The Ministry for Social Accommodation announced the winners of the second international design competition for specialized housing projects, held in collaboration with the Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers. Through this programme, the Government will be reviving three dilapidated buildings which will subsequently be used to provide specialized housing services by non-governmental entities.
The design for the first project, ‘Y Communal House’ which will be run by YMCA Malta, was won by ‘XYZ Architecture’ with the design named ‘Dar il-Bużbież’. In this project, the YMCA Foundation, will be assisting in the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of homeless individuals and families especially those over sixty (60) years of age and people with disabilities. With this project, these people will have the chance to rebuild their social circle, find a job or train in educational programmes. An investment of around €350,000 will be made for this project.
Inguanez Architects won the second project with the design ‘Mosaic House’. This will be implemented on ‘Dar Qawsalla’, which will be led by the Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement. This initiative will be offering specialized housing for LGBTIQ people to have a chance of rebuilding their social circle, finding employment or training in educational programs whilst working towards reuniting with their families. This project will be made possible through an investment of around €150,000.
For the third project, ‘Dar Mixtla’, which will be headed by Fondazzjoni Sebħ, the design ‘Awora/L-ewwel dawl’ was chosen, submitted by Atelier Maison. This project will be assisting young people, women and their children, who have been victims of domestic violence and have reached the final stage of support to start living independently. €100,000 have been allocated for this project.
In his speech, Minister for Social Accommodation Roderick Galdes said that the specialized housing programme will not only be offering specialized services that go hand in hand with the national housing policy, but the location’s design and planning will also be sustainable, innovative, and will be created and adapted to the service to be rendered from day one.
“We are giving these individuals a decent home. That is why these projects are so dear to me because, we are not just constructing another building,” explained Minister Roderick Galdes. He concluded by thanking the panel, the expert jury, the Chamber of Architects, and all those who took part in this process.
The winning architects will now be tasked with making the design project a reality, for the benefit of the individuals who need this specialized housing and society.
