DLH expects developers to amend skyscraper designs

Press Release 20th January 2017

DIN L-ART HELWA WELCOMES DEVELOPERS CONFIRMATION THAT THE TOWNSQUARE TOWER MUST NOT BE VISIBLE FROM THE TOP OF FORT ST ANGELO. WILLING TO MAKE THEIR 3D STUDIES AVAILABLE TO DEVELOPERS. EXPECTS DEVELOPERS TO IMMEDIATELY AMEND TOWNSQUARE DESIGNS. 

Din l-Art Helwa has welcomed the shock of the TownSquare developers at 3D photo montages commissioned by Din l-Art Helwa to show the impact of the TownSquare Tower on Valletta and the Grand Harbour area. Din l-Art Helwa also welcomes the developers’ confirmation that the TownSquare Tower must not be visible even from the top of Fort St Angelo.

The following process was followed by Din l-Art Helwa:

1. A firm of architects was commissioned to study the volume of the TownSquare Tower in exact measurements from the permit documentation.
2. An exact volumetric model was built up with heights and width reproduced to the closest metre.
3. This 3D model was placed on Google Earth to study its visual effects on the surrounding topography.
4. A number of stills were chosen by Din l-Art Helwa from which photomontages were created by Daniel Cilia to accompany its press statements and messages.

A ‘fly-through’ has also been produced of this volumetric study.

Din l-Art Helwa is ready to make its studies available to the developers of the TownSquare Tower to ensure that they are in a position to immediately amend their project to ensure that the TownSquare Tower is not visible even from the top of Fort St Angelo.

The exact coordinates from which the photo from Birgu was taken are 35°53’33.29”N and 14°31’6.42”E which corresponds to the parade ground at Fort St Angelo.

These studies are also available to be viewed by journalists and anyone who is interested.

Din l-Art Helwa reminds all who have Malta’s environment at heart that the Planning Authority – and the government that appointed it – must bear responsibility for the unbridled surge in projects such as the TownSquare Tower.