Preparations for the forthcoming HSBC Malta Property EXPO are now in full swing. Apart from showcasing everything Malta has to offer in real estate, this year’s edition is promising to kick-start the careers of at least three architecture students.
The first HSBC Malta Property Expo held last year was a success in various ways. It boosted the real estate industry with exciting new business opportunities and generated a lot sales leads for the exhibitors. So much so, that all the available exhibitor space for this year’s edition was snapped up completely by more than a month before opening day. The organisers, Duplex Real Estate Branding, have been working hard all year to outdo last year’s achievements and have come up with a number of very interesting innovations. One of these is an architecture competition, which, apart from offering attractive prizes to the winners, will also offer valuable professional exposure to all participants.
“This year we are trying to optimise the educational potential of The Expo,” said David Grech, Duplex’s Business Development Manager. Duplex have teamed up with Professor Alex Torpiano, Director of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Malta, to present third year architecture students with a challenging project. The aim of the project is to present ideas and designs for a low carbon footprint development. A large number of architecture students have submitted their projects to the faculty, out of which 20 will be shortlisted and displayed at The Expo. Each participating student will have their display area where they will showcase their project and compete for prizes. Prof. Torpiano added that those students who were not shortlisted would still receive academic grading.
On Saturday 6th March, a judging panel will decide the winners. This panel will consist of representatives of the Board of Architects, The Faculty of Architecture at the University of Malta and Duplex Real Estate Branding. Prizes will be awarded to three winners. Prizes will be awarded to the ‘Most innovative and Energy Efficient solution’ and for ‘Best design’ to the candidate presenting both aesthetics and maximization of space. The first prize, ‘Best Overall’, goes to the candidate that incorporates both innovation and design. “Having had a sneak preview at the projects submitted by the students, we believe that different participants seemed to have excelled in diverse sectors, therefore it is only right that we award different thinking!” said Keith Pillow, director of Duplex Real Estate Branding. The overall winner will receive an internship opportunity with Duplex, an autographed book of Philippe Stark and a gift from Mont Blanc, while both second winners will receive an autographed book from Philippe Stark and a Mont Blanc gift. The competition and prizes are aimed mainly at giving the participating students first hand exposure and experience within the industry.
The HSBC Malta Property Expo opens to the public on Friday 5t March. More information can be obtained from www.maltapropertyexpo.com.