Malta’s XXth century post-war architecture : a question of identity and heritage appreciation

Abstract

Post-war architecture and design in Malta is generally underappreciated, resulting in the intentional or unintentional demolition or abandonment of a large number of significant buildings from the period. With two or three exceptions, Modernism took root in Malta only after the Second World War, especially after the country’s independence, when it sought to establish its place in the world. The Modernist legacy in local architecture is manifested in different typologies, including schools, churches, housing estates, and hotels. The spirit of Modernism in Malta, however, was short-lived, struggling to reach the 1980s, extinguished by the flood of commercialism of the century’s final decades. This study employs an exploratory research approach to revisit the twentieth century postwar scenario. Socio-political and economic realities of the epoch are correlated with local building practices. The research investigates whether Modern architecture was the result of a search for a local and contemporary (post-war) expression of the nation’s identity and global positioning. The scope is to identify and highlight the significance and importance, if any, of the new architectural expression’s contribution to our cultural heritage. The historical context, and concepts of identity and heritage are explored using both foreign and local publications. To investigate the relationship between architecture (both its creation and interpretation) and these notions, the research analysis employs interviews with architecture and anthropology professionals, as well as protagonists of the era. Thematic discussions are generated by analysing key information obtained through the research process. The aim is to determine the state of the society in which the architecture was created and the architecture that was favoured. The examples of modern architecture in Malta demonstrate what a small but select segment of society bravely attempted to achieve.