Assessing the relationship between community inclusion and space through Valletta 2018 cultural infrastructural projects on various community groups

Abstract

The research is concerned with the assessment of the spatial and social impact of cultural infrastructure, understood primarily as architectural and urban design interventions, in order to gauge the manner with which they may result in broader culture-led urban regeneration within specific Valletta neighbourhoods. Four areas of intervention within the Capital have been chosen for in-depth study – the Biċċerija (the upcoming Valletta Design Cluster) and its surrounding neighbourhood; the entire extent of Strait Street; Pjazza de Vallette/MUŻA and its immediate environs; and the area surrounding the Covered Market (along both Merchants Street and St. Paul’s Street). The nature of the subject matter demands an assessment of the urban space and the various (physical and non-physical) phenomena that affect it. Following the initial identification of the primary socio-spatial phenomena/elements that influence the areas under study, through both inductive and deductive methodologies working in parallel, analytical frameworks are subsequently developed and applied within the analysis of the physical spaces. The latter are monitored closely throughout the five-year period for changes (both each urban space per se and its interfaces/enclosure through the frontages that define it) and key patterns are derived therefrom, categorised and correlated to the NSO data that was obtained throughout 2015 at the specific neighbourhood level. In this manner socio-spatial phenomena may be brought together. Over the past year, the main research objective was to collect ‘on the ground’ baseline data, particularly due to the lack of adequate available data. These in-depth observations have resulted in a very comprehensive set of data comprising 347 properties within the four sites – an important milestone in itself – that shall be followed by drawing out key observations and patterns throughout 2016, a potentially longer stage than was originally envisaged but a necessary one given the breadth of this available data and its complexity. In addition to this data, two further studies carried out in parallel (via inductive and deductive approaches) have led to the identification of some significant spatial and social patterns, which are currently being collated and shall be categorised throughout 2016.