Building time: where heritage and future learn together 10.
Beneath the Surface: A Haven Reborn
13. Where Time Meets Tomorrow: A Subtle Symphony of Past and Present in Historic Living
16.
Coastline reclaimed: a Waterfront woven for the people of Kalkara
19.
Bridging Land, Sea, and Society: Reimagining Balluta Bay
22.
Curtains Rise Again: The Soulful Reinvention of Teatru Salesjan
25.
Where Bold Modernity Meets Timeless Maltese Tradition
28.
Casa Gourgion: Neo-Gothic Gem Restored to Shine in Mdina’s Timeless Tapestry
31.
Rooted in Heritage, Growing for Tomorrow: Ġnien fuq il-Glażiż Winner of the Sustainability Award
39. Commendations
Stone, Light, and Memory: Breathing New Life into an 18th- Century Palazzino
34.
Archipals: Malta’s Heritage Reimagined in Bronze Playfulness at Mercury Tower
37.
Guarding Malta’s Soul: Joanna Spiteri Staines Honoured with MASP President’s Award
40.
From Ruin to Resonance – Piazza 1902 Reimagined
41.
Weathering the Future: monolith25 and the Rise of the Contemporary Vernacular
42.
Mosta Square: A Civic Space Reclaimed
43.
From Runway to Renaissance: Ta’ Qali’s Formal Garden Blossoms Anew
45.
The Digital Core: GO plc’s New Technology Campus
44.
Tracks of Memory: A Cultural Revival at Ġnien L-Istazzjon
46.
Illuminating Heritage: Casa Ursula
47.
Casa Bormlisa: A Contemporary Dialogue with Maltese Tradition
48.
Skyline Beneath the Trees: Victoria’s Green Horizon
49.
Crossing Lines: MA Architects Reclaim Malta’s Coast Road for People
51.
Riding the Wave: Riccardo Gatt Ellis Rethinks Urban Regeneration Through the Spirit of the Regatta
52.
Ladders to Language: A Skyward Library at Villa Frere
50.
Where the Living Find Rest: Gary James Ghirxi’s Vision for a New Kind of Cemetery
80. Directory
Foreword
A Tribute to Innovation and Vision
By Johann Buttigieg, Executive Chairperson, Planning Authority
As the Malta Architecture and Spatial Planning (MASP) Awards enter their sixth edition, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the remarkable journey and growing significance of this initiative. Since its inception in 2019 under the distinguished Patronage of the President of Malta, the MASP Awards have evolved into a national benchmark for excellence in architecture, interior design, and spatial planning. This initiative not only shines a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of professionals and students alike, but also underscores the importance of sustainable, inclusive, and purposeful design in our communities.
Over the past six years, the MASP Awards have grown far beyond a simple accolade. They have become a powerful platform for dialogue, inspiration, and transformation, sparking fresh ideas, supporting rising talents, and reinforcing our shared responsibility to enhance Malta’s built and natural environments. Here, we don’t just celebrate completed projects; we celebrate the values, aspirations, and positive impact that thoughtful design brings to society.
This year’s submissions have once again showcased the incredible talent within our design and planning community. The range and depth of work submitted reflect a collective drive for excellence, innovation, and resilience. With so many deserving entries, the jury faced the challenging task of selecting winners leading to the introduction of special commendations across several categories in recognition of outstanding contributions.
To all the nominees and award recipients, I offer my sincere congratulations. Your work does more than improve aesthetics; it uplifts daily life, strengthens community identity, and fosters a sense of place. Through your creativity and commitment, you inspire a broader understanding of the impact design has on our lives and future.
Having served as Executive Chairman when the MASP Awards were first conceived, I have followed their evolution with great pride. Although I never had the opportunity to present the awards in previous years, it is a distinct privilege to do so now a moment that reaffirms the values of excellence and vision that lie at the heart of this initiative.
Looking to the future, we are planning of joining forces with the Kamra talPeriti to integrate the MASP Awards with the prestigious Galizia Awards. This collaboration will create a unified platform for honouring design excellence and strengthen our commitment to architectural innovation across Malta.
Let us continue to strive for a culture that embraces quality, sustainability, and creative ambition. Join us in celebrating the remarkable contributions of this year’s participants, each playing a vital role in shaping a more beautiful, resilient, and inclusive Malta for future generations.
“The MASP Awards have evolved into a national benchmark for excellence in architecture, interior design, and spatial planning.”
Winners Building time: where Heritage
and
Future Learn Together
In Rabat, Gozo, a new primary school has opened within the grounds of the existing Middle School campus. Designed with a focus on blending modern functionality with historical context, the project thoughtfully extends the original 1950s modernist building by Perit Joseph Huntingford. The result is a contemporary space that supports today’s educational needs while respecting the site’s architectural heritage. Recognised with the MASP Award for Commercial and Public Buildings, the school highlights how sustainable and well-integrated design can enhance community learning environments.
“Our goal was to respect Huntingford’s original vision while creating a vibrant, inclusive space that nurtures young minds today,” says Perit Nicky Mallia on behalf of Periti Studio. “We wanted to design a building that not only serves educational functions but also tells a story, one where architecture, history, and community come together.”
The jury recognised the project’s holistic approach, praising its sensitive intervention that honors the original modernist structure while enhancing spatial functionality and social engagement. The clever use of coloured masonry panels and careful preservation of the historic
fabric provide a rich, human-centered environment for learning.
A key feature is the dynamic façade, articulated through masonry panels of varying thicknesses and vibrant colours, designed to engage children both visually and cognitively. This thoughtful approach creates a welcoming atmosphere that supports the mental and emotional well-being of its young users. The spatial layout encourages fluid movement and accessibility, while maximising natural light and ventilation to foster a comfortable and sustainable learning environment.
Perhaps most remarkable is the school’s integration of significant archaeological discoveries within its fabric. The preservation of a Roman quarry, the first-known Punic tomb in Gozo, medieval farmhouse remains, and ancient water reservoirs transforms these historical elements from static relics into immersive educational experiences.
“Embedding these historical elements within the fabric of the school offers students a unique, immersive connection to their heritage, history isn’t something behind glass here; it’s part of their daily experience,” notes Perit Mallia.
Sustainability is woven throughout the design.
Traditional ‘Ħasira’ bamboo louvers on sliding rails provide effective shading inspired by Maltese architectural heritage, while setbacks allow for greenery that improves air quality and urban aesthetics. The use of local materials and the retention of existing structures minimise environmental impact, reflecting a commitment to responsible building practices.
This project proves that contemporary architecture can enrich heritage sites rather than overshadow them.
“By weaving history, colour, and sustainability into a child-friendly environment, we have created a school that prepares its students not just academically but culturally and environmentally for the future,” says Mallia.
The new primary school in Rabat stands as a beacon of architectural excellence, a place where past and future coexist in harmony, inspiring generations to learn not only from books but from the very ground beneath their feet.
Commercial and Public Building Award: WINNER
Gozo Primary School
Periti Studio
Beneath the Surface: A Haven Reborn
The transformation of the Mercury House Underground Vaults into the ME Hotel Spa is a masterclass in reimagining space, history, and experience. This project seamlessly merges the raw, rugged character of a WWII-era bunker with the serene sophistication of modern wellness design, creating a sanctuary that is as culturally rich as it is emotionally calming.
Interior designer Ons Romdhane and Perit
AnnaMaria Attard Montalto treated the vaults not simply as blank spaces but as living archives preserving the original Maltese limestone walls, vintage tiles, and wartime fittings. They layered these historic elements with handcrafted details, soft lighting, and natural materials to evoke an atmosphere of deep tranquillity. “Designing this space was about more than aesthetics, it was about revealing history through emotion. We wanted
guests to feel cradled by the past while completely immersed in the present,” Romdhane reflects.
The spa’s design celebrates the dialogue between past and present: aged textures meet sleek modern finishes, sculptural forms contrast historic curves, and cinematic projections bring the stone walls to life. Every material and design choice honours the site’s story while transforming it into a contemporary wellness retreat. From the warm terracotta micro-cement reception desk to linen wallpaper that softens the vault’s stone, tactile warmth balances the coolness of the architecture, turning a once utilitarian space into an emotionally engaging experience.
Vaulted corridors guide visitors toward a serene pool chamber carved into the original rock, where raw textures heighten the sensory journey. The spatial arrangement respects the building’s wartime logic, guiding guests intuitively through zones of relaxation and reflection.
Sustainability is embedded in the design, taking advantage of the vault’s natural thermal insulation, preserving structural integrity to reduce waste, and maintaining original ventilation for natural airflow. Locally sourced materials, low-energy lighting, watersaving pool technology, and efficient HVAC systems further enhance the spa’s eco-conscious footprint.
What truly sets this project apart is its embrace of memory as a design material. Rather than erasing the past, the design incorporates original limestone
and vintage fixtures to ground the space in authenticity, while cinematic projections introduce a forwardlooking narrative. This thoughtful integration of heritage and innovation reshapes how historical interiors can function as meaningful modern environments.
As the jury noted, this project expertly preserves the original Maltese limestone and tiles while integrating natural materials and soft lighting to create a serene wellness destination. The innovative adaptive reuse honours the site’s heritage and offers a unique sensory experience, featuring a cave-like pool and immersive projections. By blending architectural conservation, interior design, and experiential
storytelling, the ME Hotel Spa revitalises a significant historical space, creating a distinctive amenity that enriches the hotel’s brand and preserves this cultural treasure for future generations.
The ME Hotel Spa is more than a place to unwind, it is a journey inward, weaving history, design, and well-being into a transformative experience.
Interior Architecture for Commercial and Public Buildings Awards – WINNER The Mercury Cold War Vaults DAS Architecture Studio and Mina Design Studio
Where Time Meets Tomorrow: A Subtle Symphony of Past and Present in Historic Living
In a remarkable example of thoughtful transformation, a historic residence has been reimagined through a delicate dialogue between original limestone heritage and contemporary design finesse. Winner of the Interior Architecture Award for Residential Buildings, the project exemplifies how confident design can revitalise historic spaces, transforming them into timeless, liveable homes that bridge past and future. As noted by the jury, the project thoughtfully transforms a historic residence by integrating contemporary design while respecting its original limestone structure, harmonising preservation with innovation in every detail.
The renovation respects the building’s authentic character by retaining and restoring key limestone and timber elements, while carefully introducing modern touches. Subtle metal detailing, bespoke joinery, and refined materials create a seamless interplay between old and new, enhancing spatial flow, natural light, and everyday functionality. The original layout remains largely intact, but minor adjustments like widened openings and improved circulation paths foster a more connected, fluid living environment.
“The true challenge and beauty lie in balancing respect for history with the needs of contemporary living, creating a home that feels timeless yet entirely relevant,” reflects Architect Damiano Meneguzzi.
At the heart of the home is the central courtyard, a vital source of natural light and ventilation that connects all areas and supports a lifestyle rooted in openness and family interaction. Each room is designed to be flexible, supporting quiet moments as well as lively gatherings, with integrated storage solutions maintaining the delicate balance between functionality and visual clarity.
Environmental considerations are woven into the project’s fabric. Thick limestone walls provide natural insulation, while the courtyard enhances airflow, reducing energy use. Sustainable materials like limebased plasters and breathable mortars were chosen to ensure compatibility with the historic structure and
promote longevity. A roof garden further improves thermal performance and adds a green oasis that supports biodiversity.
Innovation here is quiet yet powerful: modern elements enhance rather than overpower, allowing the home’s story to unfold naturally. The refined layering of textures and materials offers a sense of discovery, where every corner reveals a dialogue between past craftsmanship and present-day design.
Ultimately, this project creates a cohesive, welcoming environment that includes principles of sustainability, as the jury noted, where every change harmonises old and new. It demonstrates that with care, craft, and vision, historic homes can embrace the future while honouring their legacy by creating spaces that nurture continuity, belonging, and a living connection across generations.
Interior Architecture for Residential Projects -WINNER Casa Leone
Damiano Meneguzzi Architects
Coastline reclaimed: a Waterfront woven for the people of Kalkara
“We didn’t just redesign a space, we built trust, listened deeply, and created something that belongs to everyone. Kalkara now breathes with its people.”
Perit Eric Gerardi, on behalf of GHRC
Once dominated by traffic and disconnected from the sea, the waterfront of Kalkara has been transformed into a vibrant, community-first public space. Spearheaded by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation (GHRC), this project turned a vehicle-prioritised bayfront into a layered, human-scaled promenade that restores Kalkara’s coastal charm.
A new bypass road rerouted through-traffic, reducing congestion and enabling the creation of a five-metre-wide promenade without eliminating key vehicular access or
parking. This opened the door to a rebalanced square, where pedestrian comfort, environmental sensitivity, and flexible public use now take centre stage.
Material choices were both expressive and strategic: seeded exposed concrete evokes the texture of Malta’s rocky coastlines, while corten steel planters doubled as efficient construction formwork. Mature ficus trees were preserved as vital sources of shade, while new Tamarix and pine trees were introduced, scaling from three to twelve metres to reinforce views and create microclimates.
Community consultation played a pivotal role in shaping the space. GHRC worked with local councils, festa clubs, church leaders, and commercial tenants to understand the rhythms of daily life and celebratory events. As a result, the square now includes a shaded playground, a tree-lined seating zone aligned with the church façade, and an open area for gatherings, each distinct yet interconnected.
The design integrates sustainability through deeprooted irrigation systems, native vegetation, and passive climate controls. A slight promenade slope ensures water runoff and rolling objects move inland, protecting the sea. Large pines planted close to sea level unprecedented in Malta were made possible through innovative planter engineering inspired by beach groves in Greece.
