[WATCH] Sliema council, NGOs to appeal deco townhouses demolition decision

NGOs would not appeal decision if façade is retained

Three art deco townhouses on Hughes Hallet street: Sliema's architecture is slowly becoming extinct
Three art deco townhouses on Hughes Hallet street: Sliema's architecture is slowly becoming extinct
Sliema council, NGOs to appeal deco townhouses demolition decision

The Sliema local council and a number of NGOs will be appealing a Planning Authority decision which approved the demolition of three adjacent townhouses in Hughes Hallet Street, ignoring calls by Din l-Art Helwa and the Sliema local council to preserve their facades.

It was also noted during the press conference that talks were underway with the developers in order to find a solution.

Conservation architect Edward Said, speaking for the Sliema Heritage Society, explained how the permit issued by the Planning Authority to replace three Qui si-Sana houses with offices, 15 flats, 2 overlying penthouses and 57 car spaces, would rob the area of some of the last examples of Art Deco architecture for which the area had been known. 

“These houses are as important to Sliema as Siculo-Norman architecture is to Mdina,” he said.  

Pointing to a neighbouring apartment block, Said argued that the least one could expect is that the facades are saved as a vestige for future generations to appreciate.

Such properties, he added, should be added to the inventory of scheduled buildings.

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar coordinator Astrid Vella emphasised that with the destruction of heritage architecture, Malta is losing its culture “as our different styles of architecture are an intrinsic part of our identity.”

She said that Baroque architecture was not the only style worth saving and that FAA had been instrumental in saving the Art Deco house (now Lombard Bank) on Tower Road, and the Art Nouveau house in Dingli Street.

“Pragmatic solutions can be found to marry today’s needs with yesterday’s architecture, without sacrificing either owners’ rights or heritage conservation,” she said.

Maria Grazia Cassar of Din L-Art Helwa emphasised the NGO’s belief that the integrity of such buildings should be preserved, restored and put to good use as way of protecting Malta’s cultural assets.

Cassar confirmed that Din l-Art Helwa will be appealing MEPA’s decision along with Sliema Local Council and with the support of the other NGOs.

Sliema Local Councillor Paul Radmilli was indignant about the fact that the Planning Authority issued the permit to demolish these houses on the grounds they are not scheduled (protected). He described the Case Officer’s failure to appreciate the Art Deco features of the houses as “sheer ignorance” and called on the PA to give its Case Officers training in such matters. 

He was also very critical of this latest round of MEPA reform which trumpeted the fact that more importance was to be given to aesthetics, then the PA approved a façade that it described as merely “adequate”. 

Radmilli also stated that it is unrealistic of the PA to stipulate that each apartment should have only one garage space, when family apartments are occupied by up to four car owners.

“This is causing grave problems in Sliema,” he claimed.

The application approval comes in the wake of an application by the same company, Roosendaal Hotels Ltd, for an additional three storeys on the adjacent Plevna hotel. The Environment Planning Commission approved the development by two votes to one. Board member Charles Grech voted against.

The application, which respects the height limitation in the area, foresees the demolition of the three townhouses, offices at ground floor, 15 residential units over five floors and two penthouses with swimming pools on the sixth floor. The basement parking will provide spaces for 57 cars.

The entire ground floor will be for commercial use. The buildings to be demolished do not form part of the urban conservation area, where permits are always issued with the condition that the original facade is restored and retained.

In its objection the Sliema local council noted that although the site is outside the urban conservation area, the facades of two of the three houses have a “distinct Art Deco design”, and have high architectural value associated with the Qui-Si-Sana and Tigné area. 

But the Planning Directorate argued that the development should be allowed as none of the buildings was protected.

“The facade of the buildings cannot be retained in view of the proposed change of use and the need of an access to the basement levels”.

The council also called on the PA to consult with the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage to assess the architectural value of the building.