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AUM British Building Kampus Universitas by Edwin Mintoff

AUM British Building Kampus Universitas by Edwin Mintoff is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award Emas in Warisan Budaya Competition Category.


EmasWarisan Budaya· 2020

AUM British Building Kampus Universitas

by Edwin Mintoff

Client: Aum

A' Design Award Emas Winner in Warisan Budaya Category

Colors

The Design

About AUM British Building Kampus Universitas

AUM British Building nyaéta hiji kampus universitas anu diwangun dina jero wangunan warisan budaya abad ka-19 di Senglea. Wangunan ieu ruksak parna nalika Perang Dunya Kadua sarta saterusna teu dipaké deui. Struktur bersejarahna dipulihkeun kalayan ati-ati, sarta wangunanana direhabilitasi pikeun kagunaan kiwari. Kampus ieu ngawengku ruang kelas, laboratorium, kantor, perpustakaan, taman jero, jeung kafetaria anu tetep dibuka pikeun umum. Bahan-bahan kontemporer dipilih sangkan katémbong béda sacara visual tina struktur aslina. Instalasi utilitas anu diantepkeun katémbong jeung balok waja nu dipaseuk (riveted) ngingetkeun kana sajarah industrina baheula.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Emas

AUM British Building Kampus Universitas mangrupa juara A' Design Award Emas, pangakuan anu pohara bergengsi anu dipasihkeun ka desain kelas kahiji, ngaranjing jeung unggul. Para juara Emas téh kréasi anu pohara inovatif, visionér jeung matak ngacung anu ngagambarkeun kajeniusan, hikmah jeung kaahlian para désainerna. AUM British Building Kampus Universitas diharepkeun jadi panemuan anu pohara dipuji, pelopor tren, sarta monumental anu méré nilai anu can kungsi aya. Desain juara A' Design Award Emas ieu mangrupa proyék spéktakulér tur dihormat anu pohara mangpaatna sarta ngamajukeun watesan seni, élmu, desain jeung téknologi. AUM British Building Kampus Universitas nyiptakeun rasa hayang anu kuat, ngahudang gairah, ngadorong kréativitas, jeung ngagumkeun urang.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
This 19th century building was severely damaged during WWII and later fell into disuse. Through EM Architects' design interventions, the building was brought back to life with a renewed purpose to serve Senglea in a new way. As well as restoring the historic fabric in a meticulous fashion, the overall building was also rehabilitated in order to usher the building into the current age whilst at the same time managing to showcase its stunning historic elements. The guiding principle behind this project remained the act of showcasing this heritage building as a protagonist of design.
Dimensions & Packaging
Building is 19.6 high, 194m wide, 15.6m deep
Tags
Restoration, rehabiliation, heritage, industrial, university
Production Technology
Contemporary materials were chosen purposely so as to be visually distinguishable from the original historic fabric. This distinction is essential in order to delineate the contemporary interventions within the important timeline of this building. At its inception, this building was born out of golden Globigerina Limestone and raw steel elements, showcasing the fusion between the British Neo-Classical style and local quarried materials.
Design Challenge
The main challenge of this project presented itself in the form of an existing dilapidated building, whereby its extensive character and value had been left to decay. The means by which this challenge was overcome was by successfully ushering this building into the contemporary age whilst also preserving and highlighting its original character. New volumes had to be created within and onto the existing historical fabric which was no small challenge.
Research
Our design began with analyzing the past history and also current situation of the area, to ensure that the restoration of such buildings would also serve to accelerate the urban regeneration of the entire area. Various historical documents, for example the text "The Malta Grand Harbour and Its Dockyard" by Bonnici and Cassar and drawings were analysed, including maps dating back to the 1840s.
Inspiration
The building's rich industrial past served as the main source of inspiration which informed the majority of design decisions taken throughout the design process. This was reflected in the intentionally exposed services of the building. The selection of raw materials and the choice to retain original structural elements, such as the voltini ceilings and the exposed riveted steel beams, emphasised this industrial feel. Another integral factor which shaped the restoration and rehabilitation of this historic building was the harnessing of sustainable initiatives in various forms.
Project Duration
Works at Triq Dom Mintoff, Bormla, commenced in November 2016 and were completed by March 2019.
Operation Flow
Our design incorporated the creation of 13 classrooms, 4 laboratories, 1 cafeteria, 1 library, 18 offices, 1 internal garden and 2 receptions, through minor alterations and the construction of additional floors. The cafeteria, which ensures that part of the building remains accessible to the public, also houses the restored original machinery of the building, thus incorporating these historical elements seamlessly within the new contemporary designs.
Team Members
Edwin Mintoff
Pietro Di Raimondo
Mario Scicluna
Image Credits
Photographer: Alan Carville

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