MIDI plc will offer residents, visitors and employees at Tigné Point the luxury to enjoy what will arguably be the largest pedestrianised urban zone in Malta.  The main benefits to a car-free neighbourhood are obvious: cleaner air, less noise and more safety. Combined, these will substantially increase the quality of life for residents and visitors and will promote a more serene, people-centred way of living.

The concept aims to create a living space, and not simply living quarters.  The consortium entrusted the design of this new development to aoM Partnership, who set out a scheme around a central focal point, Pjazza Tigné.

As Architect Konrad Buhagiar, partner at aoM, pointed out, "Basically the car is one of the major problems in cities. To combat the issues of congestion and pollution, authorities both locally and internationally are starting to shut off areas to traffic. Since Midi plc, the developers at Tigné Point, are creating what is ostensibly a small town, we were able to design it around a core which will provide a vital psychological and physical centre to the place."

"Of course, the main benefits to a car-free neighbourhood are cleaner air, less noise, safety for the elderly and for children and ultimately, without a doubt, the fact that both residents and visitors to the peninsula will simply appreciate life in a pollution free environment"”

At approximately 2500 square metres, Pjazza Tigné is roughly the size of Pjazza Regina in Valletta and, situated as it is directly above a four storey public underground car park, it is set to become the most readily accessible of Malta's many town squares.

Pjazza Tigné will have its unique blend of modern and classic architecture, with an arcade circling the Pjazza, formed on the west façade by the elegant arched colonnade which formerly lined the British barracks. This was dismantled and stored on site and is to be re-erected, along with other prominent features from the British period, as an architectural link between the past and future of this historic peninsula.

The development will not only provide full public access to Pjazza Tigné but also around the peninsula both at sea and quay level.  While the rocky shoreline and scenic walkways will remain virgin land and be fully accessible to the public, MIDI will improve on existing public land by creating a grassy slope and proper paths for joggers on what will become an extension of the Gzira promenade and Sliema front.

"This project will create an uninterrupted Sliema Front shoreline that will be fully accessible to the public," explained aoM Partnership's lead consultant architect Professor Alex Torpiano.

"Also incorporated into the experience of Tigné Point, will be Fort Tigné and the underground tunnels that were recently unearthed. The focus of the development is for residents and visitors to enjoy the spaces, therefore, the idea is to restore public movement into and around the fort"

"There is a very interesting network of 18th and 19th century tunnels and underground rooms that are an important part of MaltaÂ’s military history. These will be integrated into the amenities but plans have not yet been finalised."

Explaining the roots of the car free concept, architect Konrad Buhagiar adds: "From the beginning of the project brief, the Government indicated to the developers, MIDI plc, their vision for the development at Tigné Point. The plans had to create an uncomplicated solution to the volume of through traffic, accommodate the traffic needs of the residents while allowing access to Sliema."

"The original proposal suggested a movement of traffic across the peninsula that would have cut the development into two parts. Obviously this was not the best solution," said architect Buhagiar. "Therefore, we opted for a tunnel."

Mr Benjamin Muscat, MIDI's Chief Executive, said: "Tigné Point will be home to some 1,000 residents, while thousands more will shop, visit and work in the area . The whole of the site has been designated as a  completely pedestrianised environment. All vehicle access roads and parking facilities are to be situated underground.

"A 250 metre tunnel is currently being built from Qui-Si-Sana to Hotel Fortina. From the tunnel, cars enter into a public car park which can hold over 1000 cars under Pjazza Tigné.  Moreover, each of residential clusters has its own private car park allowing direct access to the apartments and the private gardens and walkways within those clusters."

Explaining how MIDI will be creating the right mix of activities to attract the public to Pjazza Tigné, Mr Muscat said that Pjazza Tigné will be the commercial heart of the development where people visiting or working at the retail mall, offices, community services, boutiques and banks would congregate. The addition of cinemas, restaurants, an art gallery and fashionable cafes will add to the ingredients required to turn the Pjazza into a vibrant hub of activity.  

"Pjazza Tigné is also large enough to accommodate a small audience, so it will lend itself naturally to open-air activities." 

"Pjazza Tigné will function on many levels" said Mr Muscat. "It will be the centre of this new area and the other buildings, shops and amenities on the peninsula will all benefit from its success. It is the point of access where people using the underground public parking will emerge into Tigné Point.  It will become the place where they  'meet, greet and eat'."