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Architecture of Malta

From 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 megalithic temples – can be found on Malta.[1] The islands were colonized by the Phoenicians and later the Romans, who established the cities of Melite and 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 under the rule of the Order of St. John from 1530 to 1798. The Hospitallers introduced Renaissance architecture to Malta in the mid-16th century, with the Baroque style becoming popular about a century later. The two and a half centuries of Hospitaller rule saw the establishment of new settlements (most notably the capital Valletta) and the construction of many churches, palaces and public buildings. The Order also built bastioned fortifications around the main cities, apart from a series of coastal and inland defences.[3]

After Malta became part of the British Empire in 1800, Neoclassical and Neo-Gothic architecture were introduced, and they were the predominant styles of the 19th century.[3] Several styles left an influence on Maltese architecture in the first half of the 20th century, including Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Italian futurism, rationalism and 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

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Main article: Megalithic Temples of Malta
Ġgantija

The Ġgantija temples (two sites) were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.[6] In 1992, the UNESCO Committee further extended the existing listing to include five other megalithic temple sites. These are Ħaġar Qim (in 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

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The mosaic of the peristyle of Rabat's Domvs Romana

The Domvs Romana (Latin for "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

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Medieval architecture

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Maltese Baroque architecture

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

The Maltese Baroque is the form of Baroque architecture that developed in Malta during the 17th and 18th centuries, when the islands were 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

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Further information: Historicism (architecture)
Castello Zammitello in Mgarr

Victorian architecture

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Neoclassical architecture

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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 Hospitaller rule. Early examples include the Bibliotheca (1786),[11] the De Rohan Arch (1798)[12] and the Hompesch Gate (1801).[13] However, neoclassical architecture only became popular in Malta following the establishment of British rule in the early 19th century. In 1814, a neoclassical portico decorated with the British coat of arms was added to the Main Guard building so as to serve as a symbol of British Malta. Other 19th century neoclassical buildings include the Monument to Sir Alexander Ball (1810), RNH Bighi (1832), 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

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Ta' Braxia Cemetery Chapel
Main article: Romanesque Revival architecture

Gothic Revival architecture

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

Neo-Renaissance

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Verdala Palace

Moorish Revival architecture

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

Eclecticism

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20th century architecture

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Art Nouveau / Art Deco architecture

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Modernist architecture

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Contemporary architecture

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[18]

Notable Maltese architects

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See also

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References

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  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. ^ Thake, Conrad (2014). David Mallia (ed.). "Architecture in Post-Independence Malta: Past, Present and Future" (PDF). Melita Historica. 16 (3). Book Distributors Limited: 89–100. 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. ^ Bötig, Klaus (2011). Malta, Gozo. Con atlante stradale (in Italian). EDT srl. p. 54. ISBN 9788860407818.
  14. ^ "Architecture in Malta under the British". culturemalta.org. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  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. 28 July 2016.
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