The Mellieħa Primary School, which forms part of the Maria Regina College, was built in the 1940s to meet the needs of a small village in that period. Over the years this locality grew and with it the population increased.
This project involves the demolition of the existing school to build a new one that will accommodate the growing population of this locality. The new school, which will be able to accommodate around 600 children, will be built on the site of the present school, as well as on an adjacent piece of land.
As the area is archaeologically sensitive due to the presence of underground shelters and rock-cut features related to former military activities, all demolition and excavation works will be kept at a minimum and will be monitored by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.
Furthermore, the existing school is built in a Modernist architectural style that deserves preservation. The proposed new school will interestingly integrate the existing built structure consisting of Modernist facades and hall with a contemporary architectural structure. The aim is to highlight the historical value of pedagogical architecture in Malta by preserving these important Modernist architectural elements and creating a differentiation between the old and the new.
The first phase of this project involves the excavation of the site adjacent to the existing school building. The second phase includes the demolition of the old school and the construction of the new school.
The new school will be spread over four floors above street level, including a receded floor at third floor level. In total there will be 36 classes for the primary level and 22 classes for the kindergarten level.
The project is outward-looking in its approach of community outreach through its continued use of community-designed spaces after school hours, including a childcare centre, a community library, a multipurpose hall which can be used both as a theatre and a gym, a community roof garden, a public car park within the school which can take 171 cars, and 33 car parking spaces on the adjacent streets. These facilities will have separate entrances so that they may be accessed and used separately from the school after school hours.
The archaeological features of the site will be maintained and will be integrated into the project.
In the building we will also introduce many measures that make use of renewable energy to make it almost carbon neutral.
The project is estimated to cost approximately €20 million.
