The Green House (Maltese: Id-Dar il-?adra) is a late 19th century vernacular townhouse in Sliema, Malta. The historic residence is an icon in the area, situated at the end of St Mary Street of which name derives from the niche on the façade of the building. The façade is notably characterized by its dark green colour which makes it a noticeable landmark. The niche of the Assumption of Our Lady, dated to 1875, is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands (NICPMI).
The house is presently in a dilapidated state and is the subject of redevelopment. At one point the building was in the parameters of the Urban Conservation Area (UCA), but this status was later retired. There is an application for the demolishment of the house, to built thirteen residences above street level and garages below ground. If the application is approved by the Planning Authority (PA) some parts will be preserved, however the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage (SCH) has insisted to maintain the entire property.
Video The Green House, Sliema
History
Sliema developed into a town during the British Crown Colony of Malta, when several townhouses were built both by the British and by the Maltese. It was common for the Maltese to build their houses in the vernacular style, mixed with some influence of the period.
The building was erected around the mid-nineteenth century to be purposely used as a residence, with the layout of a townhouse. Either from the beginning, or at one point, the façade was painted in dark Green, and houses painted similarly in the immediate vicinity are unknown today. The colour attarcts the passers by because of its unusual painted colour, and colloquially became known, as it is still known today, as Id-Dar il-?adra. This unofficial name translates to as The Green House. It has been, as still is, an iconic building and a landmark on its own.
Predominantly on the façade sits a Baroque niche where a statue of the Assumption of Our Lady stands. Being one of the first houses to be built in the area, the integral niche gave the name to the street that is founf at, as St Mary Street. The later name was likely given as a consequence of the building being visible from different points of the street, which like the name of the house may origin from the residents's given reference. The building is, however, addressed at No. 1, St Agatha Street, exactly at the cross-section of St Mary Street. The niche received the blessing by Bishop Gaetano Pace Forno, who awarded those who prayed in front of it with indulgences. A date is written on the niche as 1875, which is an approximate indication of when the building was built.
The area of the residence was declared as part of the Urban Conservation Area (UCA), for being in the historic core of Sliema. The niche was eventually listed a national monument in Sliema, being on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands (NICPMI). It was listed by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage (SCH) in the early 21st century.
The building remained a residence throughout the 20th century, after which point became uninhabited and eventually dilapidated.
In the 21st century the area was removed from the UCA status and, years later, the owners of the property applied with the Planning Authority (PA) for the redevelopment of the site, which showed motion to demolish the present building. The application proposes to completely destroy the building, build thirteen residences with underlying garages including a ground floor maisonette with its own entrance, eleven flats and another flat with terrace at the top.
As soon as a notification (PA/03062/17...) was attached to the building, the residents, conservationists and interested parties were outraged at the request of the developers. The NGO Flimkien g?al Ambjent A?jar (FAA) and the Sliema Heritage Society (SHS) opposes any development apart from the rehabilitation of the present structure. FAA spokesperson, Environmental Officer Tara Cassar, has pressured the SCH to protect the property. The SCH has agreed and called for its preservation. The SHS has said that further to the detailed niche, the interior of the building also has a decorated interior, characterized by columns at the staircase.
The PA gave its opinion that had had the permission be granted it would request to conserve the entire façade, while dismantling the staircase before demolishing the interior. Based on this preposition, it would follow the concept of facadism, the staircase would be integrated again in the interior, and would destroy the backgarden. The Sliema Local Council has objected for its demolition. It is established that the demolition of previous houses has led to a domino effect, and the demolition of The Green House would create major precedence. Residents have insisted on their objection to the proposed development, even as suggested by PA, believing it would impact on them negatively and would destroy a sentimental and historic heritage.
Maps The Green House, Sliema
Architecture
The Green House is a two-storey building at the inter-section of two streets but is situated on one side. It has a vernacular design, with an asymmetric façade and a Maltese characteristic interior.
See also
- Villa Bonici
- 33, Cathedral Street
- Villa Drago
- The Cloisters, Sliema
- Fatima House
Further reading
- Terribile, Tony (1999). Ni?e? u Statwi fit-Toroq ta' tas-Sliema (PDF) (in Maltese). Malta: Publikazzjoni Lions Club Sliema. p. 15. ISBN 9787999001041.
- Terribile, Tony (2000). "Ni?e? u Statwi fit-Toroq Maltin". Kullana Kulturali (in Maltese). Malta: Publikazzjoni Indipendenza (PIN). 14. ISBN 9789990941784. OCLC 48920678.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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