Design
RESPECT
the
Malta gained internationally through one individual
Perit Vincent Cassar has been of service to the architectural profession on an international scale. Particularly
respected and renowned throughout the Commonwealth, he has built considerable expertise in the industry
over nearly five decades.
Graduating from the University of Malta in Architecture and Civil Engineering, Perit Cassar spent the first
two and a half years in private practice before moving on to Government service in October 1973. From then
on his career progressed from a Junior Architect to Director General at Public Works (later Works Division) as
well as holding other posts in various Ministries.
In this article we learn more about Perit Cassar’s career, the progression of architectural industry in Malta and
his thoughts on the current status of our property and construction scenario.
an interview with Perit Vincent Cassar, Chairman of the Planning Authority’s Planning Board
J
oining as a Junior Architect in the Public
Works Department, Architect Cassar had led
small teams of draftsmen and skilled workers
on social projects. The first big project to be
undertaken was the design and building of the
Karin Grech Hospital, a project which was
initiated in 1974 and inaugurated in 1976.
The need to regenerate and re-engineer the Department
was felt early in the noughties. It was upgraded to a Works
Division composed of seven departments in August 1992.
Perit Cassar was appointed Director General; a role he
kept until 2004. As the years passed by some of the de-
partments moved over to Agencies and Authorities such
as Water Services Corporation and Malta Transport Au-
thority. Prior to his retirement in 2008, Perit Cassar
spent some time as Permanent Secretary for the Ministry
of Youth and Arts as well as for the Ministry for Urban
Development and Roads.
WWW.DESIGNANDBUILD.COM.MT
PUBLIC WORKS CAREER
The 1970s and 1980s were a busy time for the Public Works
Department, and Perit Cassar was heavily involved in most
of the projects undertaken by the Department which saw
the construction and development of housing and roads,
just to mention a few.
As his career in the public works evolved, he was put in charge
of other large projects which included the Marsaxlokk Port
Development and the Mediterranean Conference Centre;
which saw a team of four architects working round the clock
throughout a five month period. Works were carried out on a
24 hour basis except for Sundays when works finished at 2pm.
Another major project undertaken by Perit Cassar was
the Marsaxlokk Port project. This project saw direct la-
bour provided by the Works Department which at that
time had circa 800 of its employees working on a 24 hour
shift basis directly involved in the country’s infrastructure.
ISSUE 08
31