An incredible twist to an icon.
Malta's colourful old buses remain one of the most iconic symbols of the Maltese Islands. But sadly (or should I say happily), long gone are the days of those sweaty bus rides on rumbling vehicles. It was a bittersweet moment when it was announced that our colourful buses were to retire, to make way for a new fleet of sleek, sea green buses.
But what if we could have our piece of heritage back, but with all the benefits of technological advancements since then? Imagine a traditional Maltese bus that’s electric, air conditioned and comfortable. Intrigued? Us too!
London-based Mizzi Studio, the same firm behind the designer kiosks in Green Park that locals loved, have come up with a brilliant idea. In July, the parliament building will host an exhibition by these designers featuring scale models of futurisitic-looking yet traditionally inspired Maltese buses - a concept which has taken them seven years to develop.
The buses blend several characteristic features of the old buses, such as chrome bumpers and hand-painted lettering, with modern-day features like LED lighting, electric motors and air conditioning, because we all know what it’s like to travel on the island during the summer months. #SweatyBetty
Mizzi Studio's Jonathan Mizzi said, “losing Malta’s buses was a devastating blow to Malta’s identity,” so much so that he wanted to create something that represented the past. Malta Public Transport’s general manager Konrad Pule’ has said that they were “delighted” to support the project, and Transport Malta even described the initiative as “fully aligned with the objectives and general direction of the electro-mobility programme.”
The exhibition, titled Malta Bus Reborn, will be open between July and September. Watch the teaser here:
What do you think of the designs? Wouldn't it be cool to see these buses back on the road again?