The niche that decorated what was known as the Green House in Sliema should have been placed in a museum, and not incorporated in a design of a new block of flats, Alex Torpiano, Executive President of Din l-Art Helwa, told The Malta Independent.

A photo of the niche, embedded between two floors of the modern building, has been making the rounds on the social media, with many criticising the idea to have it placed there just for the sake of keeping part of the old structure in the new block.

It would have been better if the niche was placed in a museum to preserve it for future generations, rather than having it form part of the modern building.

The historical value of this architecture has been lost, Torpiano said in comments to this newspaper.

Sharing similar views is Andre Callus, an activist from Moviment Graffiti, who said that such a process, which is in accordance with orders given by the Planning Authority, cannot be considered as preservation but rather a disgusting approach in trying to do one. He added that there should be laws overseeing and safeguarding architectural heritage.

The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage had objected to the demolition of the property when reviewing and assessing the application. They had also recommended that the building be scheduled at Grade 2 since it warranted protection and preservation. 

Whether such recommendations are taken into consideration for approval or not remains at the hands of the Planning Authority's Executive Council.

The Planning Authority had approved the application back in 2018. The Sliema local council had appealed the decision but lost. The Environment and Planning Review tribunal has said that when it took into consideration the characteristics of the building and its surrounding context on the site, the building in question had no intrinsic architectural or contextual value, except for the niche on the façade, which in accordance to said tribunal is the important cultural and historical element of the building where it gave identity to the street where the niche is found and that is why it was only the niche which was to be restored.

The Tribunal said in its judgement that such consideration was motivated by the fact that the context and characteristics of the road and the surrounding buildings, with the fact that the buildings in question and the rear garden are located between tall buildings, are seen from Santa Maria Street. Therefore the need to close the streetscape was given priority.

Sliema mayor Anthony Chircop said that the council did not agree with the whole plan to demolish this 'landmark house' in St Agatha Street, built in 1875. In his opinion, the construction company did reach its obligations but the antique style of the niche, together with its historical value do not match the modern style of the block of flats.

Chircop feels that the niche is misplaced where it is, as it lost its significance, one which was attributed to its historical place on 'the Green House'. In his opinion, it should have never been accepted that such a piece of history is included in the master plan for the flats. 

The Sliema mayor added that in his opinion that since the prestige attributed to the whole house has been lost in its demolishment, the niche should not be there. 

Although developers have done their obligations by including the niche in accordance with orders given by the Planning Authority, the modernity of the building and antiquity of the niche contribute to the uglification of Sliema. He said that this might not be seen by an outsider but is very evident for a person originating from Sliema.

Chircop added that although the house did not have the best of facades, it was its internals that made it fascinating, which coupled together with where the house was situated it gave fantastic sea views.