A 1930s Art Deco house in Rudolph Street, Sliema, is the latest building controversy to surface with several residents objecting to its demolition and the construction of a six-storey building.

Alternattiva Demokratika recently issued a press release against the application. The press release states that the house is situated in an Urban Conservation Area and “the proposed changes do not fall within the policies laid out for such areas”.

The house in question is owned by Oliver Losco and is one of a series of nine identical houses. “The proposed demolition as submitted by the applicant will alter the symmetry of the streetscape,” AD said.

The application was handed in on Thursday 20 April and requests permission for the demolition of the building while retaining the façade, and the construction of apartments with underlying basement parking.

AD spokesperson for environment and rural affairs Mark Causon said the proposed extension of additional floors would “therefore seriously compromise rather than complement the symmetry of the streetscape in this area.”

Astrid Vella from the recently set up environmental group Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, explained that reconstruction of the house will destroy the appearance of a unique row of houses. She pointed out that many people are using the excuse of keeping the façade in order to get permits to reconstruct period buildings.

“However, keeping the façade is useless if the structure within is built insensitively, ruining not only the house itself but also the rest of the houses,” she said. “Having a wedge six stories high sprouting out of one of these art deco houses will spell the end of them.”

If this application is approved, there will be repercussions on other similar properties. “People will be discouraged from restoring their houses or to invest in heritage properties within the Urban Conservation Area” said Ms Vella.

Rudolph Street was the first road to be built in Sliema and was originally an 18th century country lane. Across the road from the house are some of Sliema’s few scheduled houses, the Moorish-style houses built by Luigi Galizia, one of Malta’s leading architects.

The row of Art Deco houses opposite them should have been similarly listed but this has not done for some years. Ms Vella pointed out that both the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and MEPA’s scheduling department are too short of staff to carry out this work – “a situation which obviously favours the destruction of our heritage by developers.”

“Although the houses are not actually listed buildings, as they form part of the Urban Conservation Area, the houses are considered as Grade 2 scheduled buildings due to their unique architectural characteristics.”