Case studies Malta

When we visited the site, two characteristics immediately struck us. The first was its sloping nature, which suggested that there was an interesting play of levels to be exploited. The second was the potential visual cone from the northwestern edge of the site that directed one’s view towards the religious institution currently in construction. It was obvious to us that this important visual connection had to be retained and indeed improved upon. Our departing concept therefore revolved around the creation of a new landscape that could ‘frame’ the future landmark, balanced on either side with the inclusion of green areas, trees and a handful of small structures concentrated around the current sub-station on site, which was to be retained. This led to the very first concept sketch.
We were equally concerned with the use of this new recreational space. We approached this challenge by carrying out a number of on-site analyses and observations. Using the ‘walking distance model’, wherein a ‘walk-able’ distance in close proximity is defined as a 200m-catchment radius, we set out to observe whether there were other recreational areas within this area and, if so, what their nature was. Indeed we found that there is a recreational area just west of the site, within the 200m-catchment, and another north of the site just outside this catchment area. We also observed that these areas were predominantly hard-landscaped urban open spaces, they were primarily play areas and they lacked some public amenities, such as public wc’s and shaded seating areas. For this reason, we felt that our recreational space had to balance the existing open areas by being mainly a green pocket. We also considered that its use had to move beyond simply being yet another play area, and instead provide an appropriate setting for different activities to occur, within well-defined and environmentally temperate areas, and supported by adequate ancillary facilities. These considerations helped us develop further our initial design concept.

Green areas do not come cheap. They require maintenance, upkeep and management if they are to be successful and relevant spaces for the localities within which they are situated. For this reason, and backed by a number of successful case studies overseas, we thought of a creative solution to ensure that this space will provide an innovative contribution to the locality of Mellieha. We propose that part of the site be managed by the community itself, with the inclusion of allotment gardens.

Indeed we strongly believe that this space has the potential to become Mellieha's first public allotment garden, which is further designed around sustainable principles. What this implies is that Mellieha residents would be given the opportunity to own, or rent out, their own garden space that they can manage and cultivate. Whereas the villas beneath the site have their own terraces, gardens and pool areas, the residents living in the apartment blocks north and south of the site do not enjoy such a luxury. By means of these allotment gardens, however, they may be given this opportunity. Allotment gardens have successfully diffused within existing communities the world over. By providing ‘breathing spaces’ or ‘green lungs’ within the built fabric, they have achieved wider environmental, urban design and public realm targets. Through the experience of gardening and dissemination of knowledge, community garden plots have also bonded different factions of communities together, achieving wider social targets, and have actively contributed to the local economy of places, through the possibility of selling locally cultivated produce, achieving wider economic targets. They have further been regularly visited by schoolchildren, who are allowed to work in the plots, thus learning about the environment that surrounds them in a practical and engaging manner. Community plots have therefore further resulted in wider educational benefits.

Experience shows that long-term maintenance is always an issue with public space. We believe that this proposal can go a long way to resolve this issue. With part-ownership comes responsibility and care of a space – people tend to ensure the upkeep of spaces that they have an interest in. Naturally, the Mellieha Local Council could establish parameters in terms of allowable design elements and the planting of species. In our proposed scheme, we have included 19 such gardens, having varying dimensions roughly modeled on the traditional back garden footprint of our terraced houses. These are however not cast in stone, and may be defined following a call for expression of interest by the Local Council to Mellieha residents. We have also designed these plots in a fashion that is reminiscent of traditional terraced fields, particularly given that the natural topography of the site allows for such terracing to occur seamlessly.

Location of Case Study
Mellieha Heights