The new Schengen section at Malta International Airport, inaugurated last week by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, is inspired in more ways than one by the internal décor of Vancouver International Airport.
An MIA delegation and a number of Maltese journalists who visited Vancouver last summer, waxed enthusiastic about the airport’s décor, dubbed the Gateway to the NorthWest. It seems that some of their enthusiasm filtered through to the MIA planners who were planning the MIA extension to take into account Malta’s Schengen obligations.
Malta joins Schengen in April 2007 and, as from that day, the airport will have to have two separate streams: one for those arriving or departing to and from an airport within Schengen and one for those arriving or departing to and from a non-Schengen destination. So, although the new addition is already in use, it will only be in April 2007 that its purpose will become clear to all.
What MIA, inspired by Vancouver, has done is to give the newly-arriving passengers, both from Schengen and non-Schengen countries, a touch of Malta, an introduction to Malta.
The new section is almost totally devoid of advertisements. The first thing the passengers will see is a beautiful structure by Celia Borg Cardona and Francesca Balzan called Freedom of Movement, very appropriate to Schengen. Then they will see a poster by Heritage Malta which proudly states how the old temples in Malta considerably antedate the most honoured and treasured antiquities of mankind such as the Pyramids in Egypt, the Acropolis in Athens and other well-known structures and monuments.
Then come a series of three-dimension tableaux of some of Malta’s prime sites – the Tarxien temples, the underground Hypogeum and the Tapestry Chamber.
A series of exhibition cabinets on the side, unfortunately clearly visible only to people coming from non-Schengen countries, display majolica, Knights’ armour and so on and will be changed every six months.
Passing through this corridor, it is hoped, will serve to welcome visitors to Malta by informing them what Malta stands for.
Vancouver International Airport uses much the same rationale to introduce visitors to the North West and the natural beauty of British Columbia. The interior design of the International Terminal was inspired by British Columbia’s great outdoors and the art of the Northwest Coast that depicts British Columbia’s native wildlife, mountains, rivers, forests, and aboriginal heritage. Travellers from around the world will form a first and lasting impression of B.C.
What they have in addition, at least that is my perception, is their inclusion of contemporary art to recreate the spirit of the area, such as the re-creation of totem poles, Musqueam weavings, and a huge bronze cast of The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, the Jade Canoe, which is the focal point of the entrance of the International Terminal.
Apart from that, as well, there are the tall trees, the gushing streams of water, the sounds of birds – all singularly absent at MIA (What is the music of the Neolithic temples, anyway?)
The second phase of the Lm1.8 million project is due to commence shortly whereby the existing Arrivals area will become an extension of the Departures Lounge. Most of the services will be relocated to give way to an additional four gates and also create space for new retail outlets.