The fight to save St Julian’s Palazzina Vincenti has been a successful one after the Planning Authority finally awarded grade 2 scheduling to the historic Modernist building.

The landmark piece of Maltese modernist architecture, dating back to the 1940s and facing threats since 2021, was set to be replaced by a 14-storey hotel, developed by Carlo Stivala.

Former St Julian’s Mayor and current PN MP Albert Buttigieg was an instrumental voice in the fight to help save the villa, saying that “this is another win” while reacting to the recent news.

The villa used to be the main family residence of architect Gustavo Romeo Vincenti, who also designed the building.

“Although there is a pending planning application for the demolition of this 20th-century building, now, with this protection status given to the property, the development application will need to be radically modified to ensure that the palazzina is restored back to its original glory, which it so well deserves,” the PA said in a statement.

“As it had promised following the issuing of an Emergency Conservation Order (ECO) last year, the authority, in consultation and collaboration with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH), carried out a thorough assessment of the building to determine the long-term level of protection that the property merits.”

The authority concluded that Palazzina Vincenti has outstanding historical and contextual value and is a pioneering example of modernist architecture that made use of reinforced concrete in a domestic setting in the Maltese Islands.

Built in the post-World War II period, the Palazzina was designed and constructed by Perit Gustavo R. Vincenti as his own personal residence and is one of his masterpieces.

It is one of the best modernist examples on the Island, whereby Vincenti’s mastery in playing with circular and square geometric shapes is taken to an unprecedented dimension with its protruding forms and sculpted spaces.

Palazzina Vincenti served as Vincenti’s residence up until his death, on the 25th of April 1974, when he passed away.

The facades of the two adjacent houses abutting the Palazzina on either side, designed in a muted Modernist idiom are also being scheduled as Grade 2 properties, while their interiors will be scheduled as Grade 3.

What do you make of this piece of good news for Maltese architecture?