Wikipedia

Lino Bianco

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

Lino Bianco
Lino Bianco in 2014.
Born (1965-12-31) 31 December 1965 (age 58)
Malta
NationalityMaltese
Alma materUniversity of Malta
University of Leicester
University College London
University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia
Occupation(s)Architect
Academic
Diplomat
Years active1993 - Present
Websitehttp://www.lino-bianco.com

Biography

edit

Bianco graduated in philosophy (under Peter Serracino Inglott) and in architecture (under Richard England) at the University of Malta. He furthered his studies in industrial geology at the University of Leicester, and in architecture at The Bartlett Graduate School, University College London (under Adrian Forty). He achieved a doctoral degree in architecture and politics at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia, under the academic supervision of Veselina Troeva, with a thesis on the development of Sofia.[1] Bianco holds the Eur. Ing. from the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI).

He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (London) and of the Geological Society (London).[2][3]

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. He is a resident academic 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.[4] He is a professor of the International Academy of Architecture [5] and a visiting professor in history and theory of urban design at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia.[6]

In 1997 he set up his architectural firm, Lino Bianco & Associates.[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 was a member of the Board of Directors of the Housing Authority, Malta,[7] member of the Board of Directors of WasteServ Malta Ltd[8] and member of the General Services Board, Malta.[9]

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.[10] This case was eventually taken up at the national political level[11] and took more than six years.[12] Bianco describes himself as pro-development but against speculation,[13] and the Times of Malta had described his approach to environmental protection as innovative.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16] In 2015, he received a special prize of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sofia for his project in Gozo entitled ‘A Home of Time and Memory’[17]

Bianco was a candidate of the Labour Party for the 2014 European elections in Malta.[18][19] His stand on irregular immigration,[20] spring hunting[21] and the environment,[22] themes which ran high on the political agenda, illustrated his political philosophy of toleration applied to real scenarios. He was not elected.

The same year, Bianco was appointed non-resident Ambassador of Malta to Bulgaria, [23] a position which he held until 2019. [24]

He is also non-resident ambassador of Malta to Romania [25] [26] [27] and to Moldova, since 2014. [28] [29]

Selected works

edit

Architectural

edit
  • ‘A Home for an Architect’, (Completed, 1998–2001), Zabbar, Malta[16]
  • Entrances to Second World War shelter, (2005-2006), Zabbar, Malta[30]
  • Shopping complex, (Completed 2008), Paola, Malta [31]
  • Interpretation facility, (Design, 2008), Mgarr, Gozo [32]
  • Apartments at Ħamrun, (Completed, 2008–11), Hamrun, Malta[33]
  • Apartments at Nadur, (Design, 2009), Nadur, Gozo[34]
  • Artisan Urban Hub, Place Lalla Yeddouna, Fez, Morocco (Competition entry, 2010)[35]
  • Redevelopment of Via Roma, Agazzano, Italy (Competition entry, 2012)[36]
  • Upgrading and restoration of the ‘Boutilliere’, Cogne, Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Competition entry, 2012)[37]
  • Public spaces for Halte Ceva Champel Hopital, Genève (Competition entry, 2012)[38]

Honours

edit

Films and Videos

edit
  • 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

edit
  1. ^ "Bio Note" (PDF). uacg.bg. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Lino Bianco". Academia.eu. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  3. ^ Cabinet Office (2021). The National Order of Merit: Investiture Ceremony. Valletta: Office of the Prime Minister. p. 12.
  4. ^ "Prof. Lino Bianco". University of Malta. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Lino Bianco". International Academy of Architecture. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Prof. Dr. Arch. Lino Bianco". University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "About - The Board of Directors". WasteServ Malta Ltd. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  9. ^ "General Services Board". Government of Malta. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  10. ^ Mallia, Edward (13 October 2007). "Ramla l-Hamra: Future danger?". timesofmalta.com/. Times of Malta. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  11. ^ "Labour pledges to stop building of villas at Ramla l-Hamra". timesofmalta.com/. Times of Malta. 5 August 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Six-year Ramla Bay development saga comes to an end". independent.com.mt/. Malta Independent. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Muscat, Joseph (30 August 2004). "An innovative approach to environment protection". timesofmalta.com/. Times of Malta. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  15. ^ "International Recognition for a Maltese Academic". um.edu.mt/. University of Malta. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  16. ^ a b "N/A". The Architect (59). KTP: 6. July 2012.
  17. ^ "Maltese academics honoured". Times of Malta. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  18. ^ "In the European Parliament to lead". Malta Independent. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  19. ^ "Unity in diversity: Malta and the EU". Malta Independent. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  20. ^ "Europe 'needs non-EU migrants'". Times of Malta. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  21. ^ "Is your favourite MEP candidate your ideal choice?". Federation For Hunting and Conservation. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  22. ^ ""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.
  23. ^ "Presentation of the Letters of Credence by HE Prof Lino Bianco, as non-Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Malta to the Republic of Bulgaria". Government of Malta. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Malta Ambassador in farewell meeting with Minister Zaharieva". Consulate of Bulgaria to Ghana. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Romania". Government of Malta. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  26. ^ "Foreign Missions - Embassy of Malta". Government of Romania. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  27. ^ "Ambassador Profs. Lino Bianco presents Letters of Credence to Romania". Government of Malta. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Presenting the Letters of Credence to Prof Dr Lino Bianco, Ambassador-Designate of Malta to Moldova". Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  29. ^ "President of Moldova received credentials from five Ambassadors". Presidency of the Republic of Moldova. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  30. ^ "Zabbar council awaits permits to open wartime shelter". Times of Malta. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  31. ^ "Rehabilitation of vacant residential unit into a shopping arcade". Lino Bianco & Associates. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  32. ^ "Interpretation Facility at Ta' Blankas, Xewkija". Europaconcorsi.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  33. ^ "Apartments at Ħamrun". Lino Bianco & Associates. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  34. ^ "Apartments at Nadur". Lino Bianco & Associates. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  35. ^ "Artisan Urban Hub". Lino Bianco & Associates. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  36. ^ "Esito del concorso verbale" (PDF) (in Italian). Comune di Agazzano. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  37. ^ "Upgrading and restoration of the area called "Boutillière" in Cogne". Europaconcorsi.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  38. ^ "Rapport Jury Ceva Champel Hopital 2013 Dca Ville Geneve". Scibd.com. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  39. ^ "The Malta Government Gazette No. 20,749 Monday, 13th December, 2021" (PDF). Government of Malta. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  40. ^ "Honours and Awards 2021 National Order of Merit" (PDF). Government of Malta. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  41. ^ "Държавен вестник, брой 12 от 6.II". СОФТУЕРНА ИНТЕГРАЦИЯ. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  42. ^ "Government Gazette" (PDF). Government of Malta. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  43. ^ "UM academic honoured for his significant contribution to bilateral cooperation with Bulgaria". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  44. ^ "UM academic honoured for significant contribution to bilateral cooperation with Bulgaria". University of Malta. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  45. ^ "Government Gazette" (PDF). Government of Malta. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
edit
  • Europaconcorsi: Lino Bianco and Associates Profile ([1])
  • International Academy of Architecture: Prof. Lino Bianco ([2])
  • University of Malta: Lino Bianco ([3])
  • Official website ([4])
  • Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs: H.E. Prof. Dr Lino Bianco ([5])
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lino_Bianco&oldid=1230458790"