The 4th edition of the Premju Emanuele Luigi Galizia awards, organised by the Kamra tal-Periti and set to take place this October, will be unlike any of its previous editions. While each year has built on the one before it, the 2025 edition marks its evolution from a prize-giving programme to a cultural platform – which called for a fresh approach that resonates with the profession and the wider public.
“We realised that the way we present and curate the awards should mirror the quality we wish to celebrate,” says Andre Pizzuto, president of the Kamra tal-Periti, who engaged design studio I+A to steer the programme’s artistic direction for the first time. “We are inviting Periti and their practices to see the awards as a platform for discourse as much as a competition.”
With a track record in bridging design and architecture, I+A’s involvement has been central to Premju Galizia’s development, led by one of the studio’s directors, Joeaby Vassallo, who served on the Kamra council last year and was instrumental in organising the 2024 edition.
“Entrusting the creative direction to them allowed us to harness that experience while giving them the independence to craft a more ambitious and public‑facing programme,” the president notes.
Interpreting Galizia’s legacy
As artistic director, Joeaby is keen to push the boundaries of what an awards programme for Periti can be. “We see it as an opportunity to engage the wider public in a conversation about Malta’s built environment and the profession,” he notes. “To do that we’re expanding the format beyond a single gala night into a week‑long series of events.”
This includes a curated exhibition of finalists, public site visits, a full day of presentations from the finalists, networking opportunities and workshops crafted to engage young minds – culminating in the awards night on 25th October.
“Our visual identity and narrative draw on Galizia’s methods – precision, systems thinking, civic engagement – and translate them into a contemporary language of patterns, colours and typography,” says Joeaby.
“Galizia was a public works director and a surveyor as much as an architect and a civil engineer. Our creative direction abstracts those traits. By doing this, we’re inviting both Periti and the public to interpret his legacy as a mindset rather than a style.”
Reflecting local realities
Changes to Premju Galizia are also reflected in its jury selection, composed of eight international professionals divided into two teams, each guided by a non-voting local juror. I+A Directors William Bondin and François Mangion will serve as local head jurors, helping to contextualise Maltese projects. The decisions, however, rest with the external members.
“The evaluation process is transparent: after an administrative eligibility check, submissions are reviewed to shortlist up to three entries per category. Finalists then present publicly to the jury and audiences, which encourages dialogue and accountability,” say William and François. “This format aligns with the overall direction by opening up the awards process, turning judging into a public learning experience rather than a closed deliberation.”
Every aspect of the awards is underpinned by a common question: What would Galizia do today? This too extends to the jury process. “Selecting award winners inevitably shapes professional discourse. We wanted the criteria to transcend trends and appeal to timeless principles relevant to Malta’s current challenges.”
In an era of rapid densification and environmental stress, Galizia’s qualities feel urgent, the jurors note. “Using them as a lens helps the jury focus on projects that integrate technical rigour, contextual sensitivity and social contribution while giving the international members a grounded reference they can relate to.”
Elevating every aspect
The essence of the awards’ core categories remains the same, but are now redefined to reflect emerging challenges, such as the Multi‑Unit Residential Award which now explicitly addresses environmental sustainability and urban contribution, and the Emerging Practice Award that will recognise not just design quality but organisational ethos.
The awards ceremony’s location marks another first. The 19th-century naval hospital Villa Bighi in Kalkara will set the stage for the gala, chosen for its combination of scale, history and flexibility.
“Even though it was not designed by Galizia, it is a building with civic purpose that resonates with our theme. The terraces and halls allow us to stage exhibitions, presentations and the ceremony within a single complex, creating a sense of coherence,” says Joeaby.
“Its indoor–outdoor character supports the week‑long format, and the setting emphasises Malta’s relationship with its landscape, something we wanted to foreground in the awards.”
Kamra president Andre Pizzuto encourages participants to view the 2025 awards as an opportunity to learn from others as much as a responsibility towards the profession. Each entry requires a rigorous submission, complete project documentation, a clear narrative, and being prepared to present and discuss work openly.
“In return, you’ll gain exposure to an international jury, the chance to engage with peers and the public, and an opportunity to help shape a broader conversation about quality in the built environment,” says Andre.
“These awards belong to all Periti. They are an opportunity to showcase the best of what we do collectively and to set a benchmark for the future of our profession,” the president adds. “If you care about the profession’s public role, Premju Galizia 2025 is a forum to demonstrate that commitment and to learn from others.”
Visit Premjugalizia.org for information, timelines and submission guidance.
Main photo: Galizia Awards Night 2024 / Photo by Jean Marc Zerafa for Kamra tal-Periti
