Vittoriosa's transformed square gets global recognition

The four-year, €3 million regeneration of Vittoriosa's main square has been awarded a Special Mention at the global architecture Architizer A+ Awards. 

Architecture firm Studjurban, who designed the project, were among those given the accolade, which is handed out to less than 5% of the thousands of projects nominated. 

The formerly traffic-centred square was largely pedestrianised in the project, which was completed through a collaboration between Infrastructure Malta (IM) and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA).

Antoine Zammit, founder of Studjurban, said the Special Mention was "deeply prestigious" and that the project stood out because it represents a fundamental shift in how public space should be conceived and experienced.

“At its core, our intervention reclaims the square as a social and cultural meeting place, transforming it from a car-dominated environment into a pedestrian-first urban landscape that prioritises human interaction, accessibility, and spatial clarity,” he said. 

He pointed out that prior to the project, around three-quarters of the square was dominated by vehicles and that now more than half of the square has been reclaimed for pedestrians.

“The project also became a central example of Studjurban’s approach to urban regeneration and public design and reflects the studio’s ongoing commitment to rethinking Maltese urban spaces through context-sensitive interventions that prioritise pedestrian experience, spatial clarity, and cultural continuity," he said. 

It is the latest international recognition for the firm, which was also awarded  the BIG SEE Awards and the Malta Business Awards as Local Cultural Contributor.

The Architizer A+Awards describe themselves as one of the world’s largest and most international architecture awards programs.