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AUM British Building 大學校園 by Edwin Mintoff

AUM British Building 大學校園 by Edwin Mintoff is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award 金獎 in 文化遺產設計 Competition Category.


金文化遺產· 2020

AUM British Building 大學校園

by Edwin Mintoff

Client: Aum

A' Design Award 金獎 Winner in 文化遺產 Category

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The Design

About AUM British Building 大學校園

AUM British Building係一個喺Senglea一座十九世紀歷史建築物入面打造嘅大學校園。呢座建築物喺第二次世界大戰期間受到嚴重破壞,其後長期荒廢。歷史建築肌理得到細心修復,整座結構亦被活化以配合當代用途。校園設有課室、實驗室、辦公室、圖書館、內部花園同埋一間對公眾開放嘅餐廳。項目選用當代物料,喺視覺上同原有建築肌理保持明顯區分。外露嘅機電設施同鉚接鋼樑令人聯想起呢度嘅工業歷史。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 金獎

AUM British Building 大學校園是 A' Design Award 金獎得主,這是授予一流、絕妙而傑出設計的極為崇高的認可。金獎得主是極具創新、極富遠見且璀璨奪目的創作,反映出其設計師的天才、智慧與才幹。預計AUM British Building 大學校園將成為一項備受讚譽、引領潮流、氣勢恢宏的發明,帶來前所未有的價值。這件贏得 A' Design Award 金獎的設計是一個壯觀而受人敬重的項目,極大地造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。AUM British Building 大學校園激起強烈的渴望,喚起激情,鼓勵創造力,令我們著迷。

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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