Investigating the socio-recreational value of Malta’s cemeteries as public open spaces

Abstract

The Maltese urban environment has rapidly developed in recent years, resulting in a dense urban landscape, which has little provision of green and recreational spaces (Government of Malta, 2015). This issue is not indigenous to Malta and has also been observed in other countries. Responses to the phenomenon abroad were various, notable of which being the supporting of recreational typologies within urban cemeteries. In Malta, this is not the case; rather, they are traditionally seen as solemn places exclusively for mourning and remembrance. Through the use of an online survey questionnaire and a focus group, (descriptive) quantitative and qualitative data was gathered to understand the current perception towards cemetery spaces. Furthermore, these data collection methods allowed for an investigation on the societal perception towards potential recreational typologies derived from literature (and subsequently the derived theoretical framework) as well as cemetery visits in Stockholm, Malmö, and Copenhagen. From the data gathered, it was noted that cemeteries are visited infrequently, for a short duration and almost exclusively to visit a grave or attend a funeral. Furthermore, respondents indicated that culturally, cemeteries are viewed as spaces of peace and quiet. This was an appreciated quality, as it contrasted with the perception of the current built environment scenario. This cultural perception influenced how the potential recreational scenarios were adjudged. Results indicated that ‘quiet’, ‘solitary’ activities tended to be more acceptable than more ‘active’ or ‘commercial’ activities. Results also indicated that there were several physical and cultural barriers which must be considered, should there be an attempt to introduce recreational typologies locally. In conclusion, whilst local cemeteries have an untapped potential socio-recreational value, international cemetery usage models, as discussed in the literature review, must be analysed, and modified to ensure congruence with the local scenario.