Residential Villas

The King George, Gharghur, Malta From the Architects: Understanding the sites context played an integral part in the King George interior project. A brief for a unique boutique hotel in the heart of Għargħur called for the renovation and extension of an old house of character. This is a sensitive project which seeks to understand the essence of the old village core to retain its authenticity but still create a unique experience. Through simplifying room elements into their bare essentials and by exhibiting the absolutely necessary, spaces are created which are true to their function whilst complementing the rest of the village. Importance is given to how a room is experienced from the moment it is entered to how it can be interacted with. Careful studies were made in analyzing available view corridors, understanding the interplay of natural light with chosen materials, in the selection of artificial lighting and in the detailing of furniture and fixtures. Previous Next

Berta, Gharghur, Malta From the Architects: Located in the heart of Gharghur, BERTA has a long history of bringing people together. From just after World War 2 up until just a few years ago, it acted as a tea room in the heart of this small village. BERTA was conceived as a continuation of this tradition, representing life in its simplest form, the bond between people, and the ability to appreciate every moment. The project is the personified feeling of being with somebody you know, who you look for when seeking comfort.​Through the representation of simple village life in the Mediterranean, the simplicity and character of BERTA can start to emerge. It is reflected in the combination of different functions in the same place, creating one monolithic volume which is connected and allows the project to feel like one cohesive whole. The different elements of the interior – the bar, the bakery, the coffee – are designed in harmony with each other, providing a feeling of comfort to the users experiencing the space.​This harmony is achieved through simple forms, using light tones which provide an airy and fresh atmosphere. The vein cut travertine marble used for the floor and counter, the earth tone lime base plaster applied to the backdrop of the bar, and the oak timber structure and furniture present in the space contrast the rough textured limestone that showcases the age of the space itself. As a result, a tension is formed between the warm tones of the material and the sharp but sensitive geometric lines, which in conjunction with each other create a dynamic yet calm interior.BERTA provides an atmosphere of being, and staying at ease – special but discreet, elegant in its bare essence. Previous Next

Madliena House, Malta From the Architects: Madliena House is home to a lively young couple and two children. From the very initial stages, the concept revolved around purity and boldness in design. The form of the building is essentially a reaction to the site on which it is situated, whereas the interiors were the tool used to bridge the gap between the aesthetic and function of the different spaces within the building. This design is a means through which one may investigate the importance of natural factors – such as creating interesting spaces using light and shadow: a concept reminiscent of the Baroque period and the ‘Chiaroscuro’ technique. At ground floor, the interior is flooded with natural light which enters through floor-to-ceiling apertures which subsequently permits the inside and outside to merge into one space. However, by using controllable fabric screens a degree of flexibility is allowed for, as when lowered, the space changes into one which is more intimate and private. Through two courtyards, natural light infiltrates all four levels of the house, which also serve to passively ventilate the house. The different spaces within this family home were designed alongside the client. Each and every intervention was aimed at providing full ownership and comfort within the property. An example of this was through the selection of materials and lighting which served to differentiate between different areas of the house. A coherent design was maintained throughout, which also established a balance between aesthetic design and the clients’ daily needs. Architectural Detailing, was considered as a means to subconsciously affect the way the space is perceived and, thus, subtly determined activities. Ultimately, the design of the house was approached in such a way to find a balance and to define the functions of the house and its atmospheres. Previous Next

RVL, Madliena, Malta From the Architects: The house’s distinct location and the site’s orientation in Madliena served as the starting point for this project. The clients’ daily routine informed the form of the building starting from an east to west orientation as this follows the sites natural sun path. The eastern end contains the home office that leads into an open living space and finally into the master bedroom that enjoys sunset views. Each space is considered as its own volume, that together make up one whole building. The in between spaces between the volumes allow for different elements to come into play, such as transparencies in the form of skylights and different forms of vegetation. The lower levels of the house are dedicated towards different spaces that keep the rest of the family in mind. These include several bedrooms, a gym, a calm lounge area and a children play-space for the younger family members. A series of terraces puncture the lower levels to allow for more natural light and air. A cohesive material palette was envisaged for the interiors of the whole house, with different activity levels informing certain material choices. Natural woods were preferred for calmer spaces with dark and light tones used to complement the contrasting form of the building. Previous Next

MH 4+5, Madliena, Malta From the Architects: Situated on a high prominent ridge in Malta, Madliena Heights 04+05 is a program of two family living units. The building is divided into three levels with each functioning as distinct living, sleeping and leisurely spaces. A watchtower built around the 18th century is present on the same site and therefore a clean, pure form was preferred to create only a subtle addition to the area. Importance is given to the orientation of the site complementing the existing topological landscape but is also designed in a way to enhance sea views and sunsets towards the north, and watchtower views to the west. The resulting form uses subtle cuts that highlight focal points both within and outside the site. Previous Next

J House, Madliena, Malta From the Architects: The concept for J House stems from its relationship with the surrounding context. The rockface which defines the site also defines the form and geometry of the house itself. The house twists and turns with the land, almost as if they’re in a dance. At points, the house lets the rockface take over and retreats further back, thus allowing natural light to enter the home where it is needed. At other moments, the house takes the lead and juts out dramatically beyond the land, in order to frame views. Inside, the palette of polished marbles contrasts with the roughness of the ever-present rockface. Previous Next

MH 3 Madliena, Malta From the Architects: Madliena Heights 03 is a family home spread over 3 levels. Each level has a distinct function serving as living, sleeping, and leisurely spaces respectively. Purity in form and materiality creates a striking but clean villa both in its exterior and interior. This contrast with the old watchtower next door, retaining its presence as a centrepiece to the area especially due to the subtle low height of the villa. Interior spaces were created to exploit viewing corridors to the outside, allowing for both landscape and sea views. The cascading topographical site the project is built on is also respected as the orientation of the building and terraces compliments its curvature. Previous Next

Naxxar, Malta From the Architects: Previous Next

MS2 Houses, Madliena, Malta From the Architects: As an exercise in pure form, the houses were conceived together as two white monolithic volumes. Together, they appear to be “floating”; a visually heavier volume juxtaposed with a lighter, more slender one underneath. This idea of contrasts is also applied to proportions throughout the elevations in a rhythm of voids and solids – openings and walls. Inside, we also find this same idea of contrasts applied, although inversely – the “lighter” white volumes that make up the walls are contrasted with the visually “heavier” grey-coloured floors, seemingly grounding the entire composition. Previous Next

Burgi , Madliena, Malta From the Architects: The Burgi Project consists of two villas intended to be used as family homes in the heart of Madliena. The main form of the project was created as a reflection of the gradual slope it rests upon and as such results in dramatic angles that define both of its elevations. Furthermore, apertures also reflect such geometry and allow for an interesting play of light and shadow in interior spaces. As the houses are located on the highest point of a hill, main viewports are directed towards panoramic views of both landscapes and the sea. The villas are designed to blend in with their environment through their overall form but are intended to also create clear cut contrasts through the combination of striking geometry and pure, untarnished finishes. Previous Next