The Suq tal-Belt project which was entrusted to Arkadia Group, is expected to be finished by end of 2017. Architects and engineers have a tight 17 month deadline to open the food-based market.
Through Arkadia, Mizzi group is investing some €10 million into the project which will turn the closed market into a food court and a venue for cultural events.
Arkadia General Manager, Antoine Portelli explained that Parliament has approved a 65-year concession for the group to operate the market. The brains behind the design is architect Professor Marco Casamonti whose signature marks one of the most successful food markets in Florence, the San Lorenzo Market.
Prof. Casamonti explained that is-Suq tal-Belt will consist of three main areas. The underground floor will consist of a market, which will mainly focus on food while food courts and food tasting kiosks will occupy the ground floor. The first floor will be used for cultural events.
This is the first time that Professor Casamonti, who is a lecturer at the University of Genoa, is working on a project in Malta. "This is a celebration between architecture and food, what is traditional and the innovative."
He explained that the market in Florence, which attracts some two million visitors annually, has a very similar structure to the one in Malta
The renovation is endorsed by the Valletta 2018 Chairman, Jason Micallef, who said is excited to see that this project has shifted from a wish drawn on paper, to reality. "We don't want this to be a simple cosmetic change. We want the public to use it and make it one of their favourite meet-up places."
He said the project is expected to create some 100 new jobs.
"In a world of xenophobia, we have to embrace the different cultures. And such projects are a celebration of such," he added.
Arkadia Chief Operating Officer Maria Micallef said that the €10 million project can only be successful by the commitment of everyone.
She said that engineers were challenged by the fact that the street levels at Merchant Street and St Pauls street are uneven.