Barrakka Lift
Date | 2009–2013 |
---|---|
Client | GHRC |
Value | 2 million euro |
Location | Valletta, Malta |
iconic structures old and new urban regeneration valletta regeneration
This

The structure is designed to enhance movement of large numbers of visitors and residents between the Grand Harbour and Valletta, from the water’s edge along the Valletta waterfront, over the powerful landward enceinte of fortifications and into the heart of the city, creating new links to the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the new

Shifting political and economic realities have always been a challenge for this world heritage city and the connection between harbour and city has transformed itself over the years in response to these unremitting changes. The

Today, a very different economic reality is once again dictating the transformation of this dynamic area of the town: the recent restoration of Baroque waterside warehouses into a thriving cruise ship terminal as well as the development of restaurants and cafes, prompted the
The renewed connection serves the needs of thousands of visitors approaching the city from the traditional arrival point at the foot of the bastions. The heavy demands of accessibility to and mobility around the town required a much larger footprint and a stronger vertical statement within the skyline of the historic harbour were therefore inevitable. In order to resolve this, a cavity was created by pulling the two lifts apart, where a staircase could be threaded in between. Not only does this space accommodate mandatory safety requirements, but it also reduces the visual weight of the lift structure itself and accentuates the vertical proportions
The geometric qualities of the plan echo the angular forms of the bastion walls, and the corrugated edges of the aluminium skin help modulate light as it hits the structure, emphasizing its verticality. The mesh masks the glazed lift carriages, recalling the forms of the original cage lifts, whilst providing shade and protection to passengers as they travel between the city of Valletta and