In recent years, Malta is experiencing a surging urban make-over, where more and more historical structures like the iconic terraced houses are being demolished to make way for modern blocks. Are we deleting a chapter of our cultural heritage? Join architect and design researcher Kristine Pace for a thought-provoking discussion on the value of colonial buildings in defining Malta’s cultural heritage on November 7th 2023, 7pm, hosted by the Malta Café Scientifique in Studio B at Spazju Kreattiv, and delve into the challenges of defining heritage in the postcolonial context of Malta.
The work of Kristine will introduce us to the concept of ‘Heritageisation’ – the process of selecting and preserving parts of a population’s history to remember and carry forward to future generations. As she observes, when discussing the heritage of a colonial object like a terraced house within a postcolonial country such as Malta, a public discussion on their value as a heritage building is taking place. This raises the questions of who decides what is the value of heritage, to which extent coloniality still influences Maltese culture, and what criteria should be used to define it.
To understand the ever-evolving definitions of cultural heritage in Malta, Kristine Pace invites the audience to map the changes taking place right now and grasp the impact of coloniality when trying to define heritage. Through a critical architectural lens at the intersection with the urban field, Kristine presents the difficulties in identifying historical legacy in Malta’s built environment.
Join the event for a captivating talk as Kristine Pace encourages us to question our perception of cultural heritage and engage in thought-provoking discussions! To stay up to date about events and speakers, check out the Malta Café Scientifique Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Malta.Cafe.Scientifique and website: www.mcs.org.mt/what-we-do/malta-cafe-scientifique/.
Malta Café Scientifique thanks the STEAM project, Spazju Kreattiv for hosting this event, the University of Malta, and the Malta Chamber of Scientists (of which the Café forms part).
Date and Time:
Tuesday 7th November 2023, 7pm
Venue:
Studio B, Spazju Kreattiv
Price:
Free, booking required
This event is brought to you by: Malta Chamber of Scientists, Spazju Kreattiv and University of Malta.
