach ratings.

In wrapping up the session Astrid Vella, FAA Coordinator emphasised the importance of proposals that could inspire the authorities to embark on innovative projects that would support themselves by boosting tourism. She also thanked the speakers for exposing architecture students to new disciplines that would be invaluable to their interpretation of projects in their professional careers. 

20.04.09