Sea Malta Building

Sea Malta Building
General information
Status Partially intact
Type Warehouse, later offices
Architectural style Modernist
Location Marsa, Malta
Coordinates 35°53′7.3″N 14°30′1.1″E / 35.885361°N 14.500306°E / 35.885361; 14.500306Coordinates: 35°53′7.3″N 14°30′1.1″E / 35.885361°N 14.500306°E / 35.885361; 14.500306
Completed 1948
Demolished November 2017 (rear section)
Client Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes
Design and construction
Architecture firm Mortimer and Degiorgio Architects

The Sea Malta Building, formerly known as the NAAFI Building,[1] is a former office building located in Marsa, Malta. It was originally built in 1948 as a warehouse and recreational facility for the British Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes. It was the head office of Sea Malta from 1981 to 2006, and it has been abandoned since then. Part of the building was demolished in November 2017 after it was found that its foundations were in a poor state.

History

The NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) was present in Malta since 1919 and its introduction made a negative impact on Maltese businessmen,[2] however a number of Maltese were employed with the NAAFI.[3] The Sea Malta Building was originally built in 1948 for the NAAFI, and it was designed by Mortimer and Degiorgio Architects. The building served as a warehouse, but it also housed shops, restaurants and other recreational facilities.[4]

In 1981, the building was converted into the head office of Sea Malta Company Limited, who moved there from their previous offices in Floriana. It remained the company's headquarters until the company dissolved in 2006.[4] Parts of the building were later used as a warehouse, while the rest of the block were abandoned and fell into a state of disrepair.[5]

Partial demolition

The Sea Malta Building (white building on the left) as seen from Bridge Wharf in 2014. The sea-facing section visible in this photo was demolished in 2017.

In 2017, it was found that part of the building's foundations were in a poor state as they were constructed on metal piles resting on the seabed, which were prone to erosion.[6] The quay on which the building was constructed had already partially collapsed. A structural appraisal report stated that the building became an operational risk for the Grand Harbour. The Planning Authority approved the demolition of a large part of the building. The Chamber of Architects and the NGOs Din l-Art Ħelwa and Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar asked the Authority to nullify the permit awarded for the demolition, with the Chamber stating that the structural appraisal report did not identify the structure as in imminent danger of collapse.[7][4]

The rear part of the building began to be demolished on 20 November 2017 by Enemalta contractors.[5][8] The front end of the building, including the clock tower, is not in danger of collapse and will not be demolished.[4]

Architecture

The Sea Malta Building has been called "a fine modernist building".[8] It includes a distinctive clock tower.[4]

See also

  • Villa St Ignatius, which was controversially partially demolished around the same time as the Sea Malta Building[1]

Further reading

  • Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Planning Authority taken to court over Sea Malta HQ demolition".

References

  1. 1 2 Torpiano, Alex (2017). "Letter to Prime Minister: Ex-Sea Malta / NAAFI building in Marsa (Part 1) - Villa St Ignatius in St Julian's (Part 2)" (PDF). Kamra tal-Periti. Gzira. pp. 1–4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2018.
  2. ↑ http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Storja/Storja1978/08s.pdf
  3. ↑ "Extract" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. 1988.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rear section of Sea Malta building 'in poor state'". Times of Malta. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 28 November 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Sea Malta building being demolished". Times of Malta. 20 November 2017. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017.
  6. ↑ "Sea Malta's Marsa building in danger of collapsing, now being demolished". TVM. 20 November 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017.
  7. ↑ "PA asked to declare Sea Malta demolition permit 'null and void'". Times of Malta. 21 November 2017. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Former Sea Malta building in Floriana being demolished". The Malta Independent. 20 November 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017.
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