The project expertly balances commercial, cultural, and public uses, showcasing the importance of
community planning as an integral aspect of the design of open spaces. The square was intelligently zoned into a playground, a tree-lined seating area, and an open space, each complementing the others while highlighting the façade of the Parish Church. The playground, nestled under large trees, features a low retaining wall and sloped landscaping with diverse seating arrangements. Cost-effective and durable materials, like seeded exposed concrete inspired by weathered coastlines, create warmth and character, ensuring longevity in the saline environment and ease of future repairs.
Recognised by the jury for its expertly balanced integration of commercial, cultural, and public uses, this project is a testament to how intelligent planning and design can serve the collective. As the citation notes, the square’s intelligent zoning and material choices support longevity, functionality, and place-specific character
while reinforcing the façade of the Parish Church and maintaining flexibility for community use.
Today, the square hums with life: from festa celebrations to quiet seaside moments, it adapts to its users with elegance and generosity. Children play under the trees while caregivers watch from shaded benches. Locals linger by the water, and the town’s social fabric feels stronger, more visible.
This project exemplifies how considered design, driven by dialogue and rooted in place can regenerate not just a space, but a shared sense of belonging. Kalkara’s waterfront has been reclaimed not only for the people, but by them.
Open Spaces Award – WINNER
Kalkara Regeneration Project by GHRC
Bridging Land, Sea, and Society: Reimagining Balluta Bay
“Urban
coasts don’t need to be battlegrounds between progress and nature. They can be places where both thrive.”
Karl Farrugia, Winner of the Outstanding Student Project Award
Balluta Bay, once a tranquil coastal jewel, now reflects the growing strain on Malta’s urban coastline. Encroached upon by traffic, development, and diminishing green space, this iconic location has seen its natural character fade. For Karl Farrugia, the bay presented not just a challenge, but an opportunity to reimagine the relationship between people, place, and ecology.
His Outstanding Student Project Award winning proposal offers a bold yet sensitive redesign of Balluta’s landscape. The vision restores the valley-beach-piazza relationship through ecological and infrastructural interventions that prioritise natural processes and public accessibility. Streets are rethought as conduits for stormwater, filtered through vegetation before returning
to the valley bed. A vehicular causeway across the bay reroutes traffic, transforming the noisy piazza into a peaceful pedestrian zone that invites connection rather than division.
The jury praised the project for addressing the decline of Balluta Bay with a multi-faceted, research-driven strategy that integrates ecological restoration, urban planning, and sustainable development. Noting the excellent execution across a complex landscape with a simple, yet masterly stroke of the new bridge bypass, they also commended the level of clarity and professionalism in his engaging visual presentation, which helped translate an ambitious idea into a tangible, inspiring vision.
Farrugia’s design addresses decades of coastal degradation, caused by infrastructural changes that altered wave dynamics and eroded the beach. To counter this, hard seawalls are reshaped into natural rocky forms that dissipate wave energy. Modular floating platforms are introduced seasonally to support tourism without disturbing hydrodynamics.
Public transport takes innovative forms: a pedestrian bridge connects St. Julian’s and Sliema, while a cable car glides above the valley. These interventions prioritise gentle movement and broaden access to green and blue spaces. Underneath, thoughtful structural strategies minimise the ecological footprint, using pre-stressed materials and reduced supports to avoid damage to the protected valley bed.
Perhaps most impactful is the social depth of the project. Through surveys and conversations with residents, Farrugia unearthed a deep collective yearning for the
quieter, greener Balluta of memory. His design responds directly removing invasive plants, enhancing native vegetation, and creating shaded trails and public areas that return a sense of peace and ownership to locals.
Ultimately, this intervention aims to create a more liveable and resilient space, serving as a model for future coastal projects in Malta. As the jury noted, it is a project that stood out not just for vision, but for its careful analysis of the wider area and its elegant solutions across scales.
By reconnecting land, sea, and society, this project isn’t just about redesignit’s about healing. Balluta Bay becomes a living case study in how student vision, grounded in research and empathy, can influence the future of sustainable planning.
Outstanding Student Project – WINNER Reimagining Balluta Bay by Karl Farrugia
Curtains Rise Again: The Soulful Reinvention of Teatru Salesjan
In a bold yet sensitive transformation, the iconic Teatru Salesjan in Sliema has emerged as the winner of this year’s Rehabilitation & Conservation Award. The theatre’s completed refurbishment is a masterclass in balancing preservation with progress, a blueprint for how heritage buildings can be adapted to meet the demands of the present without compromising their soul.
Originally constructed in 1908, Teatru Salesjan has long stood as a cornerstone of community and culture. The latest restoration breathes new life into the building while staying deeply rooted in its origins. Historic features such as the Giuseppe Calí fresco, the distinctive tin soffit, original tiled flooring, and timber stage have been lovingly restored, maintaining a sense of place and identity that spans generations.
The jury praised the project for how it masterfully balances historical preservation with modern needs, creating a flexible, multi-use space that ensures the theatre’s continued relevance for generations to come. Original architectural elements like ornate detailing, the Giuseppe Calí fresco, and the unique stage layout were
meticulously restored, honouring the theatre’s rich legacy, while also highlighting the sophisticated integration of contemporary systems and the adaptable design strategy.
Yet, this is no exercise in nostalgia. Behind its classical detailing lies a modern infrastructure designed to propel the theatre into a new era. Discreetly integrated HVAC, lighting, fire safety, and AV systems bring the space up to 21st-century performance standards, while preserving its visual clarity and historic charm. A redesigned orchestra pit and restored auditorium layout expand the range of productions the theatre can host, ensuring versatility for years to come.
Central to the project was the use of sustainable materials and reversible interventions, ensuring that future generations can continue to shape the theatre without erasing its past. This conservation ethos extends outdoors, where invasive trees threatening the foundations were replaced with endemic white poplars, and terrace surfaces were sympathetically restored.
The project also reinforces Teatru Salesjan’s founding mission, inclusivity and education by upgrading accessibility and backstage circulation, opening the space to broader participation and more diverse programming. As the jury noted, the thoughtful updates revitalise the theatre as a vibrant community hub demonstrating that historic buildings can evolve while maintaining their cultural and heritage value.
By honouring its origins while embracing the future, Teatru Salesjan has not only safeguarded its architectural heritage, it has reclaimed its role as a vibrant, inclusive space for artistic and social exchange in the heart of Sliema.
Rehabilitation and Conservation Award – WINNER
Teatru Salesjan – Chris Briffa Architects
“Heritage isn’t a museum piece, it’s a living organism. Our work was about keeping the heartbeat strong without changing the soul,” - Perit Chris Briffa
Where Bold Modernity
Meets Timeless Maltese Tradition
Set within a quiet Maltese neighbourhood, Winnow redefines what’s possible on a narrow urban site. With just 3.3 meters at its tightest point, this family home transforms spatial constraints into a canvas for innovation. Thoughtful, sculptural, and rooted in tradition, the home emerges as a contemporary sanctuary one that speaks softly but confidently of its place, purpose, and people.
Designed by Archi +, the project is a masterclass in spatial choreography and material refinement.
The house’s subtle façade, clad in locally sourced stone, pays homage to Malta’s architectural legacy while breaking convention through custom-cut curves and recessed openings. Behind this quiet exterior lies an interior full of gentle drama, natural light pouring through a central skylight, unexpected reveals of greenery, and warm tones that lend both serenity and depth.
The jury praised Winnow as a project that expertly maximises its narrow site, commending the way it cleverly overcomes the obvious restrictions the site presented. They noted that the design centres on the south-facing
“In Winnow, we didn’t just design a house, we sculpted a lived experience. Every curve, every shaft of light, every texture was considered to create moments of stillness, surprise, and belonging.”
- Perit Anthea Huber
back garden, and ingeniously incorporates passive design principles despite a constricted width of only 3.3 meters. This sensitivity to site and context, they observed, results in a home that is highly responsive to its setting and purpose.
Materiality plays a leading role. Stone is not merely structural; it’s expressive. Soft curves meet clean lines, bold colour accents interplay with calming neutrals, and each finish, from terracotta tones to fine metal details is chosen with care. The result is a seamless dialogue between past and present, craft and clarity.
Internally, the home flows with intuitive grace. An open-plan living area, anchored by a central fireplace, brings the family together. A dedicated workspace allows for quiet focus without disconnecting from daily life. Lush landscaping, viewed through large panes of glass, blurs the boundary between indoors and out, while an internal courtyard draws nature directly into the bedroom spaces.
Winnow’s performance is as elegant as its aesthetics. Passive design strategies such as overhangs, recessed windows, and cross-ventilation optimise thermal comfort year-round. A central skylight encourages stack ventilation, while high-performance glazing and an external water feature enhance energy efficiency and ambient cooling. These details create not just a beautiful home, but one which is sustainable, resilient, low-impact, and built to last.
The jury also highlighted the refined and elegant detailing that ensures the home possesses a timeless yet relevant aesthetic. The façade, they noted, respectfully nods to Malta’s architectural legacy while offering a contemporary reinterpretation. Custom stone cuts and curved applications showcase the material’s adaptability, creating a compelling dialogue between tradition and innovation.
What sets Winnow apart is its depth of intention. Every inch is designed to serve both emotion and function. The home shifts with the light, revealing new textures and tones as the day progresses. Its narrow footprint expands through transparency, careful sightlines, and spatial layering. It is a place where daily life unfolds in quiet luxury practicality, poetic, and a deep connection to its Maltese heritage.
Winnow is more than an architectural solution, it’s a lived narrative of place, family, and future. An intimate, intuitive home that proves great design doesn’t demand grand scale only vision, restraint, and a reverence for light, material, and meaning.
Residential Architecture – WINNER
Winnow in Rabat – Archi +
Casa Gourgion:
Neo-Gothic Gem Restored to Shine in Mdina’s Timeless Tapestry
Casa Gourgion, Mdina’s most photographed and perhaps most debated architectural icon, has been lovingly restored to its original neogothic glory after years of wear, alteration, and neglect. Built in the 1890s, its bold style once stood in stark contrast to the surrounding baroque heritage of Mdina’s main square, stirring controversy that has since transformed into admiration and cultural pride.
The restoration project’s primary aim was to revive Casa Gourgion as a sustainable and accessible cultural landmark, faithfully returning the residence to a condition as close as possible to its original state. Now functioning as a house museum, the building opens its doors to the public, offering an immersive journey into Mdina’s history and the life of the Gourgion family.
Recognised for its outstanding execution, the project received an award for its high-quality restoration of Casa Gourgion, with the jury commending how “this adaptive reuse respectfully showcases the history of Mdina and the Gourgion family, revitalising the landmark while preserving its unique character.” The jury also noted how the transformation of this once-private residence into a sustainable and accessible visitor experience successfully meets contemporary standards while remaining true to its origins.
Years of tenancy had seen various unsympathetic additions, but since 2020, an intensive restoration has meticulously removed later accretions and revived the house’s authentic architectural fabric. Intricate neo-gothic stone tracery, timber apertures, and frescoed interiors were conserved by skilled artisans using traditional Maltese materials and reversible techniques to ensure long-term preservation.
“The essence of this
restoration
was to
respect the building’s bold character while carefully preserving its fragile legacy, allowing future generations to engage with this unique piece of Mdina’s heritage.”
- Perit Alan Galea – MODEL
The project also embraced modern needs: energyefficient systems were discreetly integrated, and accessibility enhancements made Casa Gourgion a welcoming cultural space for locals and tourists alike. Its location in Mdina’s bustling square posed logistical challenges, which were met with careful planning to safeguard the surrounding urban fabric and comply with strict heritage regulations.
Beyond architectural conservation, Casa Gourgion’s transformation into a house museum enriches Mdina’s cultural landscape, strengthening community ties and educational outreach. Visitors wander through carefully curated rooms that reveal the story of a bygone era, where every decorative element tells a story of craftsmanship and history.
This project exemplifies how historic restoration can balance authenticity, sustainability, and modern relevance. As the jury observed, the restoration aimed to return the property to its original state, transforming Casa Gourgion
into a vivid expression of adaptive reuse, one that honours its architectural legacy while enriching the social and cultural life of Mdina.
Casa Gourgion today stands not only as a restored architectural marvel but as a vibrant testament to Mdina’s layered past seamlessly bridging the divide between tradition and contemporary cultural life.
Restoration Award – WINNER
Casa Gourgion by MODEL and CVC Architecture Studio
Rooted in Heritage, Growing for Tomorrow: Ġnien fuq il-Glażiż
Winner of the Sustainability Award
In a celebration of visionary design, environmental stewardship, and cultural reverence, Ġnien fuq il-Glażiż in Vittoriosa has been named the winner of this year’s prestigious Sustainability Award. Spearheaded by Doric Studio, this groundbreaking rehabilitation and restoration project is being hailed as a benchmark for sustainable urban regeneration in Malta and beyond.
Once an overlooked and overgrown stretch of land atop the historic Santa Margherita fortifications, the site has been reborn as a vibrant public park that seamlessly weaves together the threads of ecology, education, recreation, and heritage. Today, Ġnien fuq il-Glażiż stands not just as a garden, but as a living tapestry, a place where past and present meet, and where nature is given room to thrive alongside community life.
“This project was about more than restoration, it was about renewal,” said Perit Frank Muscat, lead architect at Doric Studio. “We wanted to create a space where history breathes, where ecology flourishes, and where people from all walks of life can find belonging. Sustainability, for us, meant listening carefully to the land and designing in harmony with its story.”
