'The Heart of Malta'
The 'Blue Window' on the island of Gozo in Malta was a symbol of the Mediterranean , but the storm swept away the mythical stone arch in 2017, leaving it a mass of rocks that were lost in the sea. A sad loss impossible to recover ... or is it?
We may never see the arch as we remember it again, but this Russian architecture studio, The Svetozar Andreev Studio In collaboration with Elena Britanishskaya, he has made a proposal that has not yet been denied by the Maltese government and that would provide a solution, at least original, to the landscape void left by the stone arch.
"I have been in Malta and Gozo many times since my first visit in 2008, and naturally I have seen and photographed the 'Window of Blue' in various states before its collapse. The idea for the project came to me approximately six months after its collapse. the sight of the empty bay of Dwejra inspired me to create a monument that would do more than simply copy its natural form, but rather serve as a memorial to it, and at the same time become a unique architectural ensemble," Svetozar Andreev, CEO of The Svetozar Andreev Studio.
This was its appearance before the collapse.
What would the new 'Blue Window' look like then? The proposal tries to integrate modernity and nature into the landscape with a mirrored steel architectural form, the same size and proportions as the original limestone.
Within this form they have designed more than 5,000 square meters of exhibition space arranged over five floors in a spiral, each step representing a thousand years of Maltese history. The aim of the project is to create a center of attraction in Dwejra to attract new tourists.
"I love Malta very much and I understand that nature is one of the most important treasures of the archipelago. For this reason, we have designed a construction that will evenly distribute its mass along the cliff. To achieve the metallic effect on the surface of the structure , we propose to use the latest eco-friendly materials used in the shipbuilding and modern architecture . This will protect the surface from corrosion, fire, and also prevent any negative environmental impact," explains Svetozar Andreev.
This would be his new look.
The Hotei Russia studio would be in charge of launching the project, although at the moment we do not know if it will come true. "We sent our project presentations 'The Heart of Malta' to all authorities in December 2018. Now we are waiting for your official response. We feel hopeful because it was of great interest to the Maltese press," stresses Svetozar Andreev.
In fact, the newspaper 'Malta Today' conducted a survey of its readers and 68% of them were delighted with the new future of the blue window.