ĦAĠRA DAY 2: The Challenges of a Practicing Architect in Malta

What does it truly mean to be an architect in Malta today? Join us for an evening of discussion with A Collective, AP Valletta & 3DM Architecture.

Presentation by A Collective

Time: 18:30 - 19:00

Established in 2014, A Collective is a young architecture studio that claims a focus on innovation and creativity. Their practice centres on re-evaluating architectural fundamentals—space, proportion, light, and materiality—through a lens that prioritises design quality and user experience. For the festival, the studio will present a selection of their recent projects, framed around themes of reusability and adaptive design within the specific context of the Maltese Islands. Their contribution offers an opportunity to reflect on how emerging practices are grappling with the tensions between aesthetic aspiration, environmental responsibility, and the pragmatic constraints of practice in a tightly regulated and historically layered local environment.

Presentation by AP Valletta

Time: 19:00 - 19:30

Founded in 1991, AP Valletta is a multidisciplinary architectural practice recognised for its sustained engagement with heritage, urbanism, and research-driven design. With a portfolio rooted in the complexities of Valletta’s historic fabric, the studio approaches architecture as an active generator of lived experience. Their work reflects a continued ambition to merge past wisdom with contemporary innovation, embracing challenges through adaptive thinking and contextual sensitivity. At the upcoming festival, AP Valletta will showcase a selection of projects that encapsulate their design philosophy—where architecture is a tool for shaping, not just situating, real life in all its forms.

BREAK at 19:30 till 19:45

Presentation by 3DM Architecture

Time: 19:45 - 20:15

Local Studio 3DM Architecture is a forward-thinking practice specialising in a wide range of projects related to architectural and interior design, as well as graphic design. They approach each project with the utmost care and attention, drawing inspiration from various sources and combining their creativity, knowledge, and experience throughout every stage of the process. At Ħaġra Festival, they will be showcasing a selection of their projects focused on reuse within the local context. These works highlight compelling examples of how we can adapt our architectural heritage—preserving its value while reimagining it for the future.

Roundtable Discussion: The Challenges of a Practicing Architect in Malta

Time: 20:15 - 21:15

Description:

What does it truly mean to be an architect in Malta today? Behind the execution of a built design lies a complex, often unseen reality—one shaped by mounting challenges and contradictory expectations. In this feature, we delve beyond the surface, speaking to local architects and clients to uncover the real issues they face. As overdevelopment continues to sprawl unchecked and, land becomes an ever-dwindling resource, the question is no longer if we should rethink space—but how.

Architects find themselves at a crossroads, forced to reconcile the rising cost of construction materials, rigid Planning Authority policies, and the urgent need to protect Malta’s cultural fabric, all while advocating for architecture that speaks to a more sustainable and resilient future.