Contractor found responsible for Bulebel wall collapse, KTP finds

An investigation by the Chamber of Architects (KTP) concluded a partial wall collapse that occurred last year at a Bulebel Industrial Estate building site was caused by "poor workmanship" and that the architect behind the project bore no responsibility for the collapse.

The investigation, which aimed to determine whether the partial collapse was the result of professional negligence, unanimously concluded that the collapse was a result of incorrect sequencing of works by the contractor, such as the failure to infill and seal the perimeter walls, which were designed to support a slab before being cast.

The chamber said that the correct execution of works falls under the sole responsibility of the contractor, and that to assign this role to the architect would be a conflict of responsibility that would transfer the liabilities of the contractor onto the architect and violate basic principles of impartiality and independence.

The contractor for the Gutenberg factory construction site was Bonnici Bros, which is often successful in securing government contracts, such as a €13 million shooting range project at Ta’ Kandja and a €37 million temporary power station.

In March of 2025, the partial collapse of a building onto a parked car in the Bulebel Industrial Estate reignited debate over construction standards and regulatory enforcement.

No one was injured in the collapse. However, it drew comparisons to the tragedy of Jean Paul Sofia, who died in 2022 following the collapse of a construction site. The state was found responsible for the death of the youth due to regulatory failures and lack of authority oversight, leading many to call for stricter regulation to prevent further accidents.