The award recognises the project’s holistic approach to sustainability. Natural materials like timber and local stone were chosen over synthetic alternatives, maintaining a low carbon footprint while honouring the site’s historic aesthetic. Solar-powered lighting and smart sensors reduce energy usage, while permeable paving and native droughtresistant plants address water conservation and biodiversity protection.
According to the jury, the project demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental sustainability while also promoting social sustainability through the provision of a well-designed green open space. The design prioritises
the preservation of local flora and fauna by maintaining native plant species crucial for biodiversity and pollinators. It also focuses on soil and water conservation and minimises plastic use, opting instead for durable, natural materials such as stone and wood that complement the historic setting. Additionally, solar-powered lighting ensures energy efficiency, and recycling stations promote waste reduction.
Central to the design is the organic, flowing layout that mirrors the contours of the landscape. Winding stone paths encourage exploration and mindfulness, while boundary railings designed to mimic cypress trees provide safety without disrupting the visual harmony of the surroundings.
But it’s the human scale of the project that truly brings it to life. Families gather at the innovative adventure playground. Dogs roam freely in the dedicated park. Teachers lead classes among native flora, transforming the garden into a living classroom. Recycling stations and interpretive signage encourage responsible engagement and environmental literacy.
The impact is both micro and macro: offering daily relief and joy to Vittoriosa’s residents while setting a bold precedent for how public green spaces can honour the past, serve the present, and protect the future.
In an age of climate urgency and urban sprawl, Ġnien fuq il-Glażiż demonstrates how even the smallest patch of land can become a beacon of resilience, creativity, and care. Through thoughtful design and a deep respect for place, Doric Studio has cultivated more than just a park, they’ve grown a legacy.
Sustainability Award – WINNER Ġnien fuq il-Glażiż, Birgu by Doric Studio
Archipals: Malta’s Heritage Reimagined in Bronze Playfulness at Mercury Tower
In the heart of St Julian’s Mercury Tower district, Malta’s emblem of cutting-edge architecture designed by the late Zaha Hadid lies a surprising and delightful cultural gem. Archipals, winner of the MASP Small Projects Award, is a collection of five bronze sculptures that breathe life and local identity into this sleek, modern environment.
More than mere decoration, Archipals serves as a tactile bridge between Malta’s rich history and its contemporary aspirations. Each sculpture featuring iconic symbols such as the Luzzu boat, the Goddess of Fertility, the Knight of St. John, the prickly pear cactus, and Mercury himself invites both visitors and locals to engage directly with Malta’s story. These figures don’t just stand to be admired; they’re designed to be touched, climbed, and experienced, transforming the commercial plaza into a vibrant cultural landscape.
The jury praised Archipals for how it playfully reimagines Maltese heritage, embedding tradition within a cutting-edge context. They noted that Mercury Tower stands as a striking modern architectural statement, reshaping Malta’s skyline and highlighted how Archipals infuses this contemporary landmark with local identity. The sculptures encourage public interaction, inviting both locals and visitors to engage directly with Malta’s rich past.
Artist Zack Ritchie reflects on the project’s essence: “Archipals breaks down the walls between art and community. It’s heritage you can hug, climb, and live with, bringing Malta’s past into a space shaped for the future.”
Crafted in bronze and standing approximately three meters tall, the sculptures balance playful, organic forms with the timeless durability of their materials. The matte bronze patina evolves gracefully with time, blending harmoniously with the plaza’s earthy tones. Stainless steel internal structures ensure they withstand the energy of daily interaction whether it’s a child’s laughter or a passerby’s pause.
The jury also commended how by bridging modern design with cultural roots, Archipals transforms Mercury Tower into a dynamic public space where history, commerce, and community converge. This speaks to the project’s unique ability to animate an urban square, turning it from a sleek but sterile environment into a lively, accessible, and distinctly Maltese destination.
Archipals redefines public art in Malta by making cultural heritage accessible and interactive. Instead of relegating history behind glass, it places it front and center in a bustling modern square. Tourists discover Malta’s deep-rooted symbols anew, locals see their culture reflected in a fresh light, and children claim the sculptures as playground companions. This transformative approach has changed Mercury Tower’s plaza from a transitory spot into a lively meeting place that celebrates both identity and innovation.
Environmentally thoughtful from inception, Archipals’ materials and production methods emphasize longevity and sustainability, no power required, no infrastructure needed, just timeless artistry inviting generations to connect.
In melding Malta’s heritage with one of its most futuristic developments, Archipals offers a powerful message: the future shines the brightest when it honours the past. Here, tradition and modernity don’t compete, they collaborate.
Small Projects Award –WINNER
Archipals by Zack Ritchie
President’s Award
Guarding Malta’s Soul: Joanna Spiteri Staines
Honoured with MASP
President’s Award
At this year’s Malta Architecture and Spatial Planning (MASP) Awards, held under the patronage of Her Excellency Dr Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta, one name stood out not simply for her architectural mastery, but for her decades-long dedication to heritage, sustainability, and critical engagement with the built environment. Perit Joanna Spiteri Staines, founding partner of Openworkstudio, was awarded the prestigious President’s Award, an honour reserved for those who have made an extraordinary and lasting impact on Malta’s architectural and spatial identity.
Speaking after receiving the award, Perit Spiteri Staines reflected on the broader meaning of the recognition. “It’s truly humbling to be here and to be given this award by an outstanding jury by my peers and my colleagues and I cannot thank you enough,” she said. “This award is really not just at a personal level, but it is also for my work in conservation of historic buildings, for cultural projects and for rehabilitation projects. I think I’ve also been given the award for being an architect and an environmentalist. As the late Richard Rogers said, architects don’t exist in a vacuum, they exist in an environment that needs to be protected.”
She also acknowledged the Planning Authority for recognising her contributions, even in light of critical perspectives she has shared in the past. “I commend the Planning Authority for giving me an award even in the face of positive criticism... so that we create a better Malta and Gozo.”
Perit Spiteri Staines is a founding partner of Openworkstudio, an architectural practice known for its high-quality, research-led design rooted in respect for historical context and environmental responsibility. Her portfolio is primarily focused on cultural projects and interventions within historic buildings, often blending traditional methods with contemporary architectural expression.
Her practice is guided by a strong sense of responsibility towards place, history, and future generations. This award marks the culmination of a career characterised by a clear purpose and deep consistency. She began her architectural studies at the University of Malta, later completing a Doctorate level in Restauro dei Monumenti at Rome’s La Sapienza University
in 1998, followed by an MPhil in Sustainable Heritage at UCL’s Bartlett School through a British Chevening Scholarship.
Perit Spiteri Staines began her professional career at Architecture Project (AP), becoming an associate partner in 2005. Among her most notable work is the transformation of the British Garrison Chapel in Valletta into the Malta Stock Exchange, a project recognised internationally for its pioneering passive cooling system. She also contributed significantly to the Pinto Stores and Grand Harbour Cruise Terminal masterplan, which received the Europa Nostra Award in 2006.
In 2016, she co-founded Openworkstudio, and soon after co-founded NIDUM, the team that won the international competition for the Gozo Museum, an ongoing project under her design direction. Her work has also extended beyond practice through academic contributions, public presentations, and advocacy. She has presented at the United Nations in Paris and more recently at Rue D’Uzès, Paris in 2022, further establishing her as a respected voice in conservation and cultural regeneration.
Since 2006, she has worked closely with Din l-Art Ħelwa and served as a juror for its Architectural Heritage Awards since 2012. Her commitment to architectural discourse and public dialogue continues to influence the local profession and inspire a new generation of architects.
This year’s MASP President’s Award recognises not only her impressive body of work, but also her broader contributions to the architectural community through policy engagement, heritage protection, and a vision
for a more sustainable and respectfully built environment.
As Perit Joanna Spiteri Staines joins the ranks of previous awardees such as Richard England and Conrad Thake, her career stands as a testament to the value of thoughtful, enduring design, and to the power of architecture to preserve identity while embracing change.
Commendations
Stone, Light, and Memory: Breathing
New Life into an 18th Century Palazzino
Just beyond the Urban Conservation Area of Naxxar, Malta, an 18th century palazzino has been thoughtfully reimagined by AP Valletta, a prominent architectural firm celebrated for its sensitive treatment of heritage. Awarded a Special Commendation for rehabilitation and conservation, the project exemplifies how contemporary architecture can respectfully enhance historical structures. In response to increasing urban density, AP Valletta introduced a striking yet subtle intervention: a stone privacy screen. Crafted from Malta’s native franka stone, the undulating screen balances aesthetics and function, restores privacy, and links past to present. Rather than conceal or freeze history, AP Valletta sought to “add a new chapter in the same language,” as described by partner Konrad Buhagiar.
This sculptural screen, inspired by Malta’s historic watchtowers, shields the garden and terrace from encroaching high-rises. Its rhythmic stone fins vary
in spacing and angle, producing a dynamic play of light and shadow. Over time, the surface will develop a patina, blending seamlessly with the aged limestone façade it complements. Beyond visual appeal, the screen addresses privacy, solar control, and spatial enclosure issues often lost in modern development.
Internally, the palazzino’s layout was subtly reconfigured for greater flow and functionality. The former loggia, once a simple farm structure, now serves as the primary living area, opening onto a courtyard framed by original stone walls and fruit trees. A new garden room supports multigenerational living and adaptability.
Among the most transformative features is a multi-level pool garden, carved directly into the site using minimal, stonebased forms that echo the building’s architecture. A green roof planted with native flora enhances energy efficiency and ecological harmony.
Material authenticity guided the entire restoration. Traditional techniques were used to sculpt franka stone, ensuring the new work remains grounded in context. The once-altered façade was carefully restored, with original openings reinstated and stonework conserved.
Rather than mimic or starkly contrast with the old, the new extension grows organically from the existing structure. The result is a balanced, legible composition where modern interventions coexist with historical character.
More than a private renovation, the project offers a powerful model of urban resilience. In a landscape under pressure from development, Palazzino Naxxar demonstrates how architecture can protect heritage while embracing change proving that with care and creativity, old buildings can thrive in the present.
Category
Rehabilitation and Conservation – SPECIAL COMMENDATION AP Valletta
From Ruin to Resonance –
Pjazza 1902
Reimagined
Once a hollow shell marked by fire and decades of neglect, Pjazza 1902 now stands as a compelling example of how heritage can be both preserved and revitalised. The sensitive rehabilitation of this Grade 1 listed British military building in Pembroke led by Perit Samuel Formosa was recently honoured with a Special Commendation in the rehabilitation and conservation category, a recognition that highlights the project’s delicate balance between historical fidelity and contemporary utility.
Constructed in the early 20th century, the building originally functioned as a Junior Ranks Club and Officers’ Mess before being repurposed as the famed Raffles Discotheque in the 1980s. Years of abandonment followed, leaving the internal structure devastated and steel elements corroded. And yet, the architectural essence the limestone shell, its proportions, and civic spirit remained.
Rather than reinventing the structure, Formosa’s team approached it as an act of continuation. The original plan layouts were retained, traditional materials sourced, and existing masonry preserved where possible. A particularly complex challenge emerged with a fire-damaged cast iron beam. Instead of opting for replacement, which would have altered the historical integrity, a new concrete support system was introduced to redistribute the load. This solution preserved the original beam while marking the intervention as distinctly modern clearly legible yet respectfully restrained.
As noted in the jury citation, this Grade 1 scheduled building in Pembroke meticulously preserved its original
footprint and external shell. Instead of expanding outwards, a basement was excavated to house the kitchen, with careful measures taken to protect the existing elevations. Rather than replacing the fire-damaged beam and disrupting the historic structure, a new concrete support system was introduced visibly distinguishing the contemporary intervention while preserving the original.
The excavation of the basement was conducted with surgical precision. Vibration-controlled equipment and temporary structural bracing safeguarded the fragile historic envelope. Original stone slabs were catalogued and reinstated; new ones were introduced sparingly. Modern elements such as lifts, new steel beams, and service integrations were clearly differentiated from the historic shell, establishing a respectful dialogue between eras.
Today, Pjazza 1902 has been reborn as a civic destination, housing a restaurant, a childcare centre, and a gym, programmes that echo its original role as a place of gathering and social life. Its renewed function reinforces a connection between the building and the broader community, allowing memory and heritage to evolve rather than be erased.
“This was an act of continuity rather than change,” explains Perit Samuel Formosa. “We weren’t transforming the building, but uncovering its potential, letting its history guide us to a future it could still serve.”
More than a textbook conservation project, Pjazza 1902 is a study in resilience, innovation, and cultural memory. It demonstrates that with vision and care, even buildings on the brink of ruin can be returned not only to life but to relevance.
Category
Rehabilitation and Conservation Award SPECIAL COMMENDATION
Perit Samuel Formosa
Weathering the Future: monolith25 and the Rise of the Contemporary Vernacular
Rising from a corner plot at the edge of Tal-Ibraġ’s villa zone, monolith25 is anything but modest. Designed by Perit Dawn Fearne for CPM Studio, this bold residential project is the studio’s first complete architectural commission and a striking debut that has earned a Special Commendation in the Residential Architecture category.
The building exudes quiet strength. Its defining feature a 13-metre-high sculptural corner in natural Maltese hardstone appears shaped by centuries of coastal erosion. This textured façade captures changing light throughout the day, creating a dynamic, tactile surface that matures with time. As the jury noted, the water-eroded ribbed design is a tribute to the coastal erosion prevalent in the Maltese Islands, and this use of local hardstone creates a landmark feature that stands out yet harmonises with its low-rise surroundings.
