Studjurban Wins Malta Business Awards’ Gold Award For Cultural Contribution
Studjurban has won the Gold Award for Local Cultural Contributor at this year’s Malta Business Awards, a recognition that not only celebrated the firm’s individual projects but also acknowledged how its work is shaping Malta’s urban landscape and influencing public life.
Founded in 2012, Studjurban is a boutique architectural and urban design practice recognised for its innovative approach to combining heritage conservation with contemporary urban solutions. The studio specialises in creating culturally resonant spaces that uphold the unique qualities of Malta’s historic urban fabric while responding to the demands of modern city life.
Studjurban’s recent major projects include the widely praised redesigns of Mosta’s main square and, more recently, Pjazza Vittoriosa in Birgu. However, according to Dr Antoine Zammit, Studjurban’s founder, the award also acknowledged the firm’s broader contributions to research, policy, and sustainable urbanism.
“We work in complex heritage settings, and our work goes beyond restoration and embellishment. Through our work, we seek to advocate for a cultural shift that prioritises pedestrians, reclaims civic centres from cars, and reintroduces social life into streets long dominated by vehicles. Our projects are never just about design; they are about people, history, and creating spaces that genuinely serve communities.”
This philosophy is evident in Studjurban’s leadership of the Slow Streets Malta project, a nationwide initiative that spans several localities in Malta and Gozo in collaboration with the Local Councils’ Association, Transport Malta, and local authorities.
The project applies a research-led, tiered strategy, ranging from tactical interventions such as signage, floor markings, and temporary traffic calming to permanent traffic rerouting and structural measures.
“Slow Streets is not just a design exercise but an attempt to bring much-needed societal change,” notes Dr Zammit.
“Change happens gradually. By piloting interventions, giving people a chance to experience streets without through traffic, we aim to challenge the car-centric mindset that has dominated our towns for decades.”
The project also promotes walkability, local business vitality, and community interaction, demonstrating how thoughtfully designed public spaces can enhance daily life.
These principles were recently carried through in Studjurban’s redesign of Birgu’s Pjazza Vittoriosa, where cars previously occupied nearly 77% of the main square. After regeneration, more than half of the space was returned to pedestrians, complemented by stepped seating and gathering areas that encourage social interaction. Historical features, such as the footprint of the old clock tower, were preserved and celebrated, illustrating Studjurban’s signature blend of heritage sensitivity and contemporary urbanism.
Dr Zammit explained how Studjurban combines research, design, and policy tools to support better decision-making on Malta’s urban fabric.
The firm’s Resident First guidelines on sustainable mobility, developed in collaboration with the Local Councils’ Association, outline strategies to address last mile transportation as well as for walkability, shared mobility, parking management and electric vehicle integration, underscoring Studjurban’s role as an advocate for long-term urban change.
“This Gold Award is not only a deserved recognition of the team’s commitment to thoughtful, culturally grounded urban design but also recognises the broader cultural shift towards the understanding that public spaces belong to people, and that careful urban design can reshape daily life while honouring Malta’s past,” concluded Dr Zammit.
