The Architect out with MaltaToday Midweek today

Malta Design Week, a competition for the creation of a Japanese garden in Floriana and a status report on housing affordability in Malta are but some of the highly interesting items tackled by the various contributors in this edition of the journal.

In her editorial, PeritSimone Vella Lenicker expresses the Kamra’s enthusiasm at the recent publication of the National Cultural Policy and the draft National Environmental Policy, both of which take on board a number of propositions put forward in the past decade by the Kamra itself, including the setting up of a Centre for Architecture and the Built Environment, the importance of quality in design, the need to improve the liveability of urban areas, the establishment of Design Review Panels and the importance of good governance.

The editor reminds readers of a discussion paper titled “A National Policy for Architecture in Malta – is it worth it?” published by the Kamra tal-Periti in July 2004, wherein it had stated: 

“Governance is a key tool: it allows the political aspects of effective cooperation between the actors of government, the professions and networks to be taken into account in new policies and legislative proposals. Culture is an intangible asset that has measurable impacts and therefore its inclusion in all policies is an unquestionable requirement.”

The intention at the time was a clear one - the Kamra wanted to place high on the national agenda the debate on architecture and quality of life. This goal has, in principle and in part, been achieved through the publication of the above mentioned policies. What remains is its implementation and embracing by all sectors of society. The taking on board of these proposals by Government gives renewed impetus to the Kamra’s endeavours in this regard, and one cannot but look forward to the realisation of these proposals and ideals.

“the Architect” is the official journal of the Kamra tal-Periti (Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers). It is published on a quarterly basis and distributed with MaltaToday Midweek.

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