Heritage @ Risk

At the end of 2021, we saw the very welcome news that Palazzina Vincenti, considered by most architectural experts and those who study the subject to be amongst the best examples of residential Modernist architecture on the Islands, has been temporarily protected. This wonderful building is one of the few examples when the designer and owner are one and the same and thus the normal constraints did not apply, hence the resultant building which has been revered or reviled since its construction. There have been commendations in the past going back at least 2 years. The fact that some action on this was finally taken may signify some change in mentality . ..  or the power of social media. 

Palazzina Vincenti, currently temporarily protected.

This brought to mind other buildings which are or merit protection and have not yet been afforded this status. The following is the list of these buildings, which will be amended an updated as necessary.

Villino Grech, Triq in-Naxxar, Birkirkara - Scheduled as a Grade 2 property in 2012

Villino Grech, on the way to becoming @ risk.

The villa in Naxxar Road opposite Smart supermarket is another iconic building which has been protected and yet it is slowly deteriorating, and is being given some help by the fact that windows have been left open and evident spalling in the V-shaped struts is being left untreated. There has also been changes to the garden surrounding it and dismantling and demolition of the palisade, which is part of the protected are, and yet although myriad responsible officials must have necessarily passed by, no action appears to have ben taken. This makes the entities involved complicit by inaction. It's owners have been allowed to demolish another significant building and garden some metres away to turn it into a parking area.

Villa and garden demolished for a parking area.

Pegasus House or Nos. 33 - 38, Triq San Pawl, Bormla - ECO in 2015 and protected as a Grade 2 property in 2019.

Nos 34-38, Triq San Pawl Bormla. Source: Lovin Malta

The building known as Pegasus house for the Pegasus relief between the door and baroque balcony is an amazing series of dwellings in an area which is unfortunately quite run down. The building was already damaged when the Emergency Conservation Order (ECO) was issued and has since been allowed to deteriorate further notwithstanding that it was formally protected in 2019. This despite the fact that the Planning authority can order that the damages be repaired by the owner, even if the process is cumbersome and legalistic, however the inaction on the properties in this list is a symptom of the pervading sickness which allows the development of business and new construction at the expense of heritage since the PA does not like to be nostalgic about such buildings. 

Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan, Mellieha - protected as a grade 1 protect since 1997

Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan. Image Source: Kappa Vision

This vernacular building with references to the devil is infamous in Maltese lore owing to it having supposedly been constructed with the devil's help overnight adoring to local legend. It was built as a Cavallerizza or part of the Knights period fortifications of the Islands has been left to deteriorate with parts of the building missing a roof. The simple vernacular structure is visible to anyone passing through the road at Ta' Penellu, and although the damages may not be immediately evident from this distance, there have been numerous posts about the building in question. The property likely belongs to the Government of Malta and this time the inaction is not just by the Planning Authority but also by the Lands Department, and now Authority. The other knights' period stables such as the one at Marsaxlokk have been modified to such an extent that they are practically unreadable. The conversion of the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta to it's former design after the removal of parliament hall has remaining unfulfilled so the value of this building is not just for it's architectural and historical significance but also its value as the best remaining example of the type of building. 

Ir-Razzett ta' Pultu (Casa Ippolito), Birzebbuga - protected as a Grade 1 property in 1998

Casa Ippolito. Source: Maltatina, where more photos are available.

Casa Ippolito, another local property with a legend associated with it is also in dire need of attention before it collapses completely. You can read about the legend here in Maltese or here in English. Despite the protection in 1998 and the drawing up of a Master Plan by Heritage Malta mentioned in Parliament in July 2019, the building which has significant architectural and social significance has been allowed to deteriorate almost completely. It is little more than a ruin now and will surely collapse completely if not attended to posthaste. 

Id-Dar tal-Barunissa/Tas-Soru l/o San Leonardu in Żabbar - protected as a grade 2 property in 2006

Id-Dar tal-Barunissa in its heyday. Source: flickr

Id-Dar tal-Barunissa which is located in the area known as San Leonardu in the limits of Żabbar was originally constructed as a convent, however it was never utilised as such. The chapel forming part of the complex goes back to 1656 and is dedicated to St. Leonard, where the name of the area is derived from. The site was used as the location for the local TV series called Id-Dar tas-Soru, which the site is know more commonly know as. The popularity of the series in the 1970s resulted in various parts of the building being vandalised by memento collectors. The complex was further damaged by a farm complex built right next to it. The ownership of the site has been contested for decades in the law courts and this inaction has resulted in a baroque gem becoming dilapidated into little more than ruins. The current situation is little more than ruins which is propped and enclosed by a fence, a testament to inaction and indifference to our heritage.

2016 Google image of Il-Kunvent, Żabbar 

Villa Sans Soucis, Triq iż-Żejtun, Marsaxxlokk (ruins) - not protected

Villa Sans Souci in its original glory. Source: Ascosi Lasciti 

Villa Sans Soucis was a lovely and ornate building which is also infamous locally for having had a diverse and lewd history, however is now little more than a shell. Located opposite the Marnisi wine estate, this building was constructed by Prof. Salvatore Luigi Pisani as his residence in the 1870’s when he was the chief Government doctor. It was used as a hotel after his death and from there a series of other varied uses, supposedly by by the British Services and later as a brothel. The latter, together with supposed hauntings have given the building its infamous reputation resulting in vandalism and damage by "collectors" degrading the building to it's situation. There have been attempts to redevelop it into a hotel, usually proposing a significantly larger footprint that the original for using feasibility as an excuse. Urbex photos can be found here and here of the current situation of the villa. 

2016 Google image of Sans Soucis, Marsaxlokk

The next page will be on other structures which are considered Heritage @ Risk, this time rather than dwellings, it will relate to fortifications or parts of fortifications which have been left in a sorry state, possibly owing to a lack of funds or more urgent projects and priorities as designated by the departments in charge.