“Drawing on Malta’s 1960s–70s ‘new age vernacular’, monolith25 reinterprets not replicates the past. We wanted something that felt inevitable on that corner” says Fearne. “Something authentically Maltese, designed to age in place.”
The five-unit block, completed in early 2025, includes a maisonette, three apartments, and a duplex capped by a rooftop pool pavilion. Height and volume regulations shaped the massing, inspiring a lightweight, expressive rooftop form rather than a generic penthouse. Facing Wied Għomor, large apertures and balconies frame sunset views, while low hedging tucks the street-level maisonette into the landscape, balancing privacy and openness.
Despite site constraints no underground garage and limited space nothing feels compromised. Building services were cleverly integrated via three internal shafts, and even utility cabinets are clad in honed travertine, echoing the project’s refined material palette. Every decision from a culvert concealing service lines to the layered garden paving reflects careful planning and visual integrity.
The cladding is especially impactful: CNC-scalloped hardstone mimics wave erosion, giving the building a living surface animated by wind, shadow, and sun. As the jury citation affirmed, this sculpted natural block is unique and ever-changing with the weather and time of day, turning architecture into an evolving experience.
Environmental performance was central to the design ethos. Rainwater is collected for irrigation, all paints are water-based, and the structure was optimised to reduce mass. Full LED lighting and passive design strategies ensure energy efficiency. Here, sustainability is not an afterthought it’s embedded into the building’s DNA.
Monolith25 is more than a residential block. It’s a crafted response to context, a reinterpretation of heritage, and a statement of architectural intent. In a landscape often dominated by speculative development, this project shows another way one rooted in culture, collaboration, and care.
With this commendation, CPM Studio and Perit Dawn Fearne stake their claim to the future of Maltese architecture: bold yet restrained, sculptural yet sustainable, and always in conversation with its place.
Category
Residential Architecture Award
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
CPM Studio and Perit Dawn Fearne
Mosta Square: A Civic Space Reclaimed
The revitalisation of Mosta Square marks a pivotal shift in Malta’s urban fabric, a bold and context-sensitive intervention that has earned a Special Commendation in the Open Spaces Award category. At the foot of the iconic Mosta Rotunda, this renewed civic space redefines how architecture, mobility, and community life coexist in one of the island’s most culturally resonant town centres.
For decades, Mosta Square was dominated by vehicles reduced to a congested intersection that muffled its civic and cultural potential. The new design reverses that imbalance, transforming the heart of Mosta into a versatile urban living room. With a level central plaza paved in natural stone and framed by native landscaping, the space now supports daily life, ceremonial occasions, and spontaneous gatherings alike. The intervention honours the grandeur of the Rotunda while restoring a long-lost sense of civic dignity.
As the jury noted, the project is commendable for initiating the transformation of a vehicle-dominated area into a public space. More than a redesign, it reimagines the relationship between heritage, mobility, and contemporary urban life. By introducing strategic landscaping and modular elements, the square remains adaptable throughout the year serving as both a stage for events and a backdrop for everyday life.
Vehicular access has not been eliminated but carefully rebalanced. Traffic now moves along the periphery, guided by material cues, level changes, and planted buffers instead of barriers. This subtle choreography slows movement, fostering a safer, shared environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike an increasingly rare achievement in Malta’s car-centric towns.
The square’s impact has been immediate and visible.
Footfall has increased, breathing new life into nearby businesses. The Local Council now benefits from a dignified venue for public engagement, and the space has hosted everything from community fairs to cultural festivals reaffirming its role as a true civic stage.
Importantly, the project has catalysed a national conversation on the future of urban space. In shifting the centre of Mosta away from traffic and towards people, the intervention questions entrenched assumptions about planning and mobility. As the design team’s Dr Zammit explains, “We didn’t just redesign a square we redefined how public space can serve its community.” This reframing, as the jury highlighted, has “sparked a vital national discussion about pedestrianisation, sustainability, and enhancing quality of life.”
Environmental performance reinforces the project’s civic goals. A locality-wide traffic scheme has eased congestion and improved air quality. Raised planters with native, drought-tolerant species provide shade and cooling while integrating informal seating. Stormwater is managed through permeable paving and embedded drainage, reducing flood risk and enhancing ecological resilience.
What distinguishes Mosta Square is not only its physical transformation but its philosophical one. It embraces complexity historic, climatic, social and responds with clarity, flexibility, and care. In doing so, it sets a benchmark for future urban interventions across Malta.
Mosta’s renewed square is more than a successful project it’s a precedent. A civic space reclaimed, a public heart revived, and a powerful reminder that great places begin by putting people first.
Category
Open Spaces Award
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
Studjurban
From Runway to Renaissance: Ta’ Qali’s Formal Garden Blossoms
Anew
The Formal Garden at Ta’ Qali has been transformed into a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable public space, earning a Special Commendation in the Open Spaces Award category for its exemplary rehabilitation. This redevelopment honours the original 1990s vision of architect Joseph M. Spiteri, while responding to Malta’s modern need for accessible green spaces. Spanning over 60,000 square meters, the garden sits on a former RAF runway and industrial land, with a central axial layout aligned to Mdina’s skyline, symbolically connecting Malta’s historic and contemporary identities.
The project’s design is grounded in classical European garden principles, and thus its emphasis on geometric symmetry, clear sightlines, and a structured arrangement of paths, planting beds, and central water feature. A new main entrance reinforces this formality, providing a grand central perspective throughout its space.
Improvements include 26,000 square meters of paving, the restored fountain and portico, a multi-use plaza, upgraded street furniture, and advanced lighting. Botanically, the garden features over 1,000 mature trees, 23,000 shrubs, and 20,000 seasonal plants, offering dynamic colour and biodiversity all year-round.
The project integrates modern amenities with culturally and community-focused spaces. It features stylish new sanitary facilities and a fully refurbished Greek theatre, now enhanced by a multimedia art gallery located beneath its seating. Both amphitheatre and gallery provide dedicated platforms for performances, exhibitions, and workshops. And while these additions serve practical and aesthetic purposes, they transform the garden not only into a multifunctional space for leisure, fitness, horticultural education, but also artistic events.
Sustainability is a core principle of the redesign of the Formal Garden. To combat poor soil quality and erosion, soil regeneration techniques, such as the use of native plants, addition of organic matter, and mulching, were implemented. Water conservation measures encompass three restored reservoirs for rainwater harvesting, a drip irrigation system, and culverts for groundwater recharge. These features enhance climate resilience and minimise environmental impact.
The project also champions inclusivity and creativity. Bold, curved sculptural structures house stylish, genderneutral toilets whose rainbow-coloured doors are inspired by the original Gilbert Baker’s eight-coloured Pride flag. These are a powerful visual statement about diversity and equality, a rare find in Maltese public spaces.
Importantly, the garden’s redevelopment was community-driven, shaped by public consultations and collaborative planting events. This participatory approach fostered a strong sense of ownership and belonging.
Perit Lawrence Buttigieg of the Public Works Department describes the garden as more than a restoration calling it a “Living tribute to Malta’s past and a forward-looking model of public space that embodies sustainability, innovation, inclusivity, and community engagement.”
Category
Open Spaces Award
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
Public Works Department
Tracks of Memory: A Cultural Revival at Ġnien L-Istazzjon
At the heart of Attard, where memories of the old Vapur tal-Art still echo in collective memory, a modest yet deeply meaningful intervention has brought back more than just a building it has reawakened a sense of place. The newly inaugurated cultural and educational centre by Architecture XV, commissioned by the Attard Local Council, stands not simply as a structure, but as the realisation of a long-cherished civic ambition.
For years, the Council had envisioned a space dedicated to education and lifelong learning one that would resonate with local history while providing functional, forward-facing infrastructure. That vision came closer to reality in 2020, when European funding was secured to transform this aspiration into a built legacy. The location was poignant: Ġnien l-Istazzjon, the site of the former Attard Railway Station, long lost to wartime destruction but still vividly remembered by residents. This was more than a building plot, it was a symbol.
The new building’s footprint deliberately echoes the dimensions of the Victorian station that once occupied this place. Drawing on meticulous historical research including rare photographs and original blueprints, the architects recreated the front and side elevations, as well as the signature canopy. But this is no replica. The design delicately balances nostalgia with functionality. While the façade restores the charm of the 19th-century structure, the interiors embrace contemporary needs through a carefully planned, multipurpose programme.
Inside, the compact volume is smartly split over two floors. The ground level accommodates a reception, lecture and exhibition space, along with sanitary facilities. Upstairs, a small library, children’s area, and quiet reading
room make up a calm, light-filled upper storey. Access is provided via both staircase and elevator, ensuring full accessibility. Cleverly, the four large doorway openings on the lower level allow the interior to extend outward in fine weather, blurring the boundary between garden and building, indoor and outdoor learning.
The surrounding context also informed the architecture. Ġnien l-Istazzjon is not just a park; it is a living botanical record, with several of its mature trees planted over a century ago by railway engineers. A more assertively modern proposal was initially entertained, but ultimately it was the spirit of the place, its romance and memory that guided the final approach. As Perit Edward Said, the architect responsible for this project, notes: “This wasn’t about nostalgia for its own sake, it was about restoring continuity. The architecture had to respond not just to what once stood here, but to what the community still carries within it.” The result is a building that sits quietly and confidently within its environment, serving as both a landmark and a tool for knowledge.
From an environmental perspective, despite its scale, the building integrates passive strategies where possible. A skylight and shaded north-facing double-glazed apertures allow natural light to enter both floors without overheating. The roof incorporates thermal insulation, and the rear elevation takes on a more contemporary expression, accommodating essential amenities while clearly distinguishing new from old.
Though compact in size, the project’s ambition, care and cultural resonance are what earned it a special mention in the Commercial and Public Buildings category.
As noted by the jury, through this project, the Attard Local Council realized its long-held dream of a dedicated cultural centre. This centre is strategically placed within Ġnien l-Istazzjon and features a new facility, built on the footprint of the station building destroyed decades ago, also revitalising this popular public garden. The admirable choice was made of maintaining an aesthetic that references the railway-era and despite its small size, a multi-purpose design was achieved across two floors. The ground floor hosts a reception, lecture space, and interpretive material, while the upper floor features a library, children’s section, and quiet reading room, thoughtfully designed to maximise the site’s potential.
The new centre at Ġnien l-Istazzjon is a model of how architecture can engage memory without becoming trapped by it, and how even modest buildings can carry significant civic weight. In this project, history is not merely preserved, it is activated, enabling the past to inform the future.
Category
Commercial and Public Buildings
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
Architecture XV
The Digital Core: GO plc’s New Technology Campus
The GO Technical Centre in Bulebel, designed by AP Valletta, is a technology campus that seamlessly integrates infrastructure, sustainability, and human-focused design.
Comprising five distinct yet interconnected buildings, a data centre, office blocks, a gateway building, and a repurposed warehouse, the campus is arranged around fixed underground cable ducts that dictated the masterplan layout. Rather than imposing monolithic volumes, the architecture prioritises human scale, daylight, and connection. Rooftop gardens, breakout spaces, and triple-height atria support well-being and spontaneous interaction.
Key environmental strategies include rainwater harvesting, green façades, and extensive use of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). Facades of Blocks B and D feature custom-designed brise-soleil systems of amorphous silicon PV panels, reducing solar gain while generating 1.5MWhp of energy, enabling the site to achieve net zero operational carbon. Parametric tools informed daylighting, heat gain, and energy simulations, ensuring compliance with EU Level(s) sustainability benchmarks. Material performance, solar access, and thermal mass were optimised across all buildings.
A restrained industrial palette of corrugated steel, concrete, and glass reinforces the campus’s technological identity. Particularly striking is Block A, the data centre,
conceived as a sealed, modular container wrapped in folded steel cladding that conceals services and enhances thermal performance. Every design decision from circulation bridges to a sculptural concrete staircase reflects an intelligent, systems-thinking approach that serves both technical function and human experience.
Every decision made in the GO Technical Centre reflects a holistic understanding of space, performance, and human experience. From the largest-scale infrastructural logic to the smallest tactile detail like the materiality of precast stair treads or the precise placement of a skylight, the architecture integrates design excellence with operational functionality. In doing so, AP Valletta has delivered a campus that not only performs to the highest technical standards but also elevates the everyday experience of those who inhabit it. The result is a model for how technology, sustainability, and humanity can coexist in architecture not in competition, but in synergy.
The jury commended the GO Technical Centre as it demonstrates how highly technical, infrastructureheavy programmes can be delivered with architectural integrity and spatial generosity. Through a rigorous, systems-based approach, AP Valletta achieved a complex that foregrounds sustainability, staff well-being, and longterm adaptability, setting a new benchmark for industrial architecture in Malta.
Category
Commercial and Public Buildings
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
AP Valletta
Illuminating Heritage: Casa Ursula
Tucked within a narrow 19th-century building in Valletta, Casa Ursula is a masterclass in architectural sensitivity and spatial innovation. Recently awarded a Special Commendation for Interior Architecture Residential Projects, the project by Openworkstudio reflects how thoughtful design can transform even the most complex of spaces into a graceful and light-filled home.
At its core, the project involved reimagining a long and fragmented residence into a cohesive two-bedroom apartment. The original layout, dark and narrow with little natural light (either one or the other) and compromised privacy, presented a difficult canvas as it already had been through various alterations at different times in the past. But through an approach rooted in both respect for the building’s historical fabric and a strong design narrative, Casa Ursula was reborn as a functional and surprising home.
