A quest to merge tradition and innovation for Valletta Market

PROFESSOR MARCO CASAMONTI,

What inspired the concept behind the design of isSuq tal-Belt?

The concept for food-theme markets in Europe originated from the La Halles market in Paris. That was the first example of such markets. It was demolished in the 1970s and replaced with a shopping mall but it still inspired the establishment of several similar markets all around Europe.

Markets in Europe all tend to follow a similar design. They have a stone perimeter and a metal structure on the interior. This use of steel inside demonstrated how light and beautiful metal structures can be and this style was adopted through much of Europe. But some 30 years ago, most of the markets in Europe had reached crisis point because the competition between them and shopping malls was too much. This is an issue which erupted in all European cities.

The way forward has been to have markets in the centre of a city that are covered and revolve around food and culture. They are a celebration of culture, architecture and food, but also leisure because in such markets one can create cultural events.

Have you worked on other similar projects?

My company, Archea DMCC Design Consultants, worked on the iconic San Lorenzo market in Florence, which is very similar in structure to this one in Valletta.

Food is part of our culture. And what we did in Florence was to design a market that is food-oriented. I’m Italian, so for me food is everything. When tourists visit a country, they want to taste the genuine local food. This is what the market will offer.

Markets such as the Santa Caterina in Barcelona and Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid are examples of success when one combines food and culture.

So the market will be essentially for food stalls?

The market will not only serve to promote food, but will also serve as a venue for cultural events. It will consist of three main areas: the underground floor will consist of a market that mainly focuses on food, while food courts and food stalls will occupy the ground floor. The first floor will be used as a chillout space including bars and cafeterias and a venue for cultural events and art exhibitions, among others.

So it’s on three different levels: food market, tasting market and a level for leisure and events.

The market in Florence welcomes some two million visitors a year and I believe the one here in Valletta will be as successful.

Which parts of the existing structure will be kept intact?

The structure will be almost completely preserved. We will try to restore whatever we can. The stone perimeter will be kept entirely. The aim is not only to preserve, but to restore what is original. We have to conserve the authenticity of the area.

Ultimately, this is a space dedicated to the public and we intend to keep it that way. It is a regeneration not only of the market and the structure of the area but a regeneration of the local community.

Tell us a bit about your company. What does it do?

Archea was founded in 1988. We have a network of some 100 architects from different regions. The company operates from six different offices, including those in Florence, Beijing and Dubai.

We have worked on some pretty big projects, including the Public Library in Nembro in Bergamo, the Green Energy Laboratory in Shanghai and the Yanqing Expo Grape near Beijing.

But for the last 20 years we have worked a lot in the food and architecture sector. In fact, we were entrusted with the design of the Antinori winery in Florence – 60,000 square metre winery that is completely underground.

What is your company’s mission?

Our mission is to share tradition and innovation. I don’t like nostalgia. I was born in Florence and the best period for this city was the Renaissance. The secret of this period was artists sharing tradition and innovation. Michelangelo was an incredible modern artist, but at the same time he followed the culture of the Greek period. Above all, my mission revolves around respect for history and tradition.

Is-Suq tal-Belt project was entrusted to the Arkadia Group which, in turn, will invest the sum of €10 million. The project is expected to be concluded by the end of next year.

In January of this year, Parliament approved a 65year concession for the Arkadia Group to renovate and operate the 1,200 square metre market According to the Group, the project will create some 100 new jobs.

The original market in Merchant Street was built between 1859 and 1861. A major part of the structure was destroyed during WWII. When it was rebuilt, it was decided to make the area in front of the building a public square.