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PR12/26 | KTP calls for Grade 1 scheduling of Palazzina Vincenti and its expropriation for public use

The Kamra tal-Periti is calling on the Planning Authority to urgently upgrade the scheduling of Palazzina Vincenti in St Julian’s from Grade 2 to Grade 1, in view of the building’s clear cultural value. The Kamra is also calling on Government to expropriate the building and adapt it for public use, so that it can serve as a place for community and cultural activity.

Gustavo R. Vincenti, one of Malta’s most important architects of the twentieth century, designed the building in the post-war years as his own home. He moved in in 1952 and lived there until his death in 1974. The building is widely seen as one of the finest and earliest examples of Modernist domestic architecture in Malta. Its volumes rise above a podium of garages, with plain limestone walls, long horizontal windows typical of the Modernist style, and semi-circular cantilevered concrete terraces – an engineering feat for the time. Inside are a grand central hall, a monumental reinforced concrete staircase clad in marble, and waffle slab ceilings. A tunnel runs from the house down to the foreshore of the bay.

 

 

The Superintendence’s own assessment

In a publicly available Statement of Significance about the building, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage describes it as “one of Gustavo R. Vincenti’s latest masterpieces, and one of his greatest”. It notes that “the Palazzina is one of the earliest examples of the ‘miracle’ material’s domestic usage”. The Statement concludes that the property is “highly significant in the history of Modernist architecture in Malta, as well as the history of architecture, that of Sliema – St Julians and in the history and evolution of concrete in Malta”. It adds that, as the place where Vincenti lived and died, the building is also “highly significant historically”.

The Kamra believes this assessment calls for more protection than Grade 2 gives. Grade 2 allows extensive internal changes. In this case, that could include demolishing one of the earliest waffle slabs on the island. The building’s significance lies as much in its structure and interior as in its façades. The staircase, the cantilevers and the early use of reinforced concrete are the very features the Superintendence singles out. Protection that covers the exterior but leaves these elements exposed does not match the value that has been officially recognised.

 

A building for the public

Scheduling protects a building from harm, but it does not secure its future. The Kamra believes that a building of this importance should belong to the public. Government should expropriate Palazzina Vincenti and carefully restore and adapt it for use by the community.

Several uses would suit the building. It could house the St Julian’s Local Council, giving the locality a civic seat worthy of its heritage. It could also provide space for the area’s cultural community, including local cultural groups, artists and voluntary organisations. Alongside these, it could host exhibitions, talks and events that help the public learn about Malta’s Modernist architecture and the work of Gustavo Vincenti.

The Palazzina’s position on Balluta Bay, its generous interior spaces and its direct link to the foreshore make it well suited to such a role. Public ownership would let the building be studied and enjoyed by everyone, rather than seen only from the street. It would also bring a valuable civic and cultural asset to the St Julian’s area, which has very little public space.

 

Protecting every chapter of our architectural history

The Kamra tal-Periti has long argued for the protection of Modernist architecture in Malta. It has done so for the Qala school, the Milk Factory by Huntingford and the Sea Malta building, among others. Palazzina Vincenti is perhaps the most important example of this period still standing.

Malta’s built heritage did not end with the Baroque or the nineteenth century. The Modernist movement of the mid-twentieth century reflected a time of deep change on the islands: post-war rebuilding, new building technologies and a confident move towards an international architectural language. These buildings are part of our story too. They deserve the same care as those of earlier periods, and they are often more at risk because they are newer and less widely appreciated. If we protect only the older layers of our history, we leave future generations an incomplete record.

The Kamra therefore calls on the Planning Authority to act without delay and give Palazzina Vincenti the Grade 1 protection that its significance clearly warrants. It also calls on Government to take the building into public ownership and make it available for the benefit of the community.

 

All photos provided by Perit David Ellul

 

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PR11/26 | Perit Simone Vella Lenicker Elected Vice President (Europe) of the Commonwealth Association of Architects

Kamra tal-Periti proudly announces that former President, Perit Simone Vella Lenicker, has been elected Vice President for the Europe Region of the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA).

