As one of the prime victims of overtourism across the Maltese Islands, Comino has long been a subject of public and political debate for its lack of protection and enforcement, despite its status as a Natura 2000 site which makes it a part of a large network of protected natural areas across the EU.
That is set to change since the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) appointed Mizzi Studio to produce a holistic vision for the Blue Lagoon and Comino – set to be shared in the coming weeks – that aims to “restore, upgrade, and protect the delicate ecosystem of the Blue Lagoon while preserving its natural beauty.”
At the centre of the Studio’s efforts is a newly announced ‘Digital Twin’ of Blue Lagoon, captured through 4,500 high-resolution photos, 30 hours of drone flights, and rebuilt from 2 billion data points, Mizzi Studio shared.
“The result is one of the most advanced and photoreal 3D maps of a nature reserve ever produced. It is designed to be the most sensitive planning tool ever created for this Natura 2000 site – revealing every ecological and visual impact, so each intervention is deeply respectful.”
Studio Director and Lead Architect, Jonathan Mizzi said the need for this was driven by one principle: “We can’t protect what we don’t truly understand.”
“Blue Lagoon is the heart of our Maltese Islands. Comino is our child, the child of its parents, Malta and Gozo, nestled in between. And like any child, it needs to be protected.”
The studio notes that the pressures of overtourism are being felt globally, a result of such a sharp rise in the global population, but solutions still exist. In the coming weeks, Mizzi Studio will be sharing its full proposals for the Blue Lagoon Ecological Restoration and Tourism Plan for the Malta Tourism Authority.
“We might be a small island but we truly have the capacity to lead. Nobody has done a photographic, photo-real, millimetre, two-billion polygon digital twin of a site like this before,” says Jonathan.
“And how exciting that we can lead global issues and in the solutions that we implement here, can translate them into policy frameworks around the world. It’s complex but the vision is clear – where locals can come back and enjoy their memories of their childhood.”
Main image courtesy of Mizzi Studio
Watch Mizzi Studio's creation of a digital twin
Video produced by and courtesy of Mizzi Studio
