Swiss cheese or honeycomb? 33-storey tower approved in Paceville
The Planning Authority has approved a 33-storey tower, whose design was described by the case officer as similar to a “honeycomb”, on an area previously occupied by low-density villas on the road leading to the Eden Cinemas, occupying one-third of the 3,400sq.m site.
The project is proposed by Paul Xuereb’s PX Lettings.
The project was approved by nine votes against two. The only board members to vote against were NGO representative Romano Cassar, and a representative of the St Julian’s local council.
The project will include 11 floors of office space, with a total floorspace of 7,461 square metres, a hotel with 11 suites at levels 17 and 18; 58 serviced apartments between level 19 and level 30; a restaurant at level 31, and services in the two top levels. The project includes 1,254sq.m of proposed open space. A car park for 259 cars will be excavated on six basement levels.
Planning Authority board chairman Emmanuel Camilleri congratulated the architects for the project’s design, but expressed a concern on the grey coloured structure which may create “a dull environment.” The project’s architect replied that the colour will be “more silver than grey”.
Camilleri also jokingly referred to the new building as being more of a Swiss cheese design than a honeycomb, noting similar designs found in Dubai. “The beauty of the building lies in its concrete structure with its light silver-grey colour,” the architect said, adding that the concrete will have additives to prevent the growth of moss or any organic discolouring.
The development was approved on condition of a green travel plan within three months and before construction starts, outlining how car trips during peak hours can be reduced by 40%.
The green travel plan, which would seek to encourage alternatives to private transport, should include an implementation programme enforced by a GTP monitoring officer engaged and paid by the developer. The green…
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