Gold Cultural Heritage and Culture Industry Design · 2020
AUM British Building Campus
- A' Design Award 2020 Gold Winner in Cultural Heritage and Culture Industry Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Aum
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 42,186
- Verification code 54570E2EE4 · Verify this award
About AUM British Building Campus
AUM British Building is a university campus created within a 19th century heritage building in Senglea. The building was severely damaged during the Second World War and later fell into disuse. The historic fabric was restored carefully, and the structure was rehabilitated for contemporary use. The campus contains classrooms, laboratories, offices, a library, an internal garden and a cafeteria that remains open to the public. Contemporary materials were chosen to stay visually distinct from the original fabric. Exposed services and riveted steel beams recall the industrial past.
Edwin Mintoff's transformation of this historic waterfront structure into the AUM British Building Campus represents a distinguished example of contemporary heritage architecture practice, wherein the challenge of adapting significant historic buildings for new educational purposes has been addressed through a philosophy of respectful dialogue rather than either pastiche or aggressive intervention, the existing limestone edifice likely dating from the era of substantial maritime and institutional construction demonstrates the characteristic vocabulary of Mediterranean classical architecture including the rhythmic arcade system, the hierarchical arrangement of fenestration between lower and upper stories, and the careful proportional relationships established through string courses pilasters and balustrade elements that speak to centuries of accumulated building wisdom, Mintoff's intervention concentrates its contemporary expression at the rooftop level where a steel and glass pavilion structure establishes clear temporal distinction while maintaining compositional subservience to the historic mass below, this approach recalls the theoretical frameworks articulated by heritage conservation philosophy that distinguishes reversible contemporary additions from irreversible alterations to historic fabric, the waterfront siting amplifies the architectural achievement through the transformative agency of reflection wherein the building doubles itself in the still harbor creating a complete symmetrical image that invites meditation upon themes of permanence and flux material presence and immaterial echo, the warm stone surfaces seem to hold accumulated Mediterranean light within their mineral structure radiating gentle luminosity that speaks to the genius loci of this maritime setting, viewers might contemplate how architecture can serve as vessel for cultural continuity creating spaces where contemporary learning occurs within the embrace of historic form.
Press Kit
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Image Credits
- Photographer: Alan Carville
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