Chris Briffa Architects

Chris Briffa Architects

Ggantija

Gozo, Malta

An Interpretation for the Heritage Park at the Megalithic Temple Complex of Ggantija in Gozo required exhibition spaces, audio-visual facilities, offices, a children’s classroom, a landscaped route leading to the temples, and an exit point containing a souvenir shop.

This concept was further developed into a 20-minute experiential walk, starting in a

pjazza

serving as a meeting place for locals and visitors, sheltered by a man-made landscape concealing its semi-underground exhibition spaces. Just outside the exhibition space is a sculpture garden, a paved area surrounded by low-lying garigue vegetation and deciduous trees. The temples then appear in a tiny window by a centenary-old olive grove, only to be taken away from sight again as visitors are led to a dark tunnel which emerges on the temple mound.

The elements of duality and mystery – analogous to the temples’ time-induced vagueness - were repeated throughout the design.

Proposal