The Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre - ex Deutsche Radio Station Adaptive Reuse, Malta

By University of Malta

Published on 20 February 2025

Malta

About this good practice

A Sustainable Development Centre including Education Facility and Nature Park.
A state of the art wildlife rehabilitation centre which can now take all injured wildlife in Malta.
A management setup to take in oiled wildlife in case Malta ever faced a major oil spill disaster.
A best practice example of the adaptive resue of industrial heritage in Malta with key principls in advanced conservaiton of reinforced concrete
Energy efficient building with pssive design & renewable energy systems, with resource conservation & circular economy to inspire future developments - zero energy buildings.
An advanced structural health monitoring system and Building Managemnet system for improved management of the facility.
Educational Facility for wildlife rehabilitation & sustainable devlopment education.
Educational centre for young people and children, training centre & Nature park for the wider community.
Accessibility and Universal Design: The new facilities embrace access-for-all principles, supporting a universal design throughout without any barriers to users and visitors of the facilities.
A Resrearch Centre in Heritage Conservation, Advanced Materials and Digital Technologies set up through a Momorandum of Understanding between the University of Malta Faculty for the Built Environment and Nature Trust FEE Malta.

Expert opinion

Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park and Sustainable Development Centre in Malta integrates education, wildlife rehabilitation, eco-tourism with a hostel, and nature conservation. It includes a state-of-the-art Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for injured animals and an emergency facility for oil spills. The project demonstrates the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage with advanced conservation techniques and an energy-efficient, zero-energy design. The centre provides environmental education for children, the community, and professionals. Developed in two phases (2008 and 2023) with €4 million in funding, it has won international sustainability awards. Managed by Nature Trust Malta, it mobilises volunteers, collaborates with academia and the University of Malta, and aims to participate in international collaborative projects. This best practice model can inspire other regions to develop wildlife rehabilitation centres through an integrated approach, including eco-tourism, education, research, partnerships between academia and non-profits, and sustainable heritage conservation.

Arnault Morisson

Works at Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform

Resources needed

The Project was completed in 2 Phases:
Phase 1 in 2008 - Sustainable Development Centre and Nature Park icluding a Hostel. (Euro 1 Million)
Phase 2 in 2023 - Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (Euro 3 Million)
The Centre welcomes thousands of school children and the general public throughout the year.

Evidence of success

The Project succes was recognised:
A - Sustainable Development Centre
1.The Energy Globe Award International award in Sustainabiltiy in 2013.
B - Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
1. The International Award Energy Globe in Sustainabilty for adaptive reuse 2024.
2. The Conservation Award by Din l-Art Helwa in 2024.

Achievements:
The Centre is the only Wildlife Rehabilitation centre in Malta (Phase B in 2023)
The first Zero Energy Building in Malta (Phase A in 2008)
A Main education centre in Malta.

Potential for learning or transfer

NTM manages numerous sites in the Maltese Islands. In view of this the Environental NGO has the capacity to mobilise a large number of volunteers and sponsors with a capaicty to act and extend the project results to other areas, whilst inspiring other organisations including private entities to embrace Green building practices, rehabiltiation of cultural heritgae and adaptive reuse. The NGO is affilated with international organisations and shares experiences in international and regional fora to promote nature conservation and the sustainable development goals. The NGO works closely also with Academia - The University of Malta Faculty Built Environment, for the Xrobb l-Għaġin Project, with the outlook of international funded collaborative projects in research and innovation. NTM participates in national fora and collaborates with international organisation with potential to communicate the lessons learnt on the project. A monitoring sensor station was set up for research.