Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo, today, officially inaugurated Heritage Malta’s exhibition of the submissions for the Design Contest for ‘Enhancing the visitor experience in the Ggantija Heritage Park World Heritage Site,’ at the Ministry for Gozo, St Francis Square, Victoria.

The Design Contest included proposals for an interpretation centre (and ‘exit’ building) incorporating all amenities and interpretation facilities – a welcoming orientation point to the cultural resources in Xaghra, a walkway to connect the interpretation centre to the Temple and landscaping works.

The winner of the Design Contest was Perit Robert Sant who was selected from amongst 12 submissions. Prof Alex Torpiano (TBA Periti) and Perit Martin Xuereb (Martin Xuereb & Associates and Politecnica Soc. Coop. – Firenze) were also awarded an Honourable Mention by the Jury.

A Full Development Application based on the winning entry has been submitted to MEPA. Preparatory and investigative works, including archaeological investigations on the site earmarked for the construction of the Interpretation Centre, shall commence shortly.

The total budget for the project at the Ggantija Heritage Park is around €2.5million which also includes a study regarding the structural stability of the Temple structure.

This forms part of the €9.2 million Archaeological Heritage Conservation Project, 85% of which is co-financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project includes works on two other sites, namely the Tarxien Temples, and St Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat, Malta.

The exhibition will remain open in Gozo, until the 12th of January 2010. The entries will also be exhibited at Heritage Malta’s Head Office, Merchant’s Street, Valletta between the 18th of January 2010 and the 21st of February 2010.

More information about the Design Contest and other aspects of the ‘Archaeological Heritage Conservation Project’ can be viewed on: www.heritagemalta.org/erdf032.

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