“Working within the constraints of a narrow footprint required that we reframe the concept of flow and connectivity,” explains Perit Joanna Spiteri Staines, on behalf of Openworkstudio. “Rather than pushing against the building’s limitations, we allowed light, spatial rhythm, and the original materiality to guide our interventions. It was about enhancing what was already there.”
The team’s design vision focused on minimising the corridor-like feel of the narrow plan. Walls were selectively opened to create a continuous visual link from the streetfacing entrance to the back of the apartment. The main floor now welcomes visitors into a generous, open living space formed by uniting three previously separated rooms, this remains visible in the retained traditional cement tiles of the originally separate rooms, which have now been reframed with a new border to create a cohesive whole. In this way each area retains its historical charm, complete with gallariji overlooking the city.
A key innovation of the project lies in how light was reflected throughout. Natural light filters in via internal shafts and courtyards, while reflective materials and double-height spaces amplify brightness and create a sense of volume. The new interventions use different materials to enhance the flow and light throughout. The introduction of a mezzanine level, enabled by the careful restoration of timber beams, further optimises vertical space and connects the living quarters with the rooftop garden via a striking original spiral staircase.
As the jury citation notes, “this project transformed a challenging, narrow 19th-century residence in Valletta into a functional two-bedroom apartment. Much thought in the design was given to maximising natural light and creating an inviting, corridor-free flow …By using interlinked spaces, double-height areas, and reflective materials, the renovation aimed to improve connectivity while honouring the building’s original fabric.”
The project also cleverly reveals layers of architectural history. As partitions and paint were stripped away, previously hidden structures were uncovered including an A-frame timber structure, which now plays a central decorative role in the interior as well as retaining its
structural role. These discoveries were not concealed but celebrated, becoming part of the visual storytelling embedded in the home.
Sustainable practices played a quiet but crucial role. The building’s inherent thermal mass was retained, with additional insulation, restored timber apertures, other retained elements such as the old railings and tiles, LED lighting, and energy-efficient systems subtly integrated to improve comfort while preserving character with many of the original features which were not only preserved but enhanced. Nothing went to waste and the interventions were all site specific, making it a unique project.
In Casa Ursula, the past and present coexist not in conflict, but in conversation. It is a project that doesn’t overpower its historic shell but gently opens it up allowing light, function, and life to fill the spaces once again.
Category
Interior Architecture for Residential Projects
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
Openworkstudio
Casa Bormlisa: A Contemporary Dialogue with Maltese Tradition
Tucked within the historic fabric of Bormla, Casa Bormlisa is a restored Maltese townhouse that surprises and delights at every turn. Awarded a Special Commendation for Interior Architecture for Residential Projects, the project exemplifies how thoughtful design can preserve heritage while introducing fresh spatial narratives. Originally derelict and constrained by its narrow footprint and internal courtyard, the home has been reimagined to host families visiting Malta balancing tradition, innovation, and functionality.
From the moment one steps inside, the transformation is clear. The restored limestone façade gives way to a dramatic aubergine-hued vaulted entrance, setting a tone of contrast and curiosity. This colour, bold against the natural stone, hints at the layered experience that lies ahead. As guests move inward, they encounter a courtyard that is no longer a static void but a central sculptural space animated by geometric openings, suspended volumes, and a masterful use of light and shadow.
The project introduces a bold architectural gesture: a “gap” between the existing fabric and a new extension. This detachment allows light and air to circulate freely, transforming the courtyard into a dynamic core. Suspended volumes and a slim bridge weave through this space, guiding circulation and shaping semi-outdoor areas. These 3D interventions provide not only spatial drama but crucial ventilation and natural light for the units surrounding the courtyard.
As the jury citation notes, Casa Bormlisa redefines how interior architecture can use contemporary design to respect, adapt, and enhance historical contexts and take it beyond conventional renovations. The use of small apertures, sculpted forms, and clean materials such as whitewashed walls, terrazzo tiles, and exposed timber creates a distinctly Mediterranean aesthetic while maintaining a sense of play and modernity. The layering of solids and voids adds interest to every room overlooking the courtyard, creating a living architecture that changes with the light throughout the day.
The interior layout was carefully reconfigured to host four distinct guest units. The design balances openness with privacy, using arches and recessed volumes to define space subtly. At the upper levels, semi-outdoor terraces and suspended rooms are organised with precision, enhancing the experience of movement and discovery. A sense of quiet drama unfolds as guests move upward guided not by corridors, but by light, texture, and unexpected views.
Perit Katja Abela, one of the project architects, reflects: “Casa Bormlisa is about revealing the unexpected not by overpowering the old, but by working with it. We wanted to create an emotional architecture, where each room, each light shaft, each shadow tells a story of contrast and connection.”
By blending sculptural geometry with traditional materials and sustainable design principles, Casa Bormlisa reinvents the Maltese townhouse for contemporary living. It is an architectural dialogue subtle yet striking, respectful yet daring that transforms not just a building, but the way we experience space itself.
Category
Interior Architecture for residential projects
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
Architecture Three Sixty
Skyline Beneath the Trees: Victoria’s Green
Horizon
Urban transformation rarely happens quietly, and yet Victoria Parks, the award-winning masterplan by Doric Studio, reimagines a city’s centre not through disruption, but through harmony. Winner of a Special Commendation for Urban Planning, this visionary project radically rethinks Victoria, Gozo’s capital, as a pedestrianfirst ecosystem-one where infrastructure, ecology, and cultural identity merge seamlessly into an urban environment designed for people, not just vehicles.
The jury described the project as one that aims to transform Victoria’s urban landscape by prioritising people and nature. They praised its ambition to shift the focus from vehicles to pedestrians and recognised its success in creating a connected green network that improves accessibility, biodiversity, and community wellbeing. Linking key urban landmarks such as Victoria Square, San Franġisk Square, and Villa Rundle Gardens through continuous pedestrian pathways, the project fosters a harmonious balance between urban life and natural environments. In doing so, Doric Studio’s proposal sets a new standard for sustainable urban design, positioning Victoria as a model for future human-centric development.
At the heart of the proposal is a simple but bold shift: from car-centric planning to human-centric living. Doric Studio’s plan deftly stitches together Victoria’s primary urban nodes Victoria Square, San Franġisk Square, the central bus station, and the historic Villa Rundle Gardens via a continuous, elevated sky walk made of timber and steel. This sinuous pathway arcs over roads and through treetops, creating a serene promenade above the city’s bustle. Beyond its function as connective tissue, the sky walk is also an experience: scenic, accessible, and poetic in its relationship to the surrounding landscape.
“Urban planning is often a negotiation between what exists and what’s possible,” reflects Perit Frank Muscat, lead architect at Doric Studio. “With Victoria Parks, we challenged ourselves to imagine a future city that doesn’t just function better, but feels better for every resident, visitor, and species that calls it home.”
Inclusivity is more than an idea in this plan, it’s embedded in the very structure. The sky walk is designed with universal access in mind, incorporating ramps, lifts, and wide paths to accommodate wheelchairs, cyclists, strollers, and the elderly. Its vertical cores clad in locally inspired mosaic artworks are not just infrastructural necessities but visual celebrations of Gozitan identity, transforming utility into cultural expression.
Below this elevated plane, surface-level space is liberated. A new subterranean parking structure discreetly removes vehicle clutter from sight, making way for gardens, recreational areas, and public squares. This reallocation is both practical and symbolic: a reclaiming of space for people, plants, and community life. The result is a cityscape softened by greenery, where every path, pitch, and plaza contributes to a healthier urban metabolism.
Environmental resilience is foundational to the design. Green roofs crown the bus station and other key structures, not only offering shade and comfort but acting as micro-habitats for native flora and fauna. Permeable pavements facilitate natural water absorption, reducing runoff and the risk of flooding. Meanwhile, a thoughtfully integrated irrigation system supports biodiversity with drought-resistant plantings tailored to Gozo’s climate.
What elevates the Victoria Parks project is its holistic vision. A relocated football pitch now adjacent to restaurants and public facilities becomes a social magnet, encouraging active, intergenerational use. Walking paths wind past play areas and cultural landmarks, blending movement with moments of pause. Smart kiosks and wayfinding systems tie it all together, creating a navigable city that is as intuitive as it is engaging.
The impact is also aesthetic. Visitors and residents are offered new vantage points of the Citadel and surrounding valleys. The elevated pathways don’t just connect, they reframe the experience of the city. Each crossing becomes a view, each step an interaction with light, air, and heritage.
In a time when cities around the world are rethinking their urban identities, Victoria Parks offers a blueprint grounded in sustainability, culture, and empathy. It’s not just a greening of space it’s a greening of urban purpose. Through innovative infrastructure, ecological integration, and deep respect for place, Doric Studio has imagined a city not defined by traffic, but by connection.
Category
Urban Planning Concept
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
Doric Studio
Crossing Lines: MA Architects Reclaim
Malta’s Coast Road for People
Stretching along Malta’s northeastern edge, the Coast Road has long served as both a vital artery and a divisive line facilitating traffic while isolating communities from the natural beauty around them. A bold proposal by MA Architects, awarded a Special Commendation in the Urban Planning Concept Category, aims to flip that narrative.
Rather than a high-speed barrier, the design reimagines the Coast Road as a connected, sustainable corridor, a place to move not just through, but within. Extending from St. Julian’s to St. Paul’s Bay, the plan introduces a dedicated off-street bicycle route, a sheltered pedestrian promenade, and safe, elevated crossings that reconnect towns and nature long divided by traffic infrastructure.
As noted in the jury citation, the project aims to transform this barrier into an integrated urban space, creating essential linkages and a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists. By extending Pembroke’s trail networks and protecting non-vehicular movement, the Coast Road is redefined as a healthier, more inviting public realm.
For Perit Mark Arrigo, lead architect at MA Architects, the project goes beyond infrastructure.
“We saw an opportunity to change the narrative from one of separation to one of connection. This isn’t just about safer transit; it’s about giving the public their coast back.”
A defining feature is an elevated pedestrian platform, anchored mostly to existing retaining walls to minimise environmental impact. Built from galvanised steel and composite decking, it withstands the coastal climate while offering panoramic views, a visual reward for walkers, joggers, and cyclists alike.
But this isn’t just a route it’s an experience. Sheltered rest zones and community nodes punctuate the journey, creating spaces for gathering, reflection, and pause. Design alternates between safety enclosures and open-air lookouts, enhancing variety while maintaining security.
From an infrastructural standpoint, modular construction allows adaptability and easier maintenance. Carefully planned crossings ensure pedestrian and cyclist flows remain uninterrupted. At key junctures, raised overpasses guide users safely across traffic without impeding vehicles.
Environmental sensitivity is a cornerstone of the proposal. Unlike road expansions that erase ecosystems, this plan respects topography and biodiversity, encouraging low-carbon commuting without heavy excavation or disruption.
Most compelling, however, is its civic ambition. By reconnecting Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, Pembroke, and beyond, the design weaves communities together, turning passive travel into active engagement. These trails don’t just bridge geography they restore relationships with place.
Ultimately, MA Architects’ Coast Road concept is more than an infrastructure plan. It’s a vision of what Malta’s public spaces can become: inclusive, sustainable, and attuned to the human scale. It transforms a longstanding divide into a shared asset, where movement becomes meaning and where the journey is finally as important as the destination.
Category
Urban Planning Concept
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
MA Architects
Where the Living Find Rest: Gary James Ghirxi’s
Vision for a New Kind of Cemetery
In an era where architecture is often dictated by density, efficiency, and relentless growth, Gary James Ghirxi has dared to pause and to invite others to do the same. His award-winning thesis, “Restorative Space for the Living within a Space for the Dead,” reimagines the cemetery not as a static landscape of grief, but as a transformative public space, a sanctuary where contemplation, spirituality, and community converge.
For this bold and deeply humanist vision, Ghirxi was awarded a special commendation in architectural recognition. The jury praised the project for demonstrating exceptional maturity in its concept and design, noting its remarkable inclusivity and deep exploration of themes of death and consolation. They described it as a place that utilises spirituality to transform perceptions of life, death, and belonging, and emphasised its national significance: The concept is for the Necropolis Park to serve as a vital spiritual green space, not only for nearby villages like Santa Luċija and Paola but also for the entire nation, establishing it as a destination for remembrance and reflection.
Set adjacent to Malta’s revered Santa Marija Addolorata Cemetery, Ghirxi’s project introduces the Necropolis Park and Thanatorium, a sprawling, green, and inclusive burial landscape that does far more than serve the dead. “Cemeteries,” he says, “have always been places of permanence but permanence must not mean paralysis. We can honour the past while offering spaces for the living to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with the rhythms of life.”
The project’s foundational idea that burial spaces can become restorative environments for the living responds to Malta’s increasingly homogenous and overstimulated urban fabric. Ghirxi identifies a critical lack of spiritual and contemplative spaces in contemporary cities, arguing that urban development has evolved into an oppressor, eroding any architecture of reprieve. In this context, the
cemetery becomes a final frontier a remaining sanctuary capable of offering stability without stasis, ritual without rigidity.
At an urban scale, the Necropolis Park offers a green lung for the surrounding villages of Santa Luċija, Paola, Tarxien, and Luqa. But its reach is national serving as a multi-faith, multi-cultural hub where remembrance meets renewal. Within the park, the Thanatorium challenges the rituals of loss and commemoration by offering a place for inclusive mourning, blending practical services with evocative, meditative architecture.
