Architecture awards set up by Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) in conjunction with the University Architecture Department are sensitising tomorrow’s architects to the particular needs of rural and historic areas. “FAA wanted to create something positive that would contribute to the nation so they set up the Julian Manduca Award for sustainable development of rural areas and the Tony Mifsud award for urban conservation projects” explained Sir Martin Laing, opening the award ceremony on behalf of FAA.

The award programme included lectures on subjects that students would not otherwise have been exposed to like beach management as well as the chance to work on ‘real’ rather than theoretical projects, providing sustainable alternatives to current problems. In fact the rural award required students to design a nature park at Hondoq ir-Rummien as an alternative to a commercial touristic and yacht marina project. “Unfortunately in Malta many people think that architecture does not contribute to a healthy environment,” said Professor Denis de Lucca, head of the Architecture Department “however with careful planning and ‘good manners’ in architecture, this is not the case.”

Paul Buttigieg, Qala local councillor stated that the Hondoq ir-Rummien project sponsored by Qala Local Council with the collaboration of Moviment Harsien Hondoq, was aimed at creating awareness for local environment and heritage, so that it can be enjoyed by both locals and tourists. Although the project seems very innovative as it includes a submerged bar, zero-emission transport and many other novel features, it is in fact very practical and each of its modules is possible to implement.

The Tony Mifsud award is focussed on Valletta where the students faced the challenge of converting an old building for contemporary uses like a gym, library, media centre or fashion expo house. The students also had to produce designs to create a harmonious uniformity for different blocks of shop fronts on Republic Street, another project where the Local Council can actually use the students’ ideas. As in the Hondoq project, great emphasis has been laid on energy efficiency and access for the disabled.

While the Valletta project has not yet been adjudicated, the winners of the Julian Manduca Award Joseph Galea, Nicky Psaila Savona and Zack Xuereb Conti all commented favourably on the fact that the award gave them the chance to interact with clients like the Qala Local Council and Qala residents, while also giving them the opportunity to deal with the media and show their work to potential future employers. The Architecture Awards have also been supported by the US Embassy which donated books to the University Architecture Department while Heritage Malta kindly hosted the student’s project exhibition.