Dear Decision Maker

Dear Decision Maker,

I write in my capacity as a concerned citizen, with the intention of pursuing better public spaces. I do not wish to condemn the work of others, but rather to reframe how we assess it.

The recent redesign of Buġibba Square was much needed, and clearly well intentioned. During the final weekends of June, I spent a number of mornings sitting outside, overlooking the square and observing how people used it.

The square does allow social life to unfold. A group of elderly people gathered on the far right of the space. They sat on mobility scooters, on plastic chairs brought over from a nearby restaurant, and even on the small, low-level light bollards.

Nearby, a group of tourists sat between the slanted timber slats. A small girl attempted to do press-ups between them, squeezing a teddy bear with one hand.

People passed through the piazza. Some stopped briefly. A few sat down. Yet, no one lingered.

By 11am, the overhead sun had become too strong. The exposed square emptied.

The following morning, the same elderly group returned. Other tourists sat informally on small ledges and between the slats. Hungry, I walked into a nearby restaurant for a soft-cone ice cream.

Outside the restaurant, the benches were crowded, yet the tables were empty. People were not ordering; they were sitting outside, watching. A few metres away, a circular concrete bench remained unused.

This raised a simple question: why were people not using the square itself?

Beyond the fact that the spacing between the timber slats appears too wide to provide effective shade against the Mediterranean sun, there is a clear science to getting people outdoors, and encouraging them to stay there.

People enjoy watching other people. They sit in the shade in summer and seek warmer spots in winter. They gather at edges, near crossings, entrances, and wait at points of movement. They prefer places where they feel protected, comfortable, and connected to the life around them.

These design considerations are simple and uncomplicated, but they are fundamental.

I write this prudently, without ill intent or negativity. My training as an urban designer, and my relatively new role as a Junior Architect in the local public sector, lead me not towards concern alone, but towards potential.

“A city is like a good party,” a public-space advocate once said, “people stay longer than really necessary, because they are enjoying themselves.”

A public square should achieve this. It should invite people to remain beyond necessity, not empty the moment the sun becomes uncomfortable.

I believe in the creativity and capability of the public sector, and I hope that these principles can be taken on board in future interventions.

Should you deem it useful, I would consider it a privilege to explain some of these principles further, particularly how small design decisions can create more moments of interaction between people.

I remain available at your disposal.

Yours sincerely,