5 - 11 April 2001

Local bus shelter designs for foreign cities

by David Kelleher

Faces Consultants Ltd, a subsidiary of the VF Group of companies, are currently discussing the possibility of selling their bus shelter designs and other street furniture in other countries.
Speaking to The Malta Business Weekly, Kevin Vassallo, managing director of Faces, said his company would be using Malta to show-case its innovative products and “discussions are at an advanced stage to sell our products in other countries and large cities.”
Faces Consultants have been entrusted by the Ministry of Local Government and the Association of Local Councils with the “Bus Shelter Renovation Project” for a period of 10 years.
“The deal, which is expected to cost around Lm 2m, is one of the first in which the government is doing business with a private local company which is financing the capital itself,” Mr Vassallo said.
The first installations of the
new bus shelters are expected in
September.
Mr Vassallo said that although an agreement had been reached with the Association of Local Councils, the final decision to use the new shelters rests on the local council in question.
“All in all, we are extremely pleased with the response from the local councils, and we expect to start introducing other types of innovative street furniture in the near future,” Mr Vassallo said.
The bus shelter consists of clear glass panels and a translucent glass strip, which houses the transport information panel.
A stainless steel plinth supports the glass shelter and houses the lighting system to back light the glass wall. All glass is opaque to UV rays and thus provides the necessary protection from the summer heat.
Less inconspicuous are the free standing advertising panel and the seat, a brightly coloured human focus within the shelter, constructed of highly durable vitreous enamelled steel with stainless steel trimmings.
The shelters provide seating and protection from bad weather for the general public while they await public transit vehicles, special attention has been taken to attend the needs of senior citizens, parents with small children, and persons with disabilities.