At the 2025 edition of Premju Emanuele Luigi Galizia, the national awards celebrating excellence in Malta’s built environment, Kamra tal-Periti President Perit André Pizzuto called for a renewed focus on architectural integrity and design quality rather than mere compliance with legal or procedural requirements.

Speaking at the awards ceremony on Saturday evening, Perit Pizzuto urged both policymakers and clients to “prioritise good architectural outcomes rather than good legal outcomes,” underlining how planning processes and client expectations often undermine design excellence. “Too often, projects are led by the pursuit of permits rather than the pursuit of good design,” he said, calling for systemic reform and a renewed respect for the role of periti in shaping Malta’s built environment.

The six-day event marked the most ambitious edition of Premju Galizia to date, featuring over forty nominations across eight categories. Organised by the Kamra tal-Periti with the Planning Authority as national partner and supported by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and JMV Vibro Steel Limited as platinum partners, the awards celebrated innovation, sustainability, and legacy in architecture and engineering.

This year’s theme, “Legacy,” curated by Artistic Director Perit Joeaby Vassallo (I+A), posed the guiding question “What would Galizia do?”—a reflection on the enduring standards of 19th-century architect and engineer Emanuele Luigi Galizia, whose name the awards carry. Pizzuto noted that legacy is not only what is inherited but what is left behind, urging a collective sense of responsibility towards Malta’s future urban fabric.

Referencing the national debate on planning reform, Pizzuto emphasised the importance of trust, dialogue, and the upcoming National Architecture Policy. He welcomed Planning Authority Chairperson Johann Buttigieg’s confirmation that the Authority will move forward with this policy in collaboration with the Kamra. “The conversation must shift from technicalities to outcomes—architecture that serves the public good,” he said.

The night also honoured three exceptional contributions to the profession. Ms Simone Mizzi received the Galizia Leadership Award for her decades of stewardship in heritage and cultural advocacy; Perit Vincent Cassar was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing influence on Malta’s physical and environmental landscape; and Valentino Architects took home the President’s Award 2025 for their consistent design excellence across multiple entries.

Pizzuto closed the evening with a call for courage and purpose in design. “Our future must reflect thoughtful, responsible, and visionary architecture that serves people and place. That is the legacy we must build.”