Care home plan that faces huge opposition wins international award

A care home project that is so strongly opposed that its development is stalled has won a global award, prompting its architects to question “the contrast between its international recognition and local dismissal”. Valentino Architects blame the “state of paranoia” about development that the Maltese, including themselves, have been forced into due to the exploitation of the urban environment. The controversial design for the Ħal-Caprat Care Village for older dementia patients was crowned the winner of Community and Civic category of the 2022 AR Future Projects awards, run by the long-standing and prestigious The Architectural Review journal. But despite the international accolade, the studio’s project has struck a negative chord with the public, the cultural heritage watchdog, environmental NGOs, and the local council, who strongly objected to it, leaving PA/07492/19 suspended and “awaiting review of recommendation”. The development application sought permission to demolish an existing building, excavate and construct a five-storey care home in Triq tal-Grazzja and Triq Xmun Attard in the Urban Conservation Area of Żebbuġ, sparking the anger of objectors. They described the...