Call for submissions for 20th Din l-Art Ħelwa Architectural Heritage Awards

Din l-Art Ħelwa has launched the 20th edition of its annual Architectural Heritage Awards.

The awards are the oldest architectural competition on the islands, and have built a reputation for rigorous, in-person judging that has awarded some of the islands' most impactful heritage projects over the past two decades. 

This year’s call for submissions has officially opened, with the deadline for entries closing at noon on September 11. Projects considered for submission must be heritage focused, completed in the 12 months up to July 30, and fall under one or more of the following categories:

• Regeneration of a historic urban space;

• Adaptation of historical buildings to new uses;

• Restoration and/or conservation of buildings;

• Landscaping within a heritage context.

Projects can relate either to a single building, a complex of buildings or to a historic urban environment or townscape. Aside from the four main categories, the ‘Judge Maurice Caruana Curran Award’, named after DLĦ’s founder, will be awarded to the best winner overall in all categories. 

The projects will be judged on the quality of the work executed, their historic, cultural, educational and social relevance, preliminary research conducted, aesthetic and visual merit, and environmental considerations.

Projects may be of any scale, with this year’s entry submissions asking for information on project budget along with other criteria.

Din l-Art Ħelwa has been a champion for the safeguarding of Malta and Gozo’s heritage for 60 years. These awards are a pillar in their work towards growing awareness around the country’s need for protecting its cultural identity.

The jury visits each building and speaks with the team behind every project submitted, gauging not just the work undertaken on individual sites, but the wider temperature around heritage practices on the islands.

“These awards recognise excellence in architectural practice within a heritage context, rewarding and acknowledging architects, and paying tribute to patrons and crafts workers,” said executive president Patrick Calleja.

“They remain a symbol of vigilance and hope within a national built environment that is consistently under threat. This year will be a celebration of not just the projects that are awarded on ceremony night, but all the ones that came before them and have become part of the heritage fabric of our country.”

The programme is carried out each year with the support of the Kamra tal-Periti and this year will be generously sponsored by PwC Malta.

More information about the award application and registration forms are available from the Din l-Art Ħelwa’s office at 133, Melita Street, Valletta. For further queries, call 2122 0358/212.