More than 55,000 endemic trees, plants and shrubs will be planted at the new Comino hotel and bungalows being proposed by HV Hospitality as part of its contribution to the Natura 2000 site, which also involves the removal of alien and invasive species, the developers said in a statement.
The project’s team is already growing 1,500 mother plants from cuttings and seeds which were harvested under the guidance of the Environment & Resources Authority (ERA). “This is a first for Malta. In fact, we couldn’t even find a space in Malta to grow these plants, so we have to grow them in Sicily instead,” lead architect Antonio Belvedere said at the opening of a public exhibition about the project which is being held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre over the next two weeks. Belvedere spoke about his decision to recede the old hotel and bungalows from the shoreline, even though this was the most valuable space.
“We have to protect the sea and free the shoreline on the hotel site at San Niklaw bay and the bungalow site at Santa Marija bay,” Belvedere said. This recession from the shoreline means the project will undertake to recreate the natural shoreline. Garigue (the local terrain made up of soil, rock and shrubs) will be recreated using the construction waste from the demolition of the current site and will cover all the roofs and terraces.
A sample of this recreated garigue can be seen at the exhibition. The project, which will be entirely managed by top international hospitality brand Six Senses, has been approved by ERA and is awaiting a planning permit from the Planning Authority. “Throughout my life I have heard our politicians and economists talk about the need for Malta to move towards quality tourism. This project aims to do just that,” said Melo Hili, CEO of Hili Ventures.
During a presentation of the project, the architectural team explained that paths around the buildings will not be paved with concrete but will recreate the natural land as much as possible, using permeable soil and stone pathways that assist with rainwater harvesting. The project will also seek to reuse 100% of water which will be recycled for flushing and irrigation.
The buildings are also designed to maximise energy efficiency and reduce the need for air-conditioning, while lighting is being kept at a minimum to preserve the night sky and protect flora and fauna. The regeneration project is being built on a footprint that is 5,122 square metres smaller than the current site, the equivalent of 19 tennis courts. The hotel will accommodate fewer guests than it used to, and the bungalows will be lower than they are today where in some parts they are two-storeys high.
The exhibition, entitled ‘Comino Hotel Reimagined – A Sustainable Vision’ is open to the public at the Girolamo Cassar Hall at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until May 9.