Noel Grima

Turning the Valletta ditch into a waterway, developing the open spaces in Floriana into organised and planned gardens, developing the unlimited potential offered by the Fossa Bay and nearby Marsamxett area, as well as the area between the Cruise Liner Terminal and the Lower Barrakka – these are a few of the many suggestions proposed by 35 graduate students from 13 countries who study at the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

Of course, as was said at the presentation of the studies at the National Museum of Archaeology, students were not restricted in their ideas and proposals since they did not have to bother themselves with the question: Who will pay for all this?

Nevertheless, the suggestions made by the students and, more importantly, the reasons they give, offer some very interesting insights.

As Erich Buhman, the programme director, said: “Whoever has been to Valletta will have a very strong and a very positive image of this beautiful baroque city in his visual memory. However, visitors will also remember the terrible traffic, the partially abandoned areas and the heat in summer. The positive memories on the view from the fortification, the many museums and street cafes will nonetheless dominate.”

You would not find many Maltese with such positive thoughts!

Professor Buhman, as landscape architect, proposed his admittedly personal vision:

1. I can imagine Valletta without the daily traffic chaos. The radical concept of the Ministry of Urban Development and Roads introducing first a Park & Ride and second an effective bus transit service has a good chance to work and free most of Valletta and Floriana from the negative effects of too many individual cars in too small a space.

2. Valletta needs Floriana and Floriana needs Valletta. Both need the greater Valletta-Floriana-Pieta-Sliema area.

3. One theme for Valletta could be ‘Valletta as a sustainable city’

4. One theme for Floriana to be further developed could be ‘Floriana as a garden city’.

5. Development of a complete ring of waterfront park around Floriana and Valletta with links to the inner cities is absolutely vital.

6. Introducing landscape architecture for gaining and regaining qualities of open spaces and gardens can only help achieve what everyone involved in Valletta is interested in, namely the increased beauty and sustainability of this world heritage city.

The following are among the main suggestions.

A. Waterfront design for

Valletta and Floriana

1. Waterfront access to Floriana

The Floriana waterfront is still occupied mostly by industry and docks. Its commercial vitality seems to be declining and the waterfront is not attractive. In the lower part, views are often limited by boats while from the top, the view is not good.

It is suggested that the design of Valletta Waterfront buildings is used for buildings in Floriana to provide continuity in the architecture and to connect the two. Restaurants and public leisure could be a part of these buildings. A large path or open plaza for pedestrians could connect the different waterfront projects using the same urban design to bring continuity. This path could be connected with a combination of lifts and stairs to the new Park & Ride terminal and then to the city.

2. Landscape architecture links for cruise ship harbour

The harbour can attract up to a maximum of seven cruise liners and ferries per day – approximately 500,000 visitors per year, expected to reach over one million visitors in the coming years.

The site is connected to the city by only a single road, which must be drastically improved. There is currently a lack of comfort for pedestrians, which can be improved either by separating pedestrian circulation from car circulation using differences in height, with the pedestrians on top, or else using the same levels but keeping them well separate with shade and trees provided for the pedestrians.

3. Waterfront redesign for Lower Barrakka Garden

This waterfront offers the most spectacular vista over Grand Harbour but at present is crowded as buildings at the bottom of the fortification walls take up quite a large area of the generally narrow space, lack continuous sidewalks, resting areas and lighting. Only some locals are brave enough to go to the edge of the road to fish.

It is suggested that continuous paths be created around the lower part to minimise car access and parking especially where there are good sea views and erect vertical connections that link the upper, middle and lower areas.

4. Waterfront redesign for Il-Fossa Bay

As with many parts of the waterfront today, the area does not appear attractive, lacks a quality environment, and suffers from too much vehicle traffic. On the upper level, a large boulevard caters exclusively for vehicle traffic while on the lower level squatter buildings, remnants of an abandoned fish market and a large number of parked cars make for a sorry sight.

It is suggested to turn this area into a waterfront with an enjoyable green feel and blue experience with, for instance a floating stage for performances and entertainment.

5. Waterfront design for Marsamxett Harbour area.

In the past, this area, together with the Grand Harbour area, was the main entrance to Valletta by sea. It has the beauty of the ocean view on one side but on the other side, there is the height of the fortification wall separated by cars speeding along – an unpleasant situation for the pedestrian. Social housing has a negative effect on the entire waterfront area. The huge unfinished hotel has a visually and socially negative impact as well.

It is suggested that the original function of the area be enhanced and to create more appropriate active places.

6. Waterfront design for Gozo ferry landing

This area is one of the main arrival points of Valletta and Floriana characterised by

heavy traffic. Parts of the waterfront is used by the military and not accessible to the public.

It is suggested that the area is connected with the other parts of the waterfront to establish a completely accessible waterfront, create a more or less compete green connection with the nearby green open spaces

such as the ‘Pieta park’ and the hidden gardens on the upper parts of the fortification walls and use the whole area for recreational uses.

B. Redesigning the fortifications

of Valletta and Floriana

1. Transforming the glacis into a public park for Pieta and Floriana

Today, many parts appear abandoned or not well used. The space is also used as a car park even in areas where it is forbidden. The connection is not well designed, pathways are more or less wild and the small café area near the roundabout looks shabby. There is much rubbish lying around and ruins of former buildings cover the site especially in the upper level.

2. Opening the ditch

In historic maps, the defence ditch of Valletta is often filled with water but this has actually never been done.

It is suggested to open the ditch down to water level to connect the two harbours on either side of Valletta. Alternatively, the ditch could be revitalised by turning it into a ‘green ditch’ and creating public activities inside it such as pedestrian walkways, a jogging and cycling track, creating a memorial park and open-air restaurant and playground.

3. Arriving at the main gate of Valletta

The existing bus terminus does not give the feeling of experiencing the genius loci: lack of visibility, poor local characteristics and a messy environment, haphazardly arranged spaces for different functions and a loss of human scale.

It is suggested to open a space and use it as a public area for gatherings, festivals and other temporary activities; reduce and separate the bus terminus to maximise the open space and use the parking lot next to the hotel as a public space that can be used as the new location for the Sunday market; create a sheltered resting area inside the main plaza; strengthen the fountain by giving circle elements around it; reinforce and strengthen the sense of experience of the shape of the fortifications and the ditch by creating an empty space along the angle of visibility; create visibility from three directions as in the past, from the Gozo Ferry landing, the axis and from the south.

4. St Elmo as a Centre for Mediterranean Culture

In the past, St Elmo played a most important when in the military era of the Knights. Today, it has become an abandoned area and has lost its meaning and identity,

It is suggested to devote this entire area to a historical purpose by creating a Museum of the Mediterranean, a Museum of the Knights and a Museum of Fortification, as well as educational themes such as School of Traditional Handcrafts, School of Restoration of the Fortification, School of Art and Culture and an International Language Centre.