Case Studies  A Regeneration Strategy for Valletta. Il-Biccerija Case Study

Historical

A historical review of Valletta is a requisite before one recommends new activity nodes in the city. One should identify activity nodes which existed in the past, why they had been created and why they failed. Examples of such nodes are the ferry berthing facilities at Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour. These were created as a means of transport between Sliema and Valletta and the Three Cities and Valletta respectively. When this ferry service was created, it was considered to be an efficient service, in the absence of other comforts which exist today. At that time, users of such mode of transport did not find any difficulty in the steep gradients of St. John Street, to reach the central area of Valletta. This service failed as soon as car ownership increased, when it became possible to reach Valletta by private car. With the failure of these nodes on the fringes of Valletta, the decline of the commercial activity along St. Mark Street and St. John Street, which resulted from the public movement between these nodes and the central commercial area of Valletta, was evident. A similar situation had happened in Strait Street. Fifty years ago, Strait Street was a hub of nightlife activity in Valletta, however, social improvement and the absence of naval fleets, have left this street in Valletta inactive and physically degraded.

Land use    Architectural