Settlement patterns in the Maltese islands - Zurrieq, case study

Abstract

Urban development in Malta has been particular rapid in the past fifty years. This dissertation illustrates that urban growth has been accompanied by decreasing population density in urban areas and examines the social and economic consequences of this phenomenon. Zurrieq, an urban village in the south-west of Malta, presents an illustrative case study where land area is being developed much faster than the population is growing. A substantial increase of the quality of life has given rise to a new but rapidly increasing building type - the detached and semidetached house. Such buildings occupy twice as much land area than the typical Maltese terraced house. This entails greater expenditure in housing. The author therefore recommends widespread use of apartments for high density development requirements. In spite of their limitations in size. flats offer a cheaper opportunity to develop urban areas at higher densities, whilst allowing more space for open areas.