Renewal Architects: The Transformation of Farsons Brewery Malta

Description

The name Farsons is as synonymous with Malta as Guinness is with Ireland. Louis Farrugia's visionary decision to conduct a European architectural competition has resulted in a stunningly beautiful and brilliant transformation of the 1951 Art Deco Farsons Old Brewhouse buildings. The gardens-courtyards-campus masterplan and architecture has been designed by the internationally renowned architects - ritchie*studio - led by Ian Ritchie, and realised in collaboration with Alex Torpiano's engineering-focused Maltese practice TBA Periti, and environmental physicist Doug King. Inspired by Maltese palace gardens and the coloured architectural elements of the island's vernacular buildings, and designed with respect for the force of the Mediterranean sun, this utterly contemporary mixed-use commercial architecture is a masterpiece of form, light and shade, sustainability and environmental engineering. Richard England, the celebrated Maltese architect wrote: "It is perhaps the finest building our island has seen over many a decade. It proves that real estate development can be produced enriched with what Vitruvius termed 'Venustas'. Rarely has Malta seen architecture of this excellence."

Ian Ritchie leads one of the world's most thoughtful and influential contemporary architectural practices ritchie*studio, based in London. Ian is a Royal Academician and elected member of the Akademie der Kunste in Berlin. He is Honorary Visiting Professor of Architecture Liverpool University; Fellow of the Society of Facade Engineering and Emeritus Commissioner CABE. He has been adviser to the British Museum, Natural History Museum, The Ove Arup Foundation, the President of Columbia University and the Centre for Urban Science and Progress NYU. He has chaired international juries including RIBA Stirling Prize, Czech Architecture Grand Prix, French government's 'Nouveaux Jeunes Albums' and the Berlin Art Prize. He co-founded Rice Francis Ritchie, a design engineering practice based in Paris contributing to major cultural landmarks including the Louvre Pyramids. He is an artist, writer and poet, and his art is held in several international galleries and museums.