Her appointment was finalised during the governance sessions of the 60th Anniversary CAA General Assembly, held alongside the in:situ 2026 Conference at the Aotea Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Perit Vella Lenicker, who currently serves as Chairperson of the Chamber’s Policy Committee on Property and Director at AP Valletta, will represent European Member Organisations, including the Kamra tal-Periti, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and the Cyprus Architects Association, all of which supported her nomination.

Her election reflects over two decades of leadership within Malta’s architecture and civil engineering sector. A graduate of the University of Malta (BE&A Hons), she served on the Council of the Kamra tal-Periti for over 15 years, leading the organisation as President between 2019 and 2021. During this time, she contributed significantly to policy and regulatory frameworks, representing the Chamber on key bodies including the Building Regulation Board, the Planning Authority’s Users’ Committee, and the Building Industry Consultative Committee.

The CAA holds historic ties to Malta, having hosted its first fully fledged conference on the island in June 1965 following its founding in London. Today, as an accredited Commonwealth organisation, it brings together 46 national architectural institutes from across the Commonwealth nations to advance professional standards, influence spatial policy, and address critical global challenges in urban resilience and education.

The Kamra tal-Periti congratulates Perit Simone Vella Lenicker on her election and remains committed to supporting her efforts to advance professional standards both in Malta and across the Commonwealth.

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PR 10/26 | Kamra tal-Periti and the Order of Architects of Rome sign memorandum of understanding on World Architecture Day

The Kamra tal-Periti and the Ordine degli Architetti Pianificatori Paesaggisti e Conservatori di Roma e Provincia (OAR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Rome today, 5th October 2026, marking the beginning of a formal collaboration between the two professional institutions. This historic agreement signed on World Architecture Day, underlines the shared commitment of both organisations to promote architecture as a matter of public interest and as a driver of sustainable and inclusive development.

The Memorandum was signed by Perit André Pizzuto, President of the Kamra tal-Periti, and Arch. Christian Rocchi, President of the Roman Order. The Kamra tal-Periti was represented in Rome by President Perit André Pizzuto and Treasurer Perit Ivynne Grixti, following an invitation by OAR.

The agreement establishes a framework for institutional and cultural cooperation between the two organisations, recognising the unique relationship that both Valletta and Rome share as historic urban centres characterised by rich cultural heritage and the ongoing challenge of balancing conservation with contemporary development. The Memorandum identifies a number of common areas of interest, including heritage and contemporary architecture, urban regeneration, environmental sustainability, the quality of public spaces, and the social role of the architectural profession.

Through this collaboration, the two institutions intend to facilitate the exchange of professional experience, knowledge and good practice, strengthen dialogue between European architectural cultures, promote research and innovation, and enhance cooperation between professional bodies. The agreement also reflects a shared understanding that architecture plays a central role in improving quality of life, supporting social cohesion and contributing to sustainable development.

During their visit to Rome, Perit Pizzuto and Perit Grixti participated in the closing events of the Rome Architecture Festival at the Casa dell’Architettura, the institutional headquarters of OAR. They also attended an institutional meeting with President Christian Rocchi, Councillor Arch. Simone Cellitti, and members of the Order’s Internationalisation Committee, including Arch. Rosaria Ippolito, where discussions focused on future opportunities for cooperation between the Maltese and Roman professional communities.

The Kamra tal-Periti believes that international collaboration is increasingly important in addressing shared challenges related to cultural heritage, climate resilience, urban transformation and professional development and that the partnership with OAR will create a platform for future exchanges, joint initiatives and mutual learning between architects and built environment professionals in Malta and Italy.

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PR 09/26 | Kamra tal-Periti calls on PA Executive Chairman to address conflict of interest

The Council of the Kamra tal-Periti has been closely monitoring the media reports affecting the Planning Authority’s Executive Chairman, Mr Johann Buttigieg, and the public debate that ensued.

