Valletta, a Unesco World Heritage Site, represents a masterpiece of human genius inextricably linked to the history of the aristocratic Order of St John of Jerusalem, which ruled over the island for almost 300 years. In those prosperous years, the city flourished and, as the 18th century poet and scholar Jacques Delille wrote, the knights had accumulated enormous wealth and had turned Valletta into their private harem.

Laparelli's grid iron renaissance city took the shape of eight longitudinal roads and 12 latitudinal principal roads. The town was a perfect example of city planning and all was thought out to the least detail and precision.

Due to this architectural wealth and to the nation's obligation to embrace all that is original in such a way that this city will never lose its identity, any project that is carried out in Valletta must begin with documentation and historical research of anything that could shed light on the architecture, infrastructure and planning of the time. It is only when one literally builds a thorough understanding of the past and an understanding of the various elements of the specific eras that one can be in a position to put pen to paper to design and be respectful to the past. This is precisely what the Rehabilitation Projects Office (RPO) did in the months leading to the actual execution that has commenced in the past days.

The project, coordinated by the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs and the Transport Ministry, is a prime example of how two ministerial departments can marry their different expertise to achieve one common goal, that is the of beautifying of the streets that link the various palaces, churches and buildings of this city.

The RPO architects, under the direction of CEO Claude Borg, were responsible for the historical and documentation studies that led to a proposed master plan for all the streets of Valletta. A Mepa application was then submitted for each individual street and works have commenced on St Christopher. This is one of the 14 streets to be restored and repaved till the end of the year.

Tenders were issued for the purchase of hardstone and lava, since historical findings proved that the majority of roads in Valletta were paved in hardstone and a few were also paved in lava. Incidentally, some on-site testing was carried out in some roads such as the stretch of Republic Street, between Archbishop and St Christopher streets, where the original paving was found buried under a layer of tarmac.

The RPO's intention is to meticulously remove the top layer such that the paving beneath can be cleaned and restored. The missing paving material will be then reintegrated with similar material that has been hoarded at the RPO stores.

Another interesting find was that, in most of the streets, the pavement was absent and in these streets the surface run-off was towards the centre. Here again, these will be re-instated to their original road design.

Interestingly enough the RPO's architects even delved into the study of how the paving slabs were cut and laid.

Although the information gathered was mainly from pictorial evidence, it was clear that the paving was made up of a variety of stone slab sizes laid in a staggered manner forming a very innovative design.

The Knights paid proper attention to detailing and such road intersections were solved in a very ingenious manner, such that the result was almost a play of design. Once again all this was taken note of and replicated in the proposed new designs.

Thanks also to Malta Transport architects, the surfaces have been re-laid and a new concrete bed cast such that the new street will withstand vehicular loading.

Also, a major study was carried out on the new traffic system in and around Valletta as well as the introduction of new pedestrianised zones and the installation of bollards, some of which will also be electrically operated and monitored remotely.

The paving project is in tandem with a sequence of ongoing restoration projects such as the Presidential Palace, Auberge de Castille, Ta' Liesse and Biblioteca, among others. The RPO's ultimate aim is to ensure that all projects merge holistically and that the design emanates from the historical genius locus of the city.

An architect by profession, the author is chairman of the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee.