Lino Bianco

Lino Bianco (born 31 December 1965) is a Maltese architect, academic and diplomat.

Lino Bianco
Lino Bianco in 2014.
BornDecember 31, 1965
Malta
NationalityMaltese
Alma materUniversity of Malta
University of Leicester
University College London
University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia
OccupationArchitect
Academic
Diplomat
Years active1993 - Present
PracticeLino Bianco & Associates
Websitehttp://www.lino-bianco.com

Early life and education

Bianco studied philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy and Humanistic Studies, architecture and building engineering at the University of Malta, geology of building materials at the University of Leicester and modern architectural history at The Bartlett Graduate School, University College London. He completed his doctoral degree in architecture and politics from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia, with a thesis on the development of Sofia.[1] Bianco holds the Eur. Ing. from FEANI (Fédération Européenne d'Associations Nationales d' Ingénieurs). He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (London) and of the Geological Society (London).[2] He was conferred Professor Honoris Causa by the Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, in recognition for his contributions to architectural practice and education.[3][4]

Career

Academic

Since 1994 Bianco has held various visiting teaching posts, lecturing on the philosophy of restoration of heritage sites, industrial and environmental geology, and minerals planning. At the Department of Architecture and Urban Design of the University of Malta where he teaches and directs research on the history and philosophy of architecture. He is a professor of the International Academy of Architecture and a visiting professor in history and theory of urban design at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia.

Architecture

In 1997 he set up Lino Bianco & Associates, which offers consultancy services in architecture and environmental planning to private and public agencies.[2] From 1997-8, he was Chairman of the Planning Council Malta and, from 1997 until 2000, a member of the Planning Appeals Board (Malta). He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Housing Authority, Malta,[5] member of the board of directors of WasteServ Malta Ltd[6] and member of the General Services Board, Malta.[7]

Bianco is acknowledged for challenging developments which impinge negatively on natural and/or cultural heritage, such as the multimillion touristic development of Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo, a site associated with the legendary Homeric nymph Calypso.[8] This case was eventually taken up at the national political level[9] and took more than six years.[10] Bianco describes himself as pro-development but against speculation,[11] and the Times of Malta had described his approach to environmental protection as innovative.[12]

In 2012, he was elected professor of the International Academy of Architecture at the World Triennial of Architecture held in Sofia in 2012; he is one of the youngest architects to hold this post.[13] A project in Zabbar, Malta, received a special prize from the Ministry of Building of Ulyanovsk Region, Russia, for innovation in traditional architecture at InterArch2012.[14][15][16]

Politics

Bianco was a candidate of the Malta Labour Party for the European Parliament elections of 2014, with an emphasis on national unity[17] in diversity.[18] His stand on irregular immigration,[19] spring hunting[20] and the environment,[21] themes which ran high on the political agenda, illustrated his political philosophy of toleration applied to real scenarios. Presently he is the ambassador of Malta to Romania [22] and to Bulgaria.[23]

Selected works

Architectural
  • ‘A Home for an Architect’, (Completed, 1998–2001), Zabbar, Malta[16]
  • Entrances to Second World War shelter, (2005-2006), Zabbar, Malta[24]
  • Shopping complex, (Completed 2008), Paola, Malta [25]
  • Interpretation facility, (Design, 2008), Mgarr, Gozo [26]
  • Apartments at Ħamrun, (Completed, 2008–11), Hamrun, Malta[27]
  • Apartments at Nadur, (Design, 2009), Nadur, Gozo[28]
  • Artisan Urban Hub, Place Lalla Yeddouna, Fez, Morocco (Competition entry, 2010)[29]
  • Redevelopment of Via Roma, Agazzano, Italy (Competition entry, 2012)[30]
  • Upgrading and restoration of the ‘Boutilliere’, Cogne, Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Competition entry, 2012)[31]
  • Public spaces for Halte Ceva Champel Hopital, Genève (Competition entry, 2012)[32]

Publications
  • ‘Prefabrication, Aesthetics and the Welfare State: The case for the post-war British public schools’, Malta Review of Educational Research, vol. 7, issue 1, June 2013, pp. 73–88.
  • ‘The Urban Container’. In Shooting Society, Edited by Carmel Borg and Raphael Vella, Midsea Books, Malta, 2012.
  • ‘Roman Architectural Practice and the Funding of Public Buildings’, Malta Archaeological Review Issue 8, 2006–2007, pp. 18–24.
  • Human Rights and the Environment in the Mediterranean Region. Co-edited with Kevin Aquilina. Special issue of the Mediterranean Journal of Human Rights, vol. 14, No.1, 390pp.
  • ‘The Contemporary Urban Planning Framework in Bulgaria’, Id-Dritt, vol. XXI, pp. 303–328.
  • ‘The Ring Metaphor and the Spirit of Sofia’, Melita Theologica, vol. LXI, N.1, pp. 27–44.
  • ‘Valletta: A city in history’, Melita Theologica, vol. LX, N.2, pp. 3–20.
  • ‘Malta: Housing and Real Estate, 1980-2005’. In The New Europe, Valentina Croci (editor), Architectural Design May/June 2006, pp. 76–81.
  • ‘Geocultural activity in seventeenth and eighteenth century Malta’, GeoJournal, vol. 48, N.4, pp. 337–340’.
  • ‘Hegel’s notion of Gothic Architecture’, Melita Theologica, vol. XLVII, N.1, pp. 3–15.
  • "Masonry and the Modernist Ethic", The Masonry Society Journal, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 95–99.

Films and Videos
  • Our Diezsa (2013). A 20-minute film on the Dgħajsa tal-Pass (The Maltese Gondola), the Seatoland project of Temi Zammit Foundation. Lino Bianco was architect responsible for the architectural design. Film directed by Narcy Calamatta..
  • 24 05: Profil ta’ Lino Bianco (2014). A 27-minute documentary on Lino Bianco, one in a series prepared by ONE TV. It gives a background of his life, education, career, and his philosophy. Directed by Matthew Carbone.

References
  1. "Bio Note" (PDF). uacg.bg. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  2. "Lino Bianco". Academia.eu. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  3. "Lino Bianco conferred Honoris Causa". University of Malta. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  4. "Maltese Architect Lino Bianco conferred Honoris Causa". Georgian Technical University. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  5. "Government Notices published in Govt. Gazette No. 19,084 of the 7th May 2013, No 379, Housing Authority". Government of Malta. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  6. "About - The Board of Directors". WasteServ Malta Ltd. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  7. "General Services Board". Government of Malta. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  8. Mallia, Edward (13 October 2007). "Ramla l-Hamra: Future danger?". timesofmalta.com/. Times of Malta. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  9. "Labour pledges to stop building of villas at Ramla l-Hamra". timesofmalta.com/. Times of Malta. 5 August 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  10. "Six-year Ramla Bay development saga comes to an end". independent.com.mt/. Malta Independent. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  11. Bianco, Lino (2 April 2014). "Lino Bianco: In politics to bring change, not to be changed" (Interview). Interviewed by Mark Micallef. Valletta. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  12. Muscat, Joseph (30 August 2004). "An innovative approach to environment protection". timesofmalta.com/. Times of Malta. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  13. "International Recognition for a Maltese Academic". um.edu.mt/. University of Malta. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  14. "Thirteenth World Triennial of Architecture. InterArch'2012, Sofia, Bulgaria". Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  15. "Overseas Lecturing and Design Awards to Architect Lino Bianco". University of Malta. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  16. The Architect. KTP (59): 6. July 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. "In the European Parliament to lead". Malta Independent. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  18. "Unity in diversity: Malta and the EU". Malta Independent. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  19. "Europe 'needs non-EU migrants'". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  20. "Is your favourite MEP candidate your ideal choice?". Federation For Hunting and Conservation. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  21. ""L-ispekulazzjoni u mhux l-iżvilupp, it-theddida għall-ambjent" - Lino Bianco". iNews Malta. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  22. "Romania". http://www.foreign.gov.mt/. Government of Malta. Retrieved 14 October 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  23. "Bulgaria". http://www.foreign.gov.mt/. Government of Malta. Retrieved 22 January 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  24. "Zabbar council awaits permits to open wartime shelter". Times of Malta. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  25. "Rehabilitation of vacant residential unit into a shopping arcade". Lino Bianco & Associates. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  26. "Interpretation Facility at Ta' Blankas, Xewkija". Europaconcorsi.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  27. "Apartments at Ħamrun". Lino Bianco & Associates. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  28. "Apartments at Nadur". Lino Bianco & Associates. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  29. "Artisan Urban Hub". Lino Bianco & Associates. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  30. "Esito del concorso verbale" (PDF) (in Italian). Comune di Agazzano. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  31. "Upgrading and restoration of the area called "Boutillière" in Cogne". Europaconcorsi.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  32. "Rapport Jury Ceva Champel Hopital 2013 Dca Ville Geneve". Scibd.com. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  • Europaconcorsi: Lino Bianco and Associates Profile ()
  • International Academy of Architecture: Prof. Lino Bianco ()
  • University of Malta: Lino Bianco ()
  • Official website ()
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