Design - Alan Galea, Simon Grech, Daniela Spiteri Binett, Sam Bonello
Photography - Christian Grech
This project consists of the transformation of a derelict Maltese townhouse; once the dark and fragmented house of three sisters, into a luminous and unified contemporary home. The core challenge was to overcome the inherent limitations of a traditional deep and narrow floor plan with a lack of natural light, and reimagine the space to meet modern standards whilst uplifting the living experience.
The single most critical intervention was the surgical creation of a central courtyard a void carved into the heart of the building that now functions as its luminous core. This architectural move fundamentally resolves the issue of light deprivation, allowing daylight to permeate the deepest parts of the home. This new courtyard acts as the organizational nucleus for the entire residence, with living spaces arranged around its perimeter, fostering a constant connection to light and air.
A key success of the project lies in its masterfully curated material palette, which creates a rich dialogue between the building’s past and present. The architects chose to preserve and expose the original, honey-toned Globigerina limestone walls, celebrating their texture and history. This historic fabric is placed in direct conversation with unapologetically modern elements, primarily the smooth, board-formed concrete walls of the new courtyard and the crisp, black steel frames of the full-height glazing. This juxtaposition enhances the qualities of both old and new, creating a layered and tactile environment that is both reverent to its heritage and confidently contemporary.
This material and structural strategy facilitates a complete reimagining of the home’s spatial flow. The original cellular layout of small, disconnected rooms has been replaced with an open, fluid plan that enhances the sense of space and connectivity. Large glass partitions erase the boundaries between inside and out, allowing the living areas to merge seamlessly with the courtyard. This creation of long, uninterrupted sightlines and a clear, navigable circulation path contributes directly to the home’s uplifting and generous atmosphere.
Ultimately, the project serves as more than just a successful single-dwelling renovation; it stands as a powerful paradigm for the adaptive reuse of Malta’s historic urban fabric. It demonstrates how thoughtful, sensitive, and bold design can unlock the latent potential within traditional structures, creating high-quality living spaces that are relevant to contemporary lifestyles. By prioritizing light, material honesty, and spatial fluidity, the architects have not only revived a single building but have also provided a compelling and replicable model for sustainable urban renewal in Malta.
