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Malta Business Review<br />
SPECIAL FEATURE: MBEOTYA 18<br />
A Reputation for Excellence<br />
By Martin Vella<br />
Exclusive Interview with Dr. Edwin Mintoff, Managing Director of EM Architects<br />
and Civil Engineers<br />
2018<br />
Architecture and the commercial property<br />
market in Malta has changed drastically over<br />
the past few decades to contain new areas<br />
of growth and one of these has been the<br />
demand for large-scale commercial office<br />
buildings.<br />
Five years back and we witnessed the launch<br />
of a number of iconic buildings among which,<br />
were Skyparks at Malta International Airport<br />
and 14 East Tower, Fimbank’s group head<br />
office in St Julian’s.<br />
Valletta and additionally EM Architects feel<br />
that this city can only survive if it adjusts<br />
to contemporary conditions. This is why<br />
for us urban architecture is of the utmost<br />
importance, so as to create a new layer in<br />
Valletta’s history which <strong>res</strong>pects the old but is<br />
conscious of the new,” told us Dr Mintoff.<br />
In the case of Domus Zamittello, the entire<br />
façade stonework had to be completely<br />
<strong>res</strong>tored, metal inserts removed and joints<br />
raked out and re-pointed. “The elevation<br />
which differ radically from <strong>res</strong>idential<br />
buildings. Therefore, the design had to<br />
add<strong>res</strong>s the bank’s objectives to create an<br />
iconic, yet functional, building sensitive to<br />
both local culture as well as environmental<br />
considerations, while also reflecting the bank’s<br />
corporate identity and global p<strong>res</strong>ence.”<br />
“Numerous other factors taken into<br />
consideration in the design stage included<br />
location, aesthetics, functionality, air quality,<br />
energy efficiency and also the building’s<br />
long-term sustainability and environmental<br />
performance. To achieve this, modern design<br />
techniques were utilised to meet the practical<br />
necessities and specifications of the space,”<br />
he added.<br />
An architect who has been involved in the<br />
design of these projects is Edwin Mintoff of<br />
Edwin Mintoff Architects and Civil Engineers.<br />
Dr Mintoff has been in practice for over 33<br />
years and, in that time, has seen his firm<br />
expand to a large, architectural, civil and<br />
structural engineering firm, working on<br />
various p<strong>res</strong>tigious projects in Malta and<br />
beyond.<br />
His practice has also expanded overseas,<br />
mainly to Europe, as well as North Africa, and<br />
has included development of offices, hotels,<br />
<strong>res</strong>taurants and banks, community cent<strong>res</strong>,<br />
<strong>res</strong>idential developments and other projects<br />
in Italy, Latvia, Tunisia, Libya, Turkey, Spain<br />
and Sudan, apart from various regeneration<br />
plans, such as in Cospicua and Marsaxlokk,<br />
the Macina and the Domus Zamitello projects.<br />
“It is of upmost important to safeguard the<br />
architectural heritage that is our capital city<br />
Projects by EM Architects<br />
along South Street was in a perilous structural<br />
condition due to war damage compounded<br />
with subsequent civil works. Our design<br />
incorporated arches, so as to reinstate<br />
structural stability whilst simultaneously<br />
emulating the original building façade,” he<br />
rationalised.<br />
With this philosophy, EM Architects embarked<br />
on the design of this palazzo which dates<br />
back to the eighteenth century located in a<br />
prime location of Valletta. Its <strong>res</strong>toration has<br />
contributed significantly towards the urban<br />
renewal of Valletta and in particular to its<br />
immediate surroundings. This project was<br />
awarded the Planning Authority award for<br />
Conservation Architecture 2018.<br />
In 2009, Edwin Mintoff Architects was<br />
charged with the task of designing Fimbank’s<br />
headquarters in Pendergardens. Dr Mintoff<br />
explains, “projects of that size and nature<br />
have their own particular requirements,<br />
"It is of upmost<br />
important to safeguard<br />
the architectural<br />
heritage that is our<br />
capital city Valletta<br />
and additionally EM<br />
Architects feel that this<br />
city can only survive if it<br />
adjusts to contemporary<br />
conditions.<br />
“A number of distinct architectural and<br />
interior design concepts were p<strong>res</strong>ented<br />
to the bank prior to the choice of the <strong>final</strong><br />
design – a building that incorporates clean,<br />
visual design lines that best communicate<br />
Fimbank’s strategic, global corporate vision in<br />
an architectural form,” Dr Mintoff explained.<br />
I asked Dr Mintoff about the Macina and he<br />
rapidly elucidated, “This early 17th century<br />
building, originally housing the mechanism<br />
for ship mast fitting known as a ’macchina’,<br />
was rehabilitated and given new life as a guest<br />
house with ancillary facilities, including a pool,<br />
bar, <strong>res</strong>taurant and cafeteria. It was a complex<br />
project, both technically and philosophically,<br />
and particular care went into the quality<br />
of the finishes and design choices. Despite<br />
creating the necessary luxury, the overall<br />
concept retained the military, functional feel<br />
of the building’s previous use, especially in<br />
the staircase and the courtyard. This Is an<br />
example in the rehabilitation and re-use of<br />
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