In keeping with its long-standing modus operandi of being cautious and judicious when making public statements, over the past weeks the Council undertook a thorough examination of the publicly available facts as they emerged and sought direct clarifications from Government officials where necessary to be able to reach its own independent conclusions without undue haste.

The Council of the Kamra tal-Periti is particularly concerned by the revelation that Mr Buttigieg is a director of a company set up to provide consultancy services relating to planning and architecture while concurrently occupying the post of Executive Chairman of the Planning Authority.

While welcoming Minister Jonathan Attard’s statement that Mr Buttigieg did indeed declare this company to the Government as well as his ongoing contractual obligations with the Water Services Corporation related to GIS data-inputting – an activity that has no bearing whatsoever on the Planning Authority – prior to his appointment, as well as Minister Attard’s assurances that said company currently has no other clients, the Kamra tal-Periti nevertheless submits that these assurances do not fully resolve the public perception of conflict of interest arising from Mr Buttigieg’s ongoing involvement in this company while concurrently occupying his public role.

In view of the above, the Kamra calls on Mr Buttigieg to resolve this perceived conflict of interest by choosing which of the two positions he wishes to retain as soon as possible.

The Kamra further calls on the Government to ensure that there are no other similar situations that have not been disclosed to the public, particularly in relation to regulators of the construction and real estate industries which have been afflicted for far too long with a negative public perception and general resentment.

 

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PR 08/26 | Kamra tal-Periti concludes professional conduct proceedings concerning the Bartolott Crypt, St John’s Co-Cathedral

The Council of the Kamra tal-Periti has concluded professional conduct proceedings opened in connection with restoration works carried out at the Bartolott Crypt, St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

The Council opened the case on its own initiative (ex officio) in January 2025, following a report published by The Shift News on 18th January 2025, headlined “New floor caves in as St John’s Co-Cathedral project in collapse“, which alleged that a newly installed raised floor within the Crypt had caved in and caused severe damage to the historic resting place of approximately 600 Knights of the Order of St John. Given the seriousness of the allegations and the cultural and historical significance of the site, the Council undertook a thorough investigation.

Over the course of eight hearings held between April 2025 and June 2026, the Council gathered sworn testimony from the periti involved, the project’s archaeological monitor, the main contractor, and the CEO of the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, together with an extensive body of correspondence, technical documentation, and photographic evidence.

The Council’s determination was made personally against Perit Danica Cachia Mifsud and Perit Konrad Buhagiar of AP Valletta, who held direct professional responsibility for the works in question. Having examined all the evidence, the Council found that:

  • there was no evidence that the Bartolott Crypt floor collapsed, or that any damage was caused to the Crypt or the burial chambers beneath it;
  • the localised movement observed in the historic stone paving arose from pre-existing conditions documented as far back as 2014, predating the respondents’ involvement by roughly a decade, and not from any act or omission on their part;
  • the matter was identified, reported, and remediated diligently and transparently, in consultation with and with the approval of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage at every stage.

On this basis, the Council found both respondents not to have been in breach of any of the four grounds for professional misconduct under the Periti Act, by a unanimous vote of 8–0 with no abstentions, and no disciplinary sanction was imposed. The Council’s decision further records its concern that The Shift’s reporting on this matter was materially misguided.

The Council has decided to publish this decision in full, departing from its usual practice of confidentiality in cases resulting in no finding of misconduct, for two reasons: first, because the allegations giving rise to this case were already in the public domain, having originated in The Shift’s reporting; and second, because of the national and international public and cultural interest attaching to Valletta as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

Read full Professional Conduct Decision

 

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Photo source: https://timesofmalta.com/article/preservation-of-st-johns-co-cathedral.581730

 

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PR 07/26 | Kamra tal-Periti Meets Partit Nazzjonalista Leadership to Discuss Building Regulations and Planning Reforms

A delegation from the Kamra tal-Periti, led by President Perit André Pizzuto, on Thursday met with the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Dr Alex Borg, and the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Employment, Hon. Perit Julian Borg, at the Partit Nazzjonalista Headquarters to discuss the Kamra’s work and proposals for strategic reforms within the construction and planning sectors.

