Architecture of Malta

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Examples of Maltese architecture from different periods: the prehistoric Mnajdra Temples, the medieval Santa Cecilia Chapel, the Renaissance parish church of Attard, the Baroque Auberge de Castille, the neoclassical Main Guard, traditional townhouses in Sliema, the Art Nouveau Balluta Buildings, the modernist Rediffusion House, the critical regionalist Manikata church and contemporary apartments in Ta' Xbiex

Maltese architecture has its origins in prehistory, and some of the oldest free-standing structures on Earth – a series of

Gaulos. Although these were substantial settlements and are known to have had numerous temples, churches and palaces, few remains have survived apart from some architectural fragments.[2]

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Malta became part of the Byzantine Empire, before falling to the Arabs in 870. Virtually no examples of Byzantine or Arab architecture have survived, although the Arabs left a significant influence on Maltese vernacular architecture which remained popular in subsequent centuries. Malta became part of the County and later the Kingdom of Sicily in 1091, and Norman architecture and other European styles were introduced to the island. Relatively few examples of medieval architecture have survived, including a few buildings in Mdina and the Cittadella, as well as several chapels in the Maltese countryside.[2]

Maltese architecture flourished while the islands were

bastioned fortifications around the main cities, apart from a series of coastal and inland defences.[3]

After Malta became part of the

modernism.[4] Malta experienced a building boom after World War II, which increased after independence in 1964.[5] The modernist style remained popular, but new styles such as critical regionalism
were also introduced.

Prehistoric architecture

Main article: Megalithic Temples of Malta
Ġgantija

The

Qrendi), Mnajdra (in Qrendi), Ta' Ħaġrat Temples (in Mġarr), Skorba Temples (in Żebbiegħ) and Tarxien Temples (in Tarxien).[6] Nowadays, the sites are managed by Heritage Malta, while ownership of the surrounding lands varies from site to site.[7][8]
Apart from these, there are other megalithic temples in Malta which are not included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Roman architecture

The mosaic of the peristyle of Rabat's Domvs Romana

The

Roman House"), is a ruined Roman-era house located on the boundary between Mdina and Rabat, Malta. It was built in the 1st century BC as an aristocratic town house (domus) within the Roman city of Melite
.

Arab architecture

Medieval architecture

Maltese Baroque architecture

Main article: Maltese Baroque architecture
Auberge de Castille, designed by Andrea Belli in 1741–45

The Maltese Baroque is the form of

under the rule of the Order of St. John.[9] The Baroque style was introduced in Malta in the early 17th century, possibly by the Bolognese engineer Bontadino de Bontadini during the construction of the Wignacourt Aqueduct. The style became popular in the mid to late 17th century, and it reached its peak during the 18th century, when monumental Baroque structures such as Auberge de Castille
were constructed.

The Baroque style began to be replaced by neoclassical architecture and other styles in the early 19th century, when Malta was under British rule. Despite this, Baroque elements continued to influence traditional Maltese architecture. Many churches continued to the built in the Baroque style throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and to a lesser extent in the 21st century.[10]

19th century architecture

Further information:
Historicism (architecture)
Mgarr

Victorian architecture

Neoclassical architecture

Main article: Neoclassical architecture § Malta
The Rotunda of Mosta, which was built between 1833 and 1860

Neoclassical architecture was introduced in Malta in the late 18th century, during the final years of

St Paul's Pro-Cathedral (1844), the Rotunda of Mosta (1860) and the now-destroyed Royal Opera House (1866).[14]

Neoclassicism gave way to other architectural styles by the late 19th century. Few buildings were built in the neoclassical style during the 20th century, such as the Domvs Romana museum (1922),[15] and the Courts of Justice building in Valletta (1965–71).[16]

Romanesque Revival architecture

Ta' Braxia Cemetery Chapel
Main article: Romanesque Revival architecture

Gothic Revival architecture

Carmelite Church, Balluta by Gustavo R. Vincenti
Main article: Gothic Revival architecture

Neo-Renaissance

Verdala Palace

Moorish Revival architecture

Turkish Military Cemetery by Emanuele Luigi Galizia
Main article: Moorish Revival architecture

Eclecticism

20th century architecture

Art Nouveau / Art Deco architecture

Modernist architecture

Contemporary architecture

  • The Barrakka Lift - Architect: Architecture Project Valletta
  • St James Cavalier
    Centre for Creativity - Architect: Richard England
  • DB House - Architect: Forward Architects
  • Strait Street Public Toilets - Architect: Chris Briffa Architects
  • House of Four Winds (Bank of Valletta, Chairperson’s Office) - Architect: DeMicoli & Associates Architects
  • New Parliament Building by Renzo Piano

[18]

Notable Maltese architects

See also

  • Gozo Farmhouse

References

  1. ^ Ellul, Michael (1989). "L-identita` kulturali ta' Malta : kungress nazzjonali, 13-15 ta' April 1989". In T. Cortis (ed.). L-arkitettura : xhieda ta' l-identita' nazzjonali (PDF) (in Maltese). Valletta: Department of Information. p. 93-116.
  2. ^ a b Galea, R. V. (1954). "Architecture in Malta" (PDF). Scientia. 8 (3): 99–107. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b Galea, R. V. (1954). "Architecture in Malta (Continued)" (PDF). Scientia. 8 (4): 148–160. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
  4. ^ Said, Edward. David Felice (ed.). "The Architecture of Gustavo R. Vincenti (1888-1974)" (PDF). The Architect. Media Today: 18–19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2018.
  5. ISSN 1021-6952.[permanent dead link
    ]
  6. ^ a b "Megalithic Temples of Malta". Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  7. ^ "Malta Temples and The OTS Foundation". Otsf.org. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  8. ^ David Trump et al., Malta Before History (2004: Miranda Publishers)
  9. ^ [1][dead link]
  10. ^ "Conference proceedings" (PDF). susanklaiber.files.wordpress.com. 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  11. ^ "Bibliotheca" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Rohan Gate, Żebbuġ". Times of Malta. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 4 December 2015.
  13. ISBN 9788860407818
    .
  14. ^ "Architecture in Malta under the British". culturemalta.org. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Domvs Romana". Heritage Malta. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015.
  16. ^ "The Courts". The Judiciary – Malta. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015.
  17. ^ "Gozo Museum given go ahead to be housed in "modernist" building". May 3, 2018.
  18. ^ "Contemporary Architecture That Makes You Proud To Be Maltese". lovinmalta.com.
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