Minimal yet thoughtful intervention defines the technical execution. The park is shaped by landscaped mounds, formed from excavated material, stabilized with sustainable geotextile systems. Burials employ ecoconscious methods like cremation and bio-urns, doing away with heavy excavation and traditional headstones. The Thanatorium itself is constructed from carbonnegative, beige-pigmented concrete, reinforced to support water gardens and trees above, providing literal and symbolic life above death.
Strategically placed reservoirs support both ecological functions and human comfort, while waste-heat recovery systems and alkaline hydrolysis chambers make the cremation process dramatically more sustainable. Native tree planting, flood-resilient landscaping, and evaporative cooling complete an environmental strategy that’s as holistic as it is necessary in Malta’s traffic-choked, heatsusceptible context.
What truly sets the project apart, however, is its philosophical clarity. By creating a “Thin Space” a term borrowed from Celtic spirituality to describe places where the veil between worlds grows thin, Ghirxi collapses binaries: life and death, urban and spiritual, public and personal. It is a sensitive yet radical proposition that draws on global best practices and local ethnographic research, reimagining not just a site, but an entire cultural attitude toward mortality and memory.
The design doesn’t flinch from the spiritual though it is spiritual, not religious. It embraces Malta’s shifting identity, offering a space that welcomes diversity in belief and origin. In doing so, it creates not just a cemetery, but a living archive of the people who shape the island native or migrant, secular or devout.
“This project is about acceptance,” Ghirxi reflects. “It’s about creating a space that holds memory without excluding difference, where every person, no matter their background, can feel part of a shared story.”
Gary James Ghirxi’s work invites a broader conversation: what happens when we stop designing solely for productivity and start designing for presence? His thesis is an architectural manifesto for compassion, reflection, and environmental stewardship a quiet revolution in a world that sorely needs it.
Category
Outstanding students project SPECIAL COMMENDATION
Mr Gary James Ghirxi
Riding the Wave: Riccardo Gatt Ellis
Rethinks Urban
Regeneration Through the Spirit of the Regatta
In a powerful demonstration of how architecture can confront social stigma, rekindle cultural heritage, and foster sustainable development, architecture student Riccardo Gatt Ellis has received a Special Commendation and the Public Vote Award for his thesis project, “Turbulence: Rethinking the Pursuit of Profits, Power, and Pleasure.” This ambitious proposal reimagines the neglected Bridge Wharf area of Marsa, Malta, through the revitalization of the Regatta Club House, transforming a space steeped in industrial history and cultural significance into a vibrant symbol of community regeneration.
Rooted in a sharp critique of Malta’s recent construction boom and its socio-economic consequences, Gatt Ellis’ project ventures far beyond architectural design. It questions the direction of national development by foregrounding community well-being, cultural memory, and sustainable practices over unchecked financial gain. His intervention is not simply about rebuilding a space but about reclaiming identity and rewriting narratives in a place long overshadowed by abandonment and social exclusion.
Historically the heart of Malta’s power infrastructure, the Bridge Wharf has since fallen into disrepair. Yet for centuries, it has also played host to Malta’s beloved rowing tradition, with biannual regatta races uniting communities across the Grand Harbour. Gatt Ellis taps into this enduring heritage by anchoring his vision in the Regatta Club House, a dynamic, multifunctional facility tailored to both athletes and the public, combining training pools, exhibition halls, community spaces, and educational programs into a seamless architectural experience.
As the jury citation notes, this project skilfully draws inspiration from international designs to create a community hub for a beloved local sport, the Regatta. Situated within a masterplan for a revitalized port area, the thesis centres on the Regatta Club House and additional complementary initiatives. The goal is to establish a vibrant social space that reconnects the community with Malta’s wider urban fabric. This revitalisation aims not only to physically restore the area but also to reinvigorate the cultural significance of the Regatta tradition, ensuring its enduring vitality within the community’s identity.
Crucially, the design balances ambition with accessibility. Strategically arranged interiors enhance flow and user interaction, while inclusive features accommodate individuals of all abilities. The project
integrates a local produce market, a theatre school, and a connectivity hub to foster broader community interaction, reconciling the past with the future in a vision that is as socially ambitious as it is architecturally refined.
Technically, the project is as rigorous as it is visionary. A portal frame structural system provides flexibility and resilience against wind and seismic loads, supported by cross-bracing for added stability. Materials are thoughtfully selected sustainably sourced timber, high-strength steel, modular construction techniques, and renewable energy systems underscoring a deep commitment to environmental responsibility. The incorporation of photovoltaic panels, passive ventilation, green roofs, and rainwater harvesting elevates the building from a place of gathering to a model of energy independence and ecological sensitivity.
More than just sustainable, the proposal is innovative, leveraging intelligent building systems and adaptable spaces while rooting the design in local culture. Public participation played a key role in shaping the final vision, with community feedback informing both layout and purpose. Gatt Ellis reaffirms that architecture is not a solitary act, but a civic one. As he explains:
I wanted to design something that didn’t just fill a space but give it back to the people. This project is about creating pride, reconnecting communities, and proving that development doesn’t have to mean destruction of identity.
His work has sparked dialogue among professionals and citizens alike, inviting a new era of Maltese architecture where the pursuit of profits, power, and pleasure is tempered by responsibility, respect, and regeneration.
With Turbulence, Riccardo Gatt Ellis presents more than a thesis, he delivers a visionary blueprint for the future of Malta, one where architecture becomes an agent of cultural healing and sustainable transformation.
Category
Outstanding Students project SPECIAL COMMENDATION Public Vote Awards
Ladders to Language: A Skyward Library at Villa Frere
In a poetic blend of preservation and play, a student project has earned a Special Commendation in the Outstanding Student Project category for its imaginative vision for a forgotten corner of Malta’s historic Villa Frere. Rooted in cultural memory and architectural restraint, the design reinterprets a partially collapsed structure not as a loss, but as a layered space of possibility where architecture becomes both archive and adventure.
Villa Frere, once a gathering place for poets and diplomats, holds particular significance as the birthplace of the Maltese written language. Here, Mikiel Anton Vassalli and Hookham Frere worked to formalise Maltese as a language to be taught and preserved, laying the foundation for Malta’s literary identity. Today, that legacy is honoured not through reconstruction, but through reinvention.
As noted in the jury citation, the design re-envisions the library experience through an innovative approach, celebrating neglected spaces rather than simply restoring them. It focuses on adapting a semi-derelict area within Villa Frere Gardens, transforming two rooms into an open-air void through which children can pass as they explore the library. The project rekindles public interest in the villa’s cultural significance, reviving its connection to the Maltese language in a way that is tangible and engaging.
At its heart is a sculptural library structure that rises through the vertical void left by the collapse, its steel frame echoing the beams that once supported upper floors. Perforated panels double as bookshelves, while a playful ladder and netted platforms create a multi-level,
climbable experience. As visitors ascend, reading becomes physical, social, and exploratory.
This is no ordinary library, it’s a dynamic space of discovery. Whether pausing on a suspended platform with a book in hand or climbing toward a balcony with panoramic views, users are invited to interact with Maltese literature in a setting that merges the cerebral with the spatial.
Technically, the intervention is light-touch and reversible. Anchored only at top and bottom, the structure avoids
compromising the existing masonry. Tension cables support the platforms, and original beams are sensitively reinforced. Natural ventilation and daylight flood the space, eliminating the need for mechanical systems and reinforcing sustainable preservation. But what elevates the project beyond architectural ingenuity is its cultural resonance. By rooting the intervention in the story of language itself, the student turns a collapsed ruin into a living tribute, one that encourages ongoing participation and reflection.
More than a heritage intervention, this project redefines how we learn and remember. It turns ruins into catalysts, and language into something that can be climbed, discovered, and shared in motion. In doing so, it delivers not just a library, but a living space for Malta’s evolving narrative.
Category Outstanding Student Project SPECIAL COMMENDATION
Sarah Vella, Stefan Scerri, Jodie Azzopardi and Nikolai Mercieca
The Entries
33 Creekside, Msida CP Partners
The interior design concept was carefully planned, visually themed, evoking a specific mood by strategically using unity, proportions, contrast, details and style. As well as considering aesthetic design, the interior focused on the functionality and material construction of inner spaces. The conceptual design involved understanding the idea of what one wanted to achieve through the project, and transforming the design into a pleasing ready to move into commercial space. The objectives included maximising natural light, minimising noise levels, creating a sense of spaciousness and incorporating storage solutions and retail space.
The project demonstrates excellency in a newly constructed, contemporary interior and deserves the prestigious recognition of outstanding design, that is distinguished by creativity, ingenuity and intelligence.
A Green Expansion, San Gwann (X,Y,Z) Architecture & Design
San Gwann’s topography, situated between two valleys, has significantly shaped its urban, social, and ecological development. The proposed masterplan aims to reconnect fragmented social and green hubs through a network of green corridors and enhanced urban nodes, focusing on the regeneration of the area in front of the San Gwann parish church.
An analysis of San Gwann’s social fabric reveals that most educational, cultural, sporting, social, and volunteer organizations are concentrated in one area, which we have designated as the “principal social activity” zone. However, these spaces are fragmented by local roads, limiting cohesion. Additionally, the absence of a formal social center, such as a central piazza, leaves these entities underrepresented. Community feedback highlighted the need to close Vjal ir-Rihan and divert traffic during
specific events to facilitate social gatherings. This highlighted the potential of the area in front of the San Gwann Parish Church for creating a central communal space.
The area was found to be underutilised and fragmented, with potential for flexible land use, recreational zones, and sustainable development. In collaboration with Project Green and extensive community consultations, the design consolidates the existing 2,200m² of scattered green space, transforming the whole area into a 9,500m² urban green lung. An ongoing separate project will be relocating displaced on-street parking underground, creating a multi-modal parking area that accommodates cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, promoting alternative transport.
The redesign of the land occupied by the bocci club will include a new community centre beneath the bocci pitch, offering government services, local council offices, medical facilities, and a multi-purpose hall. Additional communal spaces such as workshops, a gardeners’ room, open-air theater, basketball court, and running track will be integrated, drawing from traditional and local construction methods.
Sustainability is central to the masterplan, with strategies for flora and fauna preservation, water management, and ecological sensitivity. Over 400 new trees will be planted, and water retention models from nearby valleys will inform natural systems and sustainable drainage, fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem.
A Home Reborn: A Harmonious Transformation of Space Light and Volume, San Gwann Studjurban
This residential project, located in San Ġwann (Kappara), Malta, thoughtfully reinvents a Maltese semi-detached typology, seamlessly blending contextual sensitivity with contemporary innovation to create an inspiring family home. Initially a single structure subdivided over time, the existing property presented challenges, including intricate third-party commitments beneath and considerable logistical hurdles due to the site’s depth and structural constraints. The resulting spaces suffered from limited natural illumination, convoluted circulation, and an overall uninspiring user experience.
The project boldly tackles these constraints through strategic, sensitive interventions designed to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Central to this transformation is the creation of a sculptural staircase a graceful, light-filled architectural centrepiece crowned by a thoughtfully positioned skylight that elegantly illuminates its sweeping curves, fundamentally elevating the spatial experience. This element embodies the design intention: to celebrate and dramatise the journey through the home, establishing a seamless dialogue between light, form, and movement.
Externally, the design harmoniously reinterprets the Maltese architectural language, prominently featuring the warmth of Maltese limestone while introducing contemporary volumetric expressions such as cantilevered structures, vertical glazed openings, and carefully articulated geometric interventions. The interplay between solid masonry and transparent elements respects the local context and thoughtfully balances privacy with openness.
Internally, the spatial transformation prioritises fluid connectivity between interior and exterior areas, highlighted by the addition of carefully placed terraces and thoughtfully designed apertures. Bespoke design features including the sculptural staircase illuminated from above by an evocative skylight, the elegantly curved low-wall balustrade, and the bespoke home study create adaptable, interactive, and socially enriching living spaces. These interventions foster a dramatically improved spatial and aesthetic experience, transforming previously uninspired transit spaces into visually engaging and purposeful areas.
Sustainability is integral to the design. Thoughtful passive design strategies substantially reduce energy demands, including optimised daylight penetration from strategically placed openings and careful thermal insulation enhancements. A commitment to the future integration of photovoltaic technology underscores the home’s forward-thinking approach to ecological responsibility and energy efficiency.
This residential project establishes a benchmark for contemporary Maltese architecture, demonstrating that sensitive, innovative adaptation of existing dwellings can significantly enrich living environments and community aesthetics without resorting to demolition.
Amora, St Julians Khamula Design Ltd
AMORA Restaurant is a sophisticated dining destination that seamlessly blends contemporary elegance with a warm, inviting atmosphere. Designed to create an immersive sensory experience, AMORA embodies a refined yet approachable aesthetic, where every detail from the carefully curated materials to the harmonious interplay of lighting and textures enhances the overall dining journey.
The design concept was driven by the desire to craft a space that not only captivates visually but also fosters a deep emotional connection with its guests. Inspired by the essence of love and passion, symbolized by the name “AMORA”, the interiors exude intimacy and charm, achieved through a balanced fusion of soft curves, rich natural finishes, and thoughtfully layered lighting. The space is meticulously planned to provide both comfort and sophistication, ensuring a memorable experience for every visitor.
Beyond aesthetics, functionality was an intolerably crucial role in the design process. The layout optimises guest flow and operational efficiency, seamlessly integrating the needs of both diners and staff. Carefully selected materials, including warm woods, elegant stone finishes, and bespoke furnishings, contribute to a timeless yet contemporary ambiance that elevates the restaurant’s brand identity.