During the meeting, the Kamra briefed the Opposition delegation on the progress of the new national building codes. The delegation also presented its vision for a re-engineered planning framework aimed at streamlining approval processes and elevating architectural standards through proposed Design Review Panels. Additionally, discussions addressed proposed legislative amendments to the Periti Act to strengthen disciplinary mechanisms, and resolve ongoing challenges regarding professional indemnity insurance cover.

The Kamra tal-Periti reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining open communication with all political stakeholders to ensure the implementation of effective, quality-driven reforms across the built environment.

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Photo credit: Partit Nazzjonalista

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CIR 06/26 | Guidance on the use of the recently launched Land Registration System (LRS)

As many of you will be aware following our previous circular, the Land Registry Agency (LRA) launched its new digital platform for the acquisition of site plans and the submission of Form E requests.

Unfortunately, the launch was somewhat rushed, with little opportunity for thorough explanations for members of the profession to understand the functionalities of the new system, and to continue to ensure high standards in the preparation of relative official documentation.

This circular is intended to provide advice on how to proceed in the short term, together with some contextual information we did not provide thus far.

 

Background

The digitalisation of the Land Registry system has been in the works since 2019. Indeed, various representatives of the Kamra, including members of the Council and the Policy Committee on Property, have been attending meetings with senior officials at the Land Registry Department and, later, the Land Registry Agency, at very preliminary stages right until a few days before the formal launch.

One of the main features of the proposed system was that periti would be able to plot “polygons” representing the boundary of a property subject to a deed. Such polygons would be drawn using a mouse and snap to lines on the basemaps.

While welcoming the digitalisation process, KTP representatives have always expressed deep reservations about snapping to basemaps that were infamously inaccurate. Regardless, basemaps can never provide the level of accuracy that has become expected of periti in recent years.

The Kamra’s solution has been to provide either, or ideally both, of the following options:

  1. Keying in georeferenced coordinates of points to indicate the site boundary into the Land Registry platform;
  2. Uploading polygons drawn on CAD in DXF format, preferably georeferenced, or alternatively having the possibility of controlling the position of the uploaded DXF polygon relative to a corner on the basemap.

Unfortunately, by the time the system went live, neither of these options had been programmed into the software.

However, the LRA provided a third option: the download of site plans in PDF format, against payment, for periti to annotate using their software of choice, as they currently do with Planning Authority site plans. LRA site plans can be printed with digital markings applied by periti and authenticated in wet ink.

Alternatively, they can continue marking them by hand in ink as they have always done thus far.

The watermarking of site plans will no longer be required.

It is pertinent to underscore that, due to contractual deadlines, the previous website through which the LRA sold site plans needed to be shut down on Wednesday, 5th August 2026.

It was thus imperative that a compromise on an alternative solution was found.

The Council noted that the ability to acquire site plans in PDF format, rather than having physical plans mailed by post, and the possibility to mark them digitally, ensured that:

  1. Periti could provide their services far more efficiently;
  2. The precision and presentation of annotations and markings on site plans would be significantly improved;
  3. The same digital site plan can be reused for various deeds, reducing costs.

It is on these grounds that, following a detailed presentation by LRA management to the Council, the latter agreed to support the transition to the new Land Registry System (LRS).

