Valletta Design Cluster, Malta

Roof garden with mediterranean shrubs, lavender and small trees
Dati progetto
Area: 500 m²
Construction year: 2020/2021
Main contractor: Doric Studio/Living Walls, Birkirkara BKR, Malta
Architect/Design: Tetsuo Kondo Architects, Tokyo
Contractor: Derek Garden Center, Qormi QRM, Malta
System build-up: “Roof Garden” with Floradrain® FD 40-E and Roof Tree Anchorage Robafix®

The Design Cluster is the new heart of the artistic and cultural scene in Malta. The ca. 500 m² roof garden is located on a 400-year-old building and features a variety of design aspects. It serves as a community space and is the first roof garden in the whole of Valletta that is open to the public. There are a number of seating areas for social gatherings, pavilions for meetings and workshops, a small theatre space and a natural pond. The roof garden against the historical backdrop is a virtual paradise dedicated to relaxation, strolling and new inspiration. The entire area is divided into ca. 270 m² of walkways and ca. 230 m² of planted space. From a technical point of view, all this was realised above the Floradrain® FD 40-E elements which were applied across the entire area. Under the walkways they were also used as a permanent formwork. As trees on a rooftop are exposed to high forces from wind pressure and wind suction, the tree anchorage system Robafix® was used. It is installed without any roof penetrations.

  • Bird's eye view onto a roof garden
    The Valletta Design Cluster offers a roof garden paradise against a historical backdrop that is open to the public.
  • Roof garden with mediterranean plants and a pathway
    The surface of the pathways consists of natural, fine grain stone chippings and is therefore permeable.
  • Roof garden with lavender, an olive tree, ornamental grasses and other shrubs
    Primarily indigenous vegetation is used to create the image, for example, olive trees and lavender.
  • Roof garden with benches made of natural stone
    The natural stone of the benches is from a local quarry.
  • An olive tree with the tree anchor system Robafix®
    With the tree anchor system Robafix®, the tensioning straps are attached to three anchor points of the grid element, thus permanently securing the root ball.
  • Floradrain® FD 40-E and concrete hollow blocks
    The drainage and water storage element Floradrain® FD 40-E, fitted across the entire area, is used as a permanent formwork for the pathway made of concrete hollow blocks.