AMORA Restaurant is submitted for the Interior Architecture Award for Commercial or Public Buildings of the MASP Awards as a testament to its innovative approach to restaurant design. The project stands out for its ability to transform an ordinary dining space into a destination that tells a story, one of passion, comfort, and refined hospitality. Its success is not only reflected in its visual appeal but also in the way it enhances the overall dining experience, making it a deserving contender for this prestigious recognition.
The “Blanche” project is a meticulously designed luxury apartment within Mercury Tower, St. Julian’s, Malta, spanning 63.3 m². The design concept is rooted in a Modern French aesthetic, integrating high-contrast elements with soft neutral tones to create a refined yet contemporary space. A custom-designed black arch serves as the focal point of the living area, providing both a visual anchor and a geometric counterbalance to the apartment’s clean lines. The material palette incorporates natural wood, high-quality lacquers, and custom joinery, ensuring both aesthetic consistency and functional efficiency. Expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing maximises natural light penetration while framing panoramic sea and city views from the 26th floor.
The project’s design strategy emphasises spatial efficiency, seamless material transitions, and a cohesive architectural language. The Modern French aesthetic is expressed through a combination of textured surfaces, monochromatic contrasts, and bespoke detailing. The
black arch on the TV wall establishes a striking yet balanced contrast within the neutral-toned interior, while integrated lighting solutions enhance spatial perception and ambiance. A concealed storage system and a fully integrated laundry space are seamlessly incorporated within the custom-built cabinetry, ensuring a streamlined and clutter-free environment. The built-in bathroom door is designed as part of the millwork, maintaining visual continuity. The strategic use of reflective surfaces and natural wood contributes to an enhanced sense of openness and warmth, reinforcing the apartment’s highend residential character.
Designed for both aesthetic impact and functional optimisation, the apartment maximises its compact footprint through a highly efficient layout. The openplan configuration ensures fluid movement between living, kitchen, and sleeping areas, while built-in storage and a dedicated, concealed laundry space enhance usability without compromising design coherence. The integration of the laundry area within the cabinetry ensures practicality while preserving the apartment’s clean, minimalist aesthetic. The use of durable, highquality materials ensures longevity, while the interplay of natural and artificial lighting strategies enhances spatial depth. The project exemplifies how small-scale residential interiors can achieve a high degree of sophistication through precision in detailing, material selection, and spatial organisation.
A thoughtfully selected blend of materials shapes the façade, responding to the unpredictable parameters of its urban context. Within the surrounding development, the intervention creates a presence that is both playful and timeless. The design channels natural light into the compact interiors while maintaining a strong connection to the exterior. The glass blocks not only enhance the aesthetic but also diffuse natural sunlight, ensuring a comfortable and well-lit workspace for the occupants and staff in the reception area.
This modest intervention along the Sliema seafront underscores how small-scale architecture can yield meaningful impact. A once-static façade was revitalised through the introduction of planters injecting movement, texture, and life into the streetscape. The interplay
Blanche, St Julians
Khamula Interior design
Blockswork, Sliema Archi+
between black steel volumes and greenery heightens the dialogue between solid and void, while the warmth of Maltese hardstone anchors the composition in its local context, while creating visual continuity with the adjacent façades.
Inside, a language of curves and lines sculpts the space, proving that even within compact dimensions, considered design fosters both function and delight. Echoing the rhythmic proportions of the façade, the interior unfolds through horizontal slit windows, maintaining a cohesive architectural narrative. Each zone asserts its own identity, defined through level variations and bespoke joinery, while the open-plan layout ensures fluidity. A restrained, neutral palette acts as a canvas for select accents of colour, introduced through loose furniture pieces. The simplicity and refinement of the lighting, furnishings, and acoustic materials preserve a sense of openness, while also enhancing the acoustic performance and functionality of the space, ensuring it remains both inviting and practical.
living through a nuanced interplay of form, materiality, and function. The intervention is a statement on adaptive reuse, balancing the retention of cultural heritage with innovative design solutions tailored for modern habitation Despite the constraints of its compact footprint, the project achieves a highly functional yet visually compelling composition. Diagonal geometries serve as a fundamental organising principle, delineating zones and guiding movement through a strategic use of colour blocking reflective surfaces, and bespoke joinery. Inspired by the Memphis movement, the scheme employs bold chromatic accents, fostering a spatial dynamism that engages both the occupant and the surrounding urban context. Spaces are not simply delineated but are actively shaped through an interplay of material, light, and perspective, enhancing the perception of volume within the constrained envelope. Architectural heritage preservation is fundamental to the project, with original structural and material elements meticulously restored and integrated, while the locally sourced Maltese limestone extension and custom timber apertures ensure a seamless dialogue between historic and contemporary fabric.
Boomerang – Ġnien Misraħ Kola, Attard
Marion
Said Pullicino
The Blue Room exemplifies the sensitive rehabilitation of a historic Maltese kerrejja, seamlessly integrating contemporary spatial strategies within a 16th-century urban fabric. As the topmost studio within a recently completed luxury guest house, this 28sqm internal space, paired with a 10sqm external terrace, redefines micro-
The purpose of this project was to redesign the layout of the garden – Ġnien Misraħ Kola in Attard. This garden is a public open space that has a number of positive benefits of a socio-ecological nature. There is a number of specific aims that are achieved by the project. These aims are outlined as follows:
Blue Room, Cospicua
Studio NICHE
• To create a recreational space which can be used by everyone, all age groups.
• To implement a blue and green infrastructure.
• To maintain the existing vegetation on site.
In order to be able to do this, a specifc set of elements of blue and green infrastructure were introduced.
The garden implements systems for biological control, encourages pollination, and the use of reservoir to store the freshwater resources required to keep the garden properly irrigated, as well as bioswales and tree pits to ensure that all excess stormwater is collected.
From a sustainability standpoint, the garden’s energy requirement is decarbonised by the extensive use of solar panels to minimise the use of external electricty to power services within the garden.
Ġnien Misraħ Kola implements aspects of climate change mitigation, using specific shading to ensure that the temperature in the context of the garden is managed correctly. The garden also integrates aspects of storm damage limitation, with an implementation of effective and sustainable stormwater drainage in the low lying area to ensure flood prevention.
Water management of the garden is handled by a system of bioswales that provide for the effective management of water resources that are in use by the garden.
From a conservation standpoint, natural habitats will be created in the garden that could host several native species. Ġnien Misraħ Kola can therefore serve as valuable natural context for animal species to settle and to promote genetic diversity.
The fact that Ġnien Misraħ Kola serves as a green corridor for Attard, helps to enhance the natural attributes of the site and allow for pollination. The renovated garden can also serve as a source of investment and employment for people in the area.
The health and wellbeing of residents of Attard is also catered for by this project, with pleasant walking paths designed in the context of the village. The renovated garden implements traffic calming measures, that reduces the speeds at which cars go through the area next to the garden by narrowing the roads and creating chicanes to slow traffic down, combining aesthetic with functional elements.
The educational aspect of the project is also catered for by the design of the garden, which incorporates educational and recreational opportunities for children to experience the botanical richness of the garden and the various species that are planted within it.
Breaking Bread, Ħamrun
Daniel Sammut, Isaiah Riolo, Isaac Briffa, Sean Valentino, Jasmine Pulis
Breaking Bread is a mobile culinary initiative that fosters cultural integration in Malta, where migrant communities often live in parallel with minimal interaction. Using a modular kitchen system, the project brings diverse cuisines directly to pedestrian routes, creating spontaneous encounters between vendors and passersby. By activating vacant urban spaces, it transforms food into a medium for cultural exchange, complemented by music and art. In collaboration with Aditus, the initiative empowers migrant workers and local vendors, promoting inclusivity through shared experiences. Through these organic interactions, Breaking Bread reimagines public space as a platform for connection and cultural dialogue.
Casa Gourgion, Mdina
MODEL & CVC Architecture
Casa Gourgion, arguably the most photographed building in Mdina, has been capturing the imagination of locals and tourists alike for the best part of the last century. The house was built in the 1890s in a neo-gothic style, totally incongruous to the baroque setting of the main square of Mdina. Indeed, the outrage caused by this architectural folly back then, contrasts greatly with the interest and delight Casa Gourgion elicits today.
The primary objective of the project was to return the property to a state as close as possible to the original via a restoration that was to revitalize Casa Gourgion as a sustainable and accessible cultural asset that respects its original character and its landmark status.
The adaptive reuse of this building transformed this private residence into a house museum, showcasing the history of Mdina and the Gourgion family.
Casa Nicola, Qrendi
CPM Projects Studio
Set in the outskirts of rural Qrendi, the interior design of Casa Nicola is about idyllic Mediterranean living. Completed in the early Summer of 2024, the project has yet to be published and is making its debut at these awards under the category of Interior Architecture Award for Residential Projects.
The brief was to merge old and new, indoor and outdoor, and to design a modern-day family home that respects and compliments its rural architecture and aesthetic.
The office was approached in early 2018, at a time when the house’s first set of drawings had already been drawn up by the corresponding architectural team, MMK Studio. The original proposal involved the demolition of the existing staircase and a different layout for the open plan, garden and pool terrace. After taking the project on, the proposal was revised to what we see executed today. Characterised by a large catenary arch, a detail from the original architectural design, the new open plan kitchen/ living/dining space is the heart of the home. This is flanked by two set of gardens: the whitewashed loggia to the front, and the spacious pool and dining area to the rear.
After years of renovation, it is proud to present Casa Nicola as one of CPM Project Studio’s crowning projects. The interiors have the distinguishable timelessness the studio has come to be known for, and the layout serves its users’ daily routines. We feel accomplished knowing that our clients’ brief has been truly fulfilled and that they feel very comfortable in their new home. This is something very relevant in residential architecture and interior design, yet is often overlooked.
Corinthia Palace Guest Room, Attard QP
The guestroom renovation at the historic Corinthia Palace, Malta represents a harmonious fusion of heritage and contemporary luxury. As the first-ever Corinthia hotel, this property carries deep historical significance, making the project a tribute to its legacy while embracing modern comfort.
The scope of the project covered the renovation of typical Executive Garden Guestrooms and merger of the 2 pairs of the typical rooms into a One Bedroom Suite. The design intent was set to respect and enhance the hotel’s architectural heritage while ensuring that the interiors feel fresh, inviting, and sophisticated. By retaining and refining key period details such as decorative corbels and arched portals and complementing them with a soft, airy colour palette inspired by the lush gardens, the design achieves a timeless elegance that resonates with both returning guests and a new generation of travellers.
This project is being submitted in the Interior Architecture Award for Commercial or Public Buildings Category because it exemplifies thoughtful renovation in a historically significant hospitality setting, seamlessly blending heritage preservation with contemporary luxury and functionality. It is a testament to sensitive, design-led adaptation of existing spaces, ensuring that the Corinthia Palace remains an iconic retreat for years to come.
De-Mistifying Ageing in an age-less future, Sliema
Dawn Briscoe
Our bodies want to slow down in old age, but today we go from moving constantly in adulthood to standing still as an older person. This shock to our physical, mental, and emotional states creates isolation between older people and the rest of society. Therefore, as our elderly population grows, we should ask how we should support it and promote an active elderly community that is socially connected to the rest of the population, and that can live independently for as long as possible. The project intends to create gradual transitions in an individual's ageing journey, enabling the person to age at his or her own pace, because no one ages at the same rate.
E-PLAY 24 OFFICES, Sliema Atmosphere Design
The design concept for E-PLAY 24’s new offices aimed at transforming an existing uninspiring workspace into a dynamic, immersive and vibrant environment. The intention was to cultivate a workspace that not only reflected the passion and identity of E-Play 24, but also enhances the overall employee experience by making the office a place where creativity thrives. Our design for these offices seamlessly blend modern sophistication with the rich heritage of sports, creating a dynamic and inspiring workplace that reflects the energy of the industry.
By integrating sleek, contemporary finishes with carefully curated vintage sports memorabilia, we have crafted an environment that balances innovation with nostalgia. Clean lines, high-end materials, and strategic lighting establish a polished, forward-thinking aesthetic, while historic sporting artifacts and retro design elements infuse the space with authenticity and character. This fusion of past and present fosters an atmosphere of motivation and engagement, reinforcing the company’s brand identity and passion for sports. The space is designed to enhance productivity, collaboration, and employee well-being, ensuring that every element from ergonomic workstations to immersive breakout areas supports both focus and creativity.
The result is a workplace that not only celebrates the evolution of sports but also positions E-PLAY 24 at the forefront of the betting industry, inspiring both employees and visitors alike.
Elevated Heritage, Birkirkara Arch-con Atelier
Elevated Heritage is a house of character expansion project which encapsulates the seamless integration of historical architecture with contemporary design. The original two-story house was built using classic materials and techniques, and we added two additional floors while making sure the original building stayed intact. We followed three main principles in the design: authenticity, reversibility, and structural independence. Authenticity was achieved by keeping the old and new sections visually and materially distinct. The design is reversible, meaning the additions can be removed in the future without damaging the original structure. We also made sure the new floors didn’t put any extra weight on the old roof. The project showcases how you can adapt a historic home for modern living while preserving its architectural value.
FIL and Spotingtech new offices, Sliema Box Concept Studio Ltd.
We believe an organisation’s investment in their workplace is best understood as a strategic and symbolic act, an opportunity grounded in an outlook that views architecture as a tool for proposing productive environments which nonetheless actively reflect and advance the company’s ethos and ambitions. More than a backdrop to daily operations, the workplace is therefore recognised as an active agent in imparting values, cultivating culture, and sustaining growth.