 

Professional Practice Recommendations

Please find below the Council’s recommendations pursuant to the newly launched LRS:

  1. Members of the profession are advised NOT to mark polygons on the online system for the purposes of preparing site plans intended for the registration of deeds, due to the risk of imprecisions and overlaps, until the Kamra’s recommendations discussed above are introduced by the LRA.
  2. Periti may choose to prepare physical site plans as outlined above, or proceed with the preparation of polygons for the purposes of Form E applications typically submitted by notaries, since the level of precision in such exercises is not as important. Periti may wish to note that this will replace the commonly adopted practice of annotating site plans as “Not for registration purposes” or other such similar annotations, when the site plans are created solely for the purpose of notarial searches.

 

Acquiring a site plan

Site plans can be acquired by zooming in on the plot of land to be registered, and clicking on the burger menu at the top-right corner of the map, as shown in Figure 1.

 

 

Periti can then select their preferred scale from the menu on the left-hand side of the screen. The scale printed on the right side of the site plan will remain 1:2,500 as per usual.

 

Information session

The Kamra tal-Periti is in discussions with the LRA to hold a training session for periti in early September, to go through the full functionalities of the new LRS, as well as the launch of new guidance on the preparation of Land Registry site plans — including in apartment blocks and complexes — which is being drafted in consultation with the Kamra.

 

Bugs in current version of LRS

Following the launch of the LRS last week, the Council has received feedback from various members of the profession highlighting bugs they came across when using the software. These included:

  1. A serious GDPR flaw when trying to virtually add office members, with personal data of everyone registered on the system accessible;
  2. Missing periti on the platform;
  3. Inability to add non-periti to virtual LRS offices.

We are aware that the LRA is working round the clock to resolve these matters, some of which may have already been addressed by the time you read this circular.

If you identify any other bugs in the software, please contact us at [email protected] or through the Periti Discussion Group on Facebook.

 

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CIR 05/26 | Launch of the Land Registration Agency’s new information system (LRS)

Following several months of discussions and consultation between Kamra tal-Periti and the Land Registration Agency (LRA), we are pleased to inform members that the LRA will be launching the Official Searches Module and the Site Plan Module forming part of its new Land Registration System (LRS) on the 5th of August 2026.

The new system will enable Periti to order and download site plans digitally, plot boundaries online, and submit Form E requests electronically through the LRS portal. Old site plans issued under the previous system will continue to be accepted until the 6th of November 2026.

Members are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the attached communication and to begin making use of the new system from the launch date.

Kamra tal-Periti remains committed to supporting members throughout this transition. Should there be sufficient interest or need, the Kamra will coordinate training sessions and information meetings to assist members in becoming acquainted with the new procedures.

 

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LRA communication and samples
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PR 06/26 | Nominations open for the 2026 Edition of the Premju Emanuele Luigi Galizia

The Kamra tal-Periti and the Planning Authority have officially launched the 2026 edition of the Premju Emanuele Luigi Galizia, Malta’s national architecture awards. Nominations are now open through www.premjugalizia.org, celebrating excellence in architecture, planning, urban design, engineering, conservation, and the wider built environment.

This year’s edition marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the awards scheme, with the Kamra tal-Periti and the Planning Authority joining forces for the first time to co-organise the event. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to promoting quality in Malta’s built environment and fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and responsibility in shaping our towns, cities, and landscapes.

Named after Emanuele Luigi Galizia, one of Malta’s most influential architects and civil engineers, the awards seek to recognise projects that demonstrate outstanding quality, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a positive contribution to society. Inspired by Galizia’s legacy of rigorous attention to detail, civic responsibility, and holistic thinking, the awards continue to champion projects that respond thoughtfully to contemporary challenges while shaping a more sustainable future.

The Premju Emanuele Luigi Galizia places particular emphasis on teamwork. Nominations must be submitted on behalf of the complete project team, recognising the collective contribution of clients, architects, planners, engineers, conservation specialists, interior designers, project managers, contractors, and other professionals involved in delivering successful projects.

