Fort Chambray : a study set against criteria of sustainable development

Abstract

Fort Chambray, one of the greatest undertakings of the Knights' of St.John in Gazo, has been transformed into a luxurious holiday complex, termed by most as a 'Gated Community'. Such a transformation has created much controversy about the fort's diminishing historical value in recent years. This dissertation aims to test whether development going on in this site reaches criteria of sustainable development. The four main pillars of sustainable development, namely the economy, environment, society and culture, are studied with respect to the case of Fort Chambray. A sustainable economy should be one which provides work and generates wealth. A sustainable society should promote social coherence and social solidarity. The main goal of a sustainable environment is to halt environmental degradation. Additionally the issue of cultural heritage as "heritage which should be preserved as much as possible " is examined with respect to the approach taken to preserve cultural property at Fort Chambray. The outcomes of this study will eventually hint at a community which has the potential to provide a sustainable economy, but not a sustainable society and environment. Additionally, the arguments brought forward by the different stakeholders of Fort Chambray, together with a detailed examination of aerial, old and modern photographs of the site, will eventually prove that "development going on in this site does prove a poor case of heritage management".