Colonial type or historical legacy? Rethinking Maltese cultural heritage today

In recent years, Malta is experiencing a surging urban makeover, where more and more historical structures like the iconic terraced houses are being demolished to make way for modern blocks. Are we deleting a chapter of our cultural heritage? Join architect and design researcher Kristine Pace for a thought-provoking discussion on the value of colonial buildings in defining Malta’s cultural heritage on 7 November at 7pm, hosted by the Malta Café Scientifique in Studio B at Spazju Kreattiv, and delve into the challenges of defining heritage in the postcolonial context of Malta.

The work of Kristine will introduce us to the concept of “Heritageisation” - the process of selecting and preserving parts of a population’s history to remember and carry forward to future generations. As she observes, when discussing the heritage of a colonial object like a terraced house within a postcolonial country such as Malta, a public discussion on their value as a heritage building is taking place. This raises the questions of who decides what is the value of heritage, to which extent coloniality still influences Maltese culture, and what criteria should be used to define it.

To understand the ever-evolving definitions of cultural heritage in Malta, Kristine Pace invites the audience to map the changes taking place right now and grasp the impact of coloniality when trying to define heritage. Through a critical architectural lens at the intersection with the urban field, Kristine presents the difficulties in identifying historical legacy in Malta’s built environment.

Join the event for a captivating talk as Kristine Pace encourages us to question our perception of cultural heritage and engage in thought-provoking discussions!

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