Innovation meets luxury in Malta | Climaveneta

Conceived as a mixed-use lifestyle development, Tigné Point is currently best known for its luxurious apartments. Whilst these continue to attract buyers from different corners of the globe, the residential component of the project comprises just 55% of the area of the peninsula.  This is complemented by ‘The Point’ shopping mall, Malta’s largest retail centre, and the car-free Piazza Tigné - the heart of this mixed-use project and the largest square in the fashionable Sliema district. Aninternational grade business block, to be known as The Centre, is currently under construction on the seafront side of Piazza Tigné. This will contain some 14,000 sqm of commercial and leisure outlets that will complete the square environment and the surrounding retail and catering outlets.

Strong emphasis has been put on the restoration of the important historic sites in the area including Fort Tigné, St Luke’s Garrison Chapel, the Garden Battery and the Clock Tower blocks. These have now been restored to complement the contemporary architecture that characterises the site.

The development also offers leisure activities, retail outlets, bars, cafés and restaurants as well as the full-fledged football pitch and training complex of the local Sliema Wanderers’ football team.  One of the most salient aspects of this project is the fact that all traffic has been routed underground, providing a 30 acre car-free zone at ground level. The development also provides extensive open public spaces, a series of shore side walkways and a second open square planned for the Tigné North phase. 

Dr Alec Mizzi, chairman of MIDI plc, talking about the project said: “We are proud to have created such an innovative and luxury development on our beautiful Island. The great success of the Tigné Point project is confirmed by the appeal it has for buyers coming from different corners of the globe”

FOCUS ON THE HVAC

The HVAC system at Tigné Point is a prime example of innovative technology providing economic solutions for corporate and residential applications alike. The environmentally-sound and energy-efficient climate control system supplies heating and cooling to 25,000 square metres of retail space and some 200 homes. It will also cater to 14,000 square metres of office and commercial space that is currently under construction at Tigné Point.

Massimo Montecchi, HVAC project manager, says: “It is impressive to see how an innovative HVAC system is able to combine perfect comfort in such a luxury development and an excellent result in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability”

The system is based on 4 FOCS W/H 3602, 1 FOCS2 W/H/CA-E 3602 with a HWT kit, Climaveneta’s water to water high efficiency heat pump, with hydraulic side reversibility and 2 EW-HT1204/S, Climaveneta’s water to water heat pumps, heating only with very high temperature water production.

FOCS W/H produce hot water at 55°C and at the same time, thanks to the hydraulic recovery, also cold water. FOCS W/H are able to produce both hot and chilled water to serve the whole development, on the basis of a 4-pipe system. In case of load displacement (both in heating and cooling mode) the dissipation of the redundant output is made by external exchangers, exploiting sea water, widely available and at a constant temperature all year round in Malta.

EW-HT heat pumps produce water at 78°C taking advantage of the water heated by the FOCS W/H, as a “cold” source. The opportunity to use 45°C water allows these heat pumps to be completely integrated into the system and to produce very high temperature water in a very efficient way, in other words with a COP=5.

The 78°C water circulates in two additional pipes (the system is based on a total of 6 pipes) serving all the buildings for sanitary purposes, in accordance with anti-legionella regulation that in Malta imposes sanitary water production at a minimum of 70°C. Furthermore the nearby Fortina Hotel, takes advantage of the same water both for heating and sanitary hot water production, thusreducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions on site.

Jesmond Zammit, General Manager at Solutions and Infrastructure Services Ltd, said: “One of the most important gains with centralisation is energy efficiency that is guaranteed throughout the life-cycle, starting at design stage by choosing best-in-class equipment, to operation by utilising fully-automated building management systems, further maximised via a well-planned and executed maintenance regime.”