The reuse of industrial buildings in Malta

Abstract

Awareness of the local industrial heritage has become an important priority towards the history of Maltese architecture. This legacy spans for many centuries, within all phases of human development. However, the Industrial Revolution, which mainly manifested in England, was the most influential in this regard. Amidst this revolution, many local companies have taken the opportunity to build industrial facilities, serving an important economic power for the Maltese islands. Today, many of these local buildings retain many important values for the history of industrial heritage in Malta.

Due to the constant rise of economic growth and production, many industrial companies needed to improve, or enlarge their facilities, in order to keep up with the ever-growing demand. This led to the replacement of machinery, as well as the demolition and construction of newer buildings or additional spaces. Until local legislations introduced policies pertaining to the reuse of such places, many companies had applied changes as they pleased, leading to the detrimental loss of the original fabric.

Throughout the years, local and foreign organizations have provided initiatives to promote reuse of industrial buildings. However, their effective measures need further assessment, questioning whether they are serving their purpose on a local scale. Therefore, this study aimed at analysing a case study in Malta, taking note of how the reuse of industrial buildings is being implemented. Since the Farsons Brewery, in Mrieħel, had recently applied a reuse project towards its original factory, this building was chosen as a basis for this research. Apart from determining the significance and values pertaining to its historic fabric, an analysis of how the reuse project was applied, was taken into consideration. This revealed that the new changes did result in having positive and negative outcomes.

The project required to separate the main factory into two separate projects. Thus, the linkage, which had served as an important driving mechanism for the running of the brewery, was lost. Apart from that, several mixed uses were introduced, most of which have altered the reused premises. With regards to the brewhouse, the project reused the area for a new visitor’s centre. To further emphasize on the importance of commercial use, an additional floor for a sky bar was added, providing visitors an opportunity to experience panoramic views of Mrieħel. All this was possible by retaining most of the main fabric of the building. Meanwhile, the former warehouses and offices of the brewery were demolished to make way for a new business park. Although the façade at this part of the brewery was the only architectural feature retained, the reuse involved a series of additional floors, as well as minor alterations on the same façade. Apart from that, its new reuse will no longer associate itself with Farsons, marking it as a distinctive entity from its surroundings.

Overall, the project has made progress towards applying a mixed use, whilst respecting its industrial heritage. However, with the way some parts of the project have been handled, it has been observed that the local policies, are only based around satisfying present needs. One must acknowledge that trends in economic activity can change in the future, and any loss in the architectural fabric will be a permanent loss for the industrial heritage of Malta.