Understood in dialogue with two mutually owned yet significantly distinct companies, this design vision emerged from a conceptual process that acknowledged FIL’s and Sportingtech’s unique proposition and shared tech-driven DNA. This called for two autonomous yet interdependent workspaces, each with its own outlook, yet unified within a singular, carefully curated design gesture. This response was guided by a central narrative of symbiosis: two companies, two outlooks, and two spatial conditions, each treated distinctly, yet always conscious of the advantage offered by the other’s presence, both physically and experientially.
The piazza facing banking wing embraces warmer tones and a grounded presence, while the seaward side is cooler, lighter, and more overtly energetic. As a result, FIL’s office spatial experience hinges on fluidity and intuitive flow, while Sportingtech’s seaward space reflects an energetic emphasis on open collaboration and individual authorship. Shared amenities such as the lift lobby and sea-facing canteen were curated to encourage moments of convergence and reinforce serendipitous connection.
Their international outlook furthermore positioned the spaces as tools for reproposing the office space and Malta as resilient alternatives to remote working in a post-pandemic reality. A consciously human centric approach balances the fast pace of tech-based work: a nested strategy using varied ceiling heights and contrasting floor islands breaks down the large floorplate into intimate, human-scale zones, improving ergonomic comfort and acoustics. Throughout, innovative detailing using milled panels and curved partitions propose a fluid, tactile spatial experience while precise spatial programming is paired with custom active lighting achieving environmental efficiency and sustained well-being.
The result is a layered, dynamic environment that transcends conventional workspace interior design, a vibrantly paired space fostering belonging, agility, and a confident sense of future-readiness.
Fortina Piazza, Sliema Dr. Edwin Mintoff Architects
This project reimagines an underutilised urban site through strategic redevelopment using the Floor Area Ratio, resulting in a dynamic public open space that enhances community interaction, ecological sustainability, and urban vitality. Designed with the intention of fostering social engagement and accessibility, the space integrates seamless pedestrian connections, adaptable public amenities, and sustainable landscaping. By reclaiming this site for public use, the project aims to create a landmark urban retreat that balances functionality, aesthetic appeal, and environmental responsibility.
The project is a response to the growing need for high-quality, accessible public spaces within dense urban environments. By leveraging the Floor Area Ratio, the design redistributes built mass to create a generous and well-integrated open area that benefits the surrounding community. The intervention redefines the relationship between private and public realms, ensuring that the space is not only an aesthetic enhancement but also a functional and socially engaging environment. The design considers movement patterns, sightlines, and the experience of the space throughout different times of the day, making it an inclusive and versatile urban asset.
Our design prioritised the creation of open, public spaces. Instead of maximising the built-up area, we dedicated valuable space to a two-level public piazza. This open area serves as a connection between the seafront promenade and Triq Censu Xerri, fostering community engagement and interaction. The provision of sheltered spaces within this piazza addresses the needs of the local community, offering relief from the congested urban environment and enhancing the overall quality of life. This piazza was enhanced with landscaping and paved in limestone and grey marble, holistically tying in the aesthetics of the new building with the historical chapel found within the piazza area. This piazza is also pedestrianised, hence limiting any vehicles and their related pollution close to the building. Additionally, by leaving this open public space, this project is unique as we could ensure that all facades within the overall complex enjoy open views of either the sea itself or alternatively of a breathable, pedestrianised open space enriched with greenery. The façades overlooking the open piazza help to activate and animate this public open space through all times of the day. In summary, the holistic approach to the design of this project considers both architectural excellence and the well-being of the people who will inhabit and interact with the public open space, whether public pedestrians, staff, office employees, hotel visitors or the general public. Through thoughtful integration of elements such as facade design, public spaces, and sustainability features, we aim to contribute positively to the urban fabric of Sliema and create a vibrant, peoplecentric environment.
Gladiolus – Resomatorium and Restorative Gardens, Pieta Elenia Borg
Gladiolus is a student proposal project that envisions a future for the Maltese Islands, focusing on community needs and shifting perspectives on spirituality and death or end of life. Developed as part of my First Year Masters of Architecture coursework in the Architectural Design Stream, this project stemmed from an overarching theme entitled ‘Pieta as’. Drawing from the history of Pietà, feedback from the local community, current events in the Maltese Islands, and independent research, the project explores how architecture can be adapted to create restorative, spiritual spaces.
For many, Pietà is often associated with noise and traffic, an area bustling with students, commuters, and residents. However, through repeated visits and independent exploration, I discovered serene pockets within the locality that exist surprisingly close to the busy main roads. These calm, peaceful spaces inspired me to design a project that blends the natural environment with a new spiritual experience, offering a retreat for the community away from the current fast-paced reality.
Historically, Pietà is known for its association with Ta’ Braxia Cemetery and several other burial grounds, which today have been replaced by social housing, a community band club, and a football ground. Visiting these remaining cemeteries sparked my interest in how spaces associated with end of life could be reimagined. This led me to consider the evolving perspectives on death and spirituality in Malta, where there is a growing shift away
from traditional religious practices toward more personal, spiritual, and restorative experiences.
Considering Malta’s rising population and increasing demand for burial spaces, coupled with the 2019 approval of legislation for cremation facilities, I saw an opportunity to create a space that integrates these practices, by introducing a water cremation (resomation) facility into the fabric of the community. My design aims to move away from traditional notions of cemeteries and religious structures and instead focuses on creating a space that embodies spirituality and restoration.
The selected site incorporates four distinct areas: the Church and Dominican Priory, Casa Gauchi, and two adjacent plots in Triq Santa Monika, Pietà. The design aims to carefully respect the existing landscape and architecture, avoiding demolition. Instead, it introduces subtle interventions puncturing through, adding and excavating to create fluid connections between spaces. This approach allows the space to retain its original character while fostering new experiences.
Ġnien fuq il-Glażiż, Birgu
Doric Studio
The Rehabilitation and Restoration of Ġnien fuq il-Glażiż project combines historical preservation, ecological sustainability, and community-centred design. Situated on the historic Santa Margherita fortifications in Vittoriosa, Malta, this once-abandoned site has been transformed into a thriving public green space while maintaining its rich cultural and natural heritage. The project features carefully conserved defensive walls, lush Mediterranean flora, and modern amenities such as pedestrian pathways, an adventure playground, and a dedicated dog park. Prioritising sustainability, the garden uses natural materials, solar-powered lighting, and ecofriendly infrastructure, minimising environmental impact. The park also fosters community engagement, offering a safe and inspiring environment for families, students, and educators. By blending history, nature, and modern recreational needs, the revitalised garden stands as a model for urban green space development, promoting well-being, education, and biodiversity for present and future generations.
Ġnien
id-dragun, Santa Luċija
Doric Studio
The Chinese Garden project transformed a neglected, overgrown dump site into a beautifully designed Feng Shui-inspired space that extends the existing Chinese Garden of Serenity. Focused on biodiversity and tranquility, the garden provides a peaceful retreat while promoting ecological balance and cultural appreciation. Through innovative design, sustainable practices, and thoughtful landscaping, the project creates an immersive experience where nature and architecture coexist harmoniously.
Green Hydrogen Plant, Ħal Far
John Schembri
There were always two main motivations behind the choice of project, these being the facilitation of ingress of sustainable forms of energy and improving the resilience of the current energy grid. Malta is crudely lacking in both of these aspects, with the vulnerability of our energy systems being crudely exposed in recent summers, where power outages have become widespread as a result of extreme weather conditions. In the end, it was decided that a plant dedicated to the production, storage and distribution of green hydrogen was suitable. In order for hydrogen to be considered green hydrogen, its production process must be powered entirely by renewable sources of energy. To this end, the plant would be connected to an offshore wind farm, a project currently being undertaken by another student, as well as an already-existing onshore solar farm. This would ensure a consistent supply of renewable energy all year round, since the variability of solar and wind energy complement each other well. The scope of a green hydrogen plant was to increase resilience in our energy sector, not only by diversifying the means through which our energy is produced, but also localising it, thus reducing dependence on internationally-sourced energy whilst also decreasing local emissions through more sustainable sources of energy.
Grün Haus, Sliema studio NiCHE.
Grün Haus is a project that redefines the balance between tranquillity, functionality, and contemporary architectural expression. Designed to cater to the evolving needs of a modern family, the project seamlessly integrates storage solutions without compromising the sense of openness and fluidity within the space. Natural light plays a pivotal role, enhanced by carefully selected materials that
diffuse and reflect illumination, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere. The project is submitted for the MASP award as it exemplifies an innovative approach to residential architecture harmonising practicality with aesthetic refinement, ultimately creating a focal point that highlights the external view.
Infrastructural Development focusing on Water and Solid Waste Management, Pembroke
Michela Calleja
Robust infrastructure development is essential for largescale projects like the one outlined in the master plan. Infrastructure planning involves designing the services and facilities necessary for a community to function efficiently. The primary objective of this project is to ensure that the proposed development at White Rocks is self-sufficient, thereby minimising waste disposal beyond the site. This principle serves as the foundation of the detailed design, integrating considerations of feasibility, visual impact, and environmental sensitivity. The main focus of the project were Solid and Water waste management.
The development will implement an advanced automated waste collection system, where solid waste will be transported through subterranean pipelines to a central collection station via an airborne system. A hybrid waste management approach will be adopted, combining a localised collection system with a commercial system serving restaurants and the clubhouse block. Waste from both systems will be transferred to a central waste transfer station. Organic waste will be processed on-site using an in-vessel composter.
Effective water waste management is crucial, given the importance of water as a natural resource. The black and grey water generated within the development will be treated at an on-site packaged sewage treatment facility located near the waste transfer station. Through filtration, the system will produce non-potable water, which will be reused for flushing purposes, promoting sustainability and resource efficiency.
Matthew Cachia Fearne
Initially, I found myself navigating through uncertainty, seeking inspiration from case studies and engaging with fellow Erasmus students to understand their experiences of living in Malta. Their insights highlighted the challenges they faced, particularly in securing affordable housing that catered to student needs. This dialogue, combined with extensive research, helped shape a personal brief grounded in contextual relevance, affordability, and a student-centric approach. Unlike typical rental apartments that many students often resort to, my design specifically addresses the needs of student life while embracing Malta’s unique character. The needs being a sense of community, adaptable spaces and a variety of available rooms offering different pricing for affordable units.
Prioritising community, the design emphasizes central circulation complemented by external corridors that double as balconies. This layout fosters a sense of togetherness, helping students feel welcomed and cultivating a strong sense of belonging.
Kirkop Student Housing, Kirkop
Lembut, Balzan
CVC Architecture Studio
The site previously consisted of a commercial garage, incongruously set within a traditional village core. The existing building was set to be demolished and a new home would rise in its stead. The brief was to build a comfortable, contemporary home for a couple and their three children, whilst being able to house the homeowners’ classic car collection.
The name Lembut means funnel in Maltese; the owner jokingly came up with this name due to the widening shape of the site; and it stuck! This awkward shape, however, presented a number of challenges to the execution of this project. Additionally, it was later discovered that the site was an old, backfilled quarry and therefore could not be excavated. The idea to store the car collection in the basement had to be scrapped, and a new solution had to be sought. This adversity turned out to be the defining feature of this house.
new. By recessing the middle floor, a sense of lightness is introduced, creating a hovering effect that is further accentuated by the use of dark tones and contemporary materials. This language extends across both façades, introducing a rhythmic architectural narrative that subtly integrates with the existing streetscape, while enriching it through quiet refinement.
Every architectural element within the façade has been purposefully introduced. The interplay between arched and square openings echoes the varied apertures of the original townhouse, shaping the flow of natural light and shadow that enrich the interior experience. Steel railings, inspired by traditional wrought ironwork, reinterpret historical craftsmanship in a contemporary manner.
The interior and outdoor spaces embrace warmth through a subdued yet expressive palette, where colour becomes an architectural tool rather than a decorative layer. Green columns, pink beams, and soft curves weave through the design, subtly highlighting the intervention against a neutral and sophisticated backdrop. The result is a space that is both grounded and, a seamless fusion of old and new, memory and innovation, structure and emotion.
The project is an extension to an old corner townhouse, where the architectural intervention unfolds as a dialogue between past and present, respecting the original structure while enhancing its inherent proportions. The composition of volumes was carefully studied to establish a deliberate contrast between the old and the
M31, Mellieha Archi+
Macuda, San Pawl tat-Tarġa
CVC Architecture Studio
Macuda is a fully detached villa on a site of circa 500sqm in the residential area of San Pawl tat-Tarġa. The dwelling has a basement level with an overlying elevated ground floor and first floor level and a smaller built up area at roof level. It is a home designed for a family of six incorporating all necessary amenities for comfortable contemporary living. Maximising on the available spaces and directly linking the interiors to the external surrounding garden areas was a priority in the design scheme ensuring enough room for the various family members as well as for entertaining all year round.
Misraħ iż-Żghir, San Pawl il-Baħar Design &
Technical Resources Ltd
Commissioned by the Local Council, this project reimagines a neglected and uninviting garden into a dynamic public space. Initially briefed as a traditional ‘playing field,’ the design evolved into a broader exploration of how leftover urban spaces in Maltese towns can be transformed into safe, inclusive, and wellintegrated environments.
Previously, the site was a maze of winding walls that created hidden corners, contributing to a sense of unease among residents. Despite being surrounded by homes, the space felt