New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Project category

Identify the award category for which this project is being submitted
Reconnecting with nature

Email user
lawrence.c.buttigieg@gov.mt

Basic information
Project title
Formal garden at National Park, ta'Qali

Full Project Title
Refurbishment of a formal garden forming part of National Park, Ta'Qali

Please provide a short, catchy description of your project to be used in communication towards the public.
This architectural/landscaping project upgrades and extends the previously undervalued formal garden at Ta’ Qali. The complex, whose construction started in the 90’s, consists mainly of a grand portico that embraces a simple, yet attractive fountain, an open-air Greek-styled theatre, and extensive walkways. The new design articulates further the original garden’s longitudinal axis that points to the old capital city of Mdina.

What was the geographical scope of your project?
Regional

Where was your project implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Malta

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
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Does your project address mainly urban or rural issues?
It addresses urban-rural linkages

Does your project refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)

Has your project benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
No

Has your project won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Is your project fully completed
Yes

Please indicate a date (mm/yy)
2023-01-30

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As a representative of an organisation
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project)
- Name of the organisation(s): Ministry for Public Works and planning, Malta
  Type of organisation: Other public institution
  First name of representative: Lawrence
  Last name of representative: Buttigieg
  Gender: Male
  Nationality: Malta
  Function: Chief architect
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Project House, Triq Francesco Buonamici
  Town: Floriana
  Postal code: FRN1700
  Country: Malta
  Direct Tel: +35679603143
  E-mail: lawrence.c.buttigieg@gov.mt
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
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In case my project is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my project in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
government entity

Description of the project
Please provide a summary of your project.
This architectural/landscaping project upgrades and extends the previously undervalued formal garden at Ta’ Qali. The complex, whose construction started in the 90’s, consists mainly of a grand portico that embraces a simple, yet attractive fountain, an open-air Greek-styled theatre, and extensive walkways. The new design articulates further the original garden’s longitudinal axis that points to the old capital city of Mdina, and its extensive use of symmetry. Importantly, the newly refurbished garden underscores the visual link with Mdina’s cathedral—the cupola of this magnificent baroque church is now clearly visible along the main axis of the garden.
While, behind the Greek theatre, Spiteri’s design included two avenues symmetrically placed and running parallel along each other, only one was ever constructed. The revamped garden now includes two wings that complement each other.
Besides the removal of several post-war accretions, other significant interventions are the reversal of soil erosion and desertification that took place over the past decades. New amenities include family facilities and refreshment kiosks. The Greek theatre is completely refurbished and finished in such a manner that accentuate its geometric lines; the area underneath the seating has been transformed in to a multi-media gallery and other facilities. The spaces around this building double up as activity spaces for children and families.
The proposed vegetation offers continuity, rhythm, order and formality, through the form of the individual trees/shrubs, their arrangement in the landscape and their repetition in the different areas of the garden. The vegetation is a careful blend of native, indigenous plants and ornamental vegetation for their attractive foliage, texture and bloom. Rainwater is collected and stored in refurbished reservoirs and re-used for irrigation purposes.

Please indicate the main themes of your project with 5 key words.
formality

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
nature

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
landscape

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
recreational

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
sustainability

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The project is meant to be self-sustainable. Large capacity reservoirs collect rainwater which is then used for irrigation purposes. A good number of light fixtures are solar powered.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The main objective of this project is to provide people with open and recreational spaces where they can connect with nature. The design emphasises the visual link between the town of Attard and the old capital of Mdina.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
This project regenerates an existing, albeit dilapidated, garden. Rather than demolishing the existing structures, these were renovated and integrated in the new design.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project
The refurbished garden, with its ample open and landscaped spaces, provide a reprieve to citizens who inhabit urban areas.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the project. Please highlight what the added value of their engagement was.
This was a government funded project.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your project. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was.
The project integrates nature with the built environment.

Please give information on the results, outcomes and impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for. This includes also benefits from the project for direct and indirect beneficiaries
The project proves to be an attractive place for citizens.

Please provide documents showing the results, outcomes and impacts of your project
PDF
PDF
- pdf-1-18844.pdf
Please highlight the innovative character of the project, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the project
This project makes use of state-of-the-art lighting systems, and services.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your project.
The civil works underpinning this project makes use of local skills and traditional building techniques.

Please describe which elements of your project could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and context. This may involve for example aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings etc.
Several characteristics of the project can be transferred/adopted to/at other places.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the project addresses by providing local solutions
The project highlights the importance of sustaining links with nature.
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images (or other types of visual representations, if images are not possible) to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below
By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that you are not in in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation.
Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the project and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary.
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their projects, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted project, is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes