Mater Dei: Historical Background.

Mater Dei hospital is on a  250,000 square metre area located in Imsida.  The hospital offers health care with 1,000 beds and 25 operating theatres.

In the beginning of 1990, the government developed plans to construct a 480 bed specialized teaching hospital.

In 1993 the Monte Tabur Foundation were contracted to provide FMSS with a design for the new hospital. The agreement was that Monte Tabor take over operation of the new hospital upon completion.

The designer, Orkesa Spa was selected by the Monte Tabor Foundation.

On the 12th September 1995, Skanska JV were awarded the construction contract and the work began on the 10^th October 1995.  By June 1996 level 8 and 9 were already constructed.

On the 26^th October 1996, there was a change in government.   The new government insisted on changing the project into a general hospital to be used instead of St. Luke’s Hospital.

On the 29^th January 1998, permission was given to add levels to the existing structure.

In 1998 Norman and Dawbarn were assigned as the designers for the project of the new Hospital.

In September 1998, there was another change in government and in December 1998, an MOU was signed with Skanska JV for the design.

Certification for Mater Dei were issued on the 29^th June 2007. Although work was concluded on the 19^th February 2009, there was some final touches which were concluded by 2011.

This is a basic historical background of the projects evolving.

Reference:

ARUP, 2015. FMS Mater Dei Hospital | Malta Volume 2: MAU building (PDF). Availableat:<https://0d2d5d19eb0c0d8cc8c6a655c0f6dcd98e765a68760c407565ae.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/ddc57ec207dc06e052de74e0d98b7f449ff17a4b.pdf> [Accessed 18^th March, 2017].

Ta Qali  

Rachel Falzon, 6th March, 2017. Bov Advanture park Ta Qali. 

This week I had a landscape design assignment to submit. A few weeks ago, I choose Ta Qali to be my site analyses for the research of landscape in Malta. Although I didn’t’t choose the National Ta Qali Park, I choose the Family Adventure Park. It was difficult to find information on line, so I went to the Administration of Ta Qali and asked some questions that helped with the assignment.

I liked the design and the thought process behind certain things, so I decided to write a blog about Ta Qali Family Adventure Park.

Basically, Ta Qali Park has become an enjoyable place for families to visit and is an ideal area for a break and some relaxation from our busy lives. The park is the perfect place for picnics and offers a wide variety of interesting plants.

wordpress.2012,Ta Qali airfield prewa,

Ta Qali holds a historical aspect. Between 1943 and 1950, Ta Qali Park was an airfield which was later used as a racing track which had a picnic area.

As children frequented the picnic area, the racing track was considered dangerous, not to mention the air and sound pollution from the cars. It was then decided to create a family park to compliment the picnic area.

In March 2008, construction began and in 2009 the Ta Qali Family Park was officially opened to the public.

Print screen goggle maps, 13th March 2017, Ta Qali.

Surrounded by nature and the lack of cars made this an ideal location.  The aim was for people and families to feel connected to nature.

 

The project began with the Ta Qali National Park, followed by the Advantage Family Park

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Rachel Falzon, 6th March, 2017. Bov Advanture park Ta Qali. 

While designing, they thought about the target audiences who were parents, children and wheelchair users. So, they included several ramps, one being at the entrance level which is tilted for easy access.

Rachel Falzon, 6th March, 2017. Bov Advanture park Ta Qali. 

The restrooms and restaurants are in the centre, allowing easy access from all areas. The location of the restaurant, in the middle and above floor level, is so that parents can keep an eye on their children playing whilst they are having a coffee.

Parking is located alongside the park, to allow the use of bikes, pushchairs and other such items within the park.

Some of my information came from a site inspection along with answers from architects and designers that where involved in this project. 

Reference:

Government of Malta, N.D. Ta' Qali National Park. [online] Available at: <https://msdec.gov.mt/en/Pages/PARKS/taqali_nationalpark.aspx> [Accessed 14, March 2017].

Azure, N.D. FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES. [online] Available at: <http://www.azure.com.mt/things-to-do-in-malta/family-friendly-activities.html> [Accessed 14, March 2017].

EL Te

Marcelo Donadussi,2013, El Té – Casa de Chás / Gustavo Sbardelotto (estudio 30 51) e Mariana Bogarin

El Te shop is situated at ground floor of a shopping centre in Porto Alegre. El te sells loose leaf tea and even tea products. The designer was Gatavos Bardelotte of Estudio 3051 that worked with an architect Mariana Bogarin to design in interior and exterior of El TE.

Marcelo Donadussi,2013, El Té – Casa de Chás / Gustavo Sbardelotto (estudio 30 51) e Mariana Bogarin

Their main focus of the design was to create an environment to enhance aromas for a variety of teas. So, in front of the cashpoint they created 30 variations of teas samples that are placed in small drawers This also allows the customer to be able to smell the product that he/she is going to buy. Beneath each drawer there is a colour that represent the package of that type of tea. These colours create a “stand out” display counter. With this when the customer enters the shop, they see the multi coloured cash point, which raises customer curiosity to go find out more about the product.

Gatavos Bardelotte choose wood for the primary material. The light natural wooden pallets used for the display counter allows the tea colours to stand out and be the focal point.

Gatavos Bardelotte selected warm lighting to create a relaxed and cosy environment which is also associated with tea.

Marcelo Donadussi,2013, El Té – Casa de Chás / Gustavo Sbardelotto (estudio 30 51) e Mariana Bogarin

The window display has two huge wooden letters “TE” that holds more than just a window display sign. The sign forms the facade and the interior at the same time. Trough the letter “E” that is the main design element. The letter “E” holds the interior, “the showcase of teas, infusions, preparation desk and cashier.”

The window display they design it to be a visually obstruction because the side of the shop next door was enclosing the El TE shop.

Reference:

elte-casa de chas, 2015. Me encanta.... [online] Available at: <http://www.elte-casadechas.com/> [Accessed 1, March 2017].

dezeen, 2014. Huge glowing letters lead inside El Té tea house by Estudio 30 51 [online] Available at: <https://www.dezeen.com/2014/02/18/el-te-tea-house-brazil-estudio-30-51/> [Accessed 1, March 2017].

Arch daily, 2014.  El Té – Casa de Chás / Gustavo Sbardelotto (estudio 30 51) e Mariana Bogarin [online] Available at: < http://www.archdaily.com/474415/el-te-casa-de-chas-estudio-30-51 > [Accessed 1, March 2017].