Pjazza Tigné: a major focal point in Sliema

The mere mention of the word piazza in its many linguistic variations instantly evokes a plethora of classic European names: from Madrid's Plaza Mayor to Paris' Place de la Concorde, Rome's Piazza del Popolo, Brussels' Grand Place and the Red Square in Moscow. Each one different, each unique in its own way, but they are all intrinsically inseparable from the character and identity of the city they embellish, and in a sense define.

Malta, inherently European in its traditional sense of architecture and urban design, is no different. Like their counterparts on the European continent, the centrality of the local town squares goes well beyond their geographical location.

Throughout history, the Maltese pjazza has always been a focal point for the entire community: a place where families meet and discussion takes place, where hawkers sell their wares and where public announcements are made and, in essence, a natural venue of assembly for a wide variety of social events.

There are, however, exceptions. Perhaps because of its unique history, or perhaps because it grew out of what was once a seaside villeggatura resort, Sliema is unlike most Maltese towns and villages in that the concept of a single central square has always been conspicuously absent.

It was to fill this vacuum by 2007 that MIDI plc opted to outline the Tigné Point project precisely around the concept of a large central square, Pjazza Tigné. The concept was developed by MIDI's lead consultants, aoM partnership led by Professor Alex Torpiano. aoM's proposals have already obtained full development permission, and construction is scheduled to start early next year.

Pjazza Tigné is designed to accommodate a variety of activities, all giving life to the urban framework of Tigné Point. It aims to subtly blend the adjacent residential and commercial units by creating a marked sense of contrast between the shady, narrow pedestrian walkways of the surrounding areas, and the suddenness of a sunny open space, characterised by trees and fountains, and embracing all the traditional Mediterranean virtues of serenity and understated dynamism.

At 4,500 square metres it is roughly the size of Republic Square (known as Pjazza Regina) in Valletta - in many respects the hub of our capital city - and situated as it is above an underground car park, on three separate levels.

Pjazza Tigné will provide parking space for over 500 cars, making it the most readily accessible of Malta's many town squares. At street level in the square itself, one is immediately surrounded by 2,200 square metres of exclusive shops, a 17,000-square metre retail and leisure mall and fashionable cafes. Above these are a small series of exclusive, contemporary townhouses with open terraces giving on to the square.

Each of these units will be individually designed on an open-plan principle to usher in the external sensation of flexibility and maximum freedom of movement.

With a stylish urban design, usable roof gardens and sunny open terraces overlooking what is bound to become the fashionable centre of this exclusive enclave, the townhouses are sure to turn heads when they are launched on the market off plan, early next year.

To the north, Pjazza Tigné is bordered by a state-of-the-art office block, comprising about 15,000 square metres of modern high-tech office space. The office block provides, in architectural terms, a transition from the residential apartments to the south and the east, to the higher office and serviced residential accommodation to the west, eventually climaxing in the tower building.

The sense of contrast is reinforced by the main division of the square itself, with the northern, sunnier half depressed to accommodate a natural seating area for the cafeterias, which grace the office block's ground level. The remainder, for its part, is envisaged as a multi-purpose assembly area.

The western extremity of the square, defined by the retail/sports block behind the reconstructed Barrack Building façades, constitutes an important part of the north-south pedestrian axis, which has, as its southern climax, a modern steel/glass and timber structure that provides breath-taking views over Marsamxett Harbour, and, to the north another steel/timber bridge structure that straddles the historic fortifications known as the Garden Battery that links into the main pedestrian passiggata along Qui-si-Sana towards Ghar id-Dud, Tower Road and on.

The lower level of the square is equally important, since it will become the main vehicular hub of the Tigné Point complex, with links to an underground carpark, underground retail and leisure facilities, and links to the office and residential areas.

In many ways, Pjazza Tigné will embody what has through its every stage been the guiding principle behind the design concept of the entire Tigné project: a constant drive to achieve the perfect balance between leisure and living.