Speaking on the opening of nominations, Kamra tal-Periti President André Pizzuto highlighted the motivations behind establishing the awards scheme in 2018: “Architecture in Malta deserved to be recognised for its moments of excellence, which are regretfully overshadowed by controversy and resentment. Premju Galizia is one of a series of collaborative initiatives that the Kamra and the Planning Authority are now working on together. Among the most important is one we hope to conclude soon: Malta’s first National Architecture Policy — a transformative strategy for uplifting the quality of architecture across our islands.”

PA Executive Chairman Johann Buttigieg emphasised “the sense of duty the profession should uphold toward our country’s built and environmental heritage” that this collaboration seeks to promote, thereby ensuring that quality, responsibility, and vision in Malta’s built environment become a national ambition. Mr Buttigieg expressed his hope that Premju Galizia would not simply be just another awards ceremony, but a true reward for the commitment to quality.

This year’s programme will continue to showcase projects that address Malta’s evolving realities, including the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, housing and density, public spaces, hospitality, infrastructure, conservation, and urban regeneration. The awards aim to stimulate discussion about the future direction of Malta’s built environment while highlighting examples of best practice across the sector.

The collaboration with the Planning Authority strengthens the awards’ role as a national platform for celebrating excellence and encouraging higher standards in the design, planning, and stewardship of the built environment. It also reflects ongoing efforts to promote a more holistic, people-centred, and sustainable approach to development throughout Malta and Gozo.

Further details regarding eligibility, award categories, submission requirements, and key dates are available at www.premjugalizia.org. All entries must be submitted to the Kamra tal-Periti by 18 September 2026 at 23:59 hrs.

The Planning Authority and the Kamra tal-Periti encourage professionals, organisations, students, and project teams to participate in this year’s awards and help showcase the quality, innovation, and talent that continue to shape Malta’s built environment.

Visit the Premju Galizia website
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CIR 04/26 | Construction Industry Skill Card Update

This circular serves as an update to Circular 01/2026 issued on 26th March 2026 concerning the purported requirement for periti to hold a register for a skill card.

Members will recall that on 24th March 2026 the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) was contacting periti via email indicating that they are legally required to possess a skill card to enter a construction site as from January 2027.

Circular CIR 01/2026 clarified that no such regulatory requirement exists since the regulations regarding the construction industry skills cards are still being finalised and have thus not been brought into force.

The National Building Council (NBC), composed of Kamra tal-Periti and Malta Development Association, requested an urgent meeting with the BCA to seek clarifications on the skill card scheme to ensure that there is broad consensus on the legal text and adequate time for the industry to prepare itself, particularly in view of the envisaged timeframes. The absence of published regulations was not only creating uncertainty, but making it challenging for compliant course curricula to be developed and accredited in time. Indeed, while the regulator’s intent is for the course to reach EQF Level 2, many courses claiming to be providing the necessary training for the attainment of the skill card have only achieved an EQF Level 1 accreditation.

The NBC met with the BCA on 7th May 2026 during which the above concerns were raised. In particular, the NBC emphasised that periti, whose training reaches a minimum of EQF Level 7, should not be subjected to the same regime as unskilled labourers.

The Council welcomes initiatives aimed at improving health and safety awareness and competence within the construction industry. However, the Perit profession is already regulated under a statutory warrant system, which requires advanced academic qualifications, supervised professional training, and compliance with a dedicated legal and regulatory framework.

Moroever, the new Periti Act envisages the introduction of mandatory continuous professional development governed by the Kamra tal-Periti. During the AGM of 2024, former council member Perit Dr Rebecca Dalli Gonzi had given a thorough presentation of the CPD framework the Kamra is working on, which will include health and safety and risk management as core subjects.

During the May meeting, BCA CEO Perit Roderick Bonnici agreed that periti should not be required to participate in any training courses to attain a skill card given that they are in possession of relevant academic and professional qualifications that exceed EQF Level 2, and that the draft regulations will reflect this.

The Council of the Kamra tal-Periti eagerly awaits being given a draft of the regulations when they are written to be able to also guide members of the profession on the status of non-warranted technical staff who undertake site-work.

 

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