Macina rehabilitation approved by MEPA

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority today approved the conversion of Macina into a cultural/tourist attraction and catering outlets. The main planning concerns emerging from this proposal were related to the historical and architectural importance of the site in question and the visual impact of the proposed interventions, mainly at roof level and in the reconstructed area. The proposal consisted of conservation and adaptive re-use of the Macina and its annex with a mixed use varying from exhibition space to conference facilities to catering establishments. The reconstruction of the area damaged in the Second World War was also proposed. The face of the bastion is to be reconstituted using an aluminium stone coloured mesh. The ground floor of the Macina is to be used as an exhibition area with catering establishments at first floor level. At second floor level,  exhibition space, two conference halls and office space were approved. At roof level a restaurant with outside seating area was approved while the annex will be used for catering outlets, distributed over two floors. Works on the annex will include the demolition of the second floor and the portico at ground floor, both of which are considered to be accretions to the original building. Extensive restoration and alteration works are being proposed to rehabilitate this space including a staircase leading from road level to its roof. To facilitate vertical access between Triq 31 ta Marzu and the roof of the Macina two lifts are proposed: one leading from the lower level to the roof of the annex and the other from this level to the roof. The former will be set in the external area in between the annex and the Macina and the latter will is proposed within the internal part of the Macina. The restaurant at roof level will replace an existing building of smaller footprint, and will be set at the northwest corner. Other works proposed at roof level includes replacing the boundary wall with Misrah Mittrovich with iron railing and timber decking proposed to allow pedestrian flow over existing Macina hardware fixed to the roof. [gallery ids="40835,40836,40837,40838"]