Moving beyond a traditional focus on physical structures, the project that won the Outstanding Student Project Award at this year’s MASP awards ceremony embraces the concept of heritage as a reflection of a way of life.

Indeed, Adaptive Re-use of a Landscape in Tension in Wied il-Għasel proposes a bold reinterpretation of the Victoria Lines, a 19th-century defensive structure in Malta.

Architecture University Student Gary Ghirxi impressed the jury with his project’s modest interventions resulting in an outstanding landscape, transforming a former quarry site into a multifaceted destination that celebrates Maltese history and identity. It was deemed to be a very realistic proposal, which brings together history and use.

Architecture University Student Gary Ghirxi explained that the academic and archival research carried out on heritage and conservation theory, and the site’s context respectively, allowed for the historical mapping of attributed values to the area.

“This, in turn, led to the development of the concept where the Victoria Lines are not the exclusive heritage object; rather, they are an additional layer of history in the same way the quarries and the Great Fault are living historical records of different aspects of Maltese history and identity,” he said.

This project proposes that the Victoria Lines, along with the surrounding landscape, represent a tangible record of Maltese society and its evolution. It envisions a three-pronged approach to revitalise the area.

The existing processing facility at HM15 will be adaptively reused to house Malta's first Contemporary Identity Museum and Exhibition Space. This unique space will showcase the values and struggles that shaped Maltese identity. 

The ex-Hardrocks quarry is slated to become a Mediterranean Garden, integrating with the adjacent valley. Indigenous plants will be introduced to rehabilitate the area while creating a beautiful and functional natural space for recreation and environmental restoration.

Finally, HM22 quarry is proposed to transform into a contemplative forest. Drawing on the site's documented spiritual significance, this space offers a refuge for introspection amidst the urban environment.

The existing levels of the quarry will be utilised to create a tiered forest, preserving the site's history while promoting reflection on the environmental impact of human intervention.

The project prioritises sustainability throughout its design. Adaptive reuse of the processing facility minimises construction emissions, while the expansive roof offers potential for renewable energy generation. The introduction of the Mediterranean Garden and introspective forest significantly increases the area's green footprint and fosters biodiversity.

Accessibility is also a key consideration. Existing infrastructure allows for heavy machinery access during the construction and plantation phases. The natural features of the site further facilitate growth and drainage.

While the environmental damage is unfortunate, the project views these particular quarries, and the subsequent impact they have left, as a living historical record of Malta - a relatively young, independent country trying to establish itself after millennia of foreign rule, thus making the quarries a heritage item on equal importance as the Victoria Lines themselves.

“The subsequent adaptive reuse of both the processing infrastructure in HM15 for a Contemporary Identity Museum (in itself a particular feature), as well as the reuse of the HM22 quarry to transform it into an introspective forest, offers the opportunity for a spiritual experience, which is a rare occurrence in our dense, urban environment,” Gary Ghirxi said.

This project offers a paradigm shift in how heritage is understood. It moves beyond a purely economic framing, viewing cultural heritage as an integral part of a community's identity and sense of place.

This approach aims to foster a desire for holistic protection of heritage for future generations, not merely preservation, but rather a recognition that these sites are living entities with continuing stories to tell.

By integrating the landscape and abandoned structures into a cohesive narrative, the project breathes new life into the Victoria Lines, transforming them into a vibrant destination that celebrates Malta's rich history and evolving identity.

The MASP Awards are organised by the Planning Authority and fall under the Patronage of the President of Malta. For more information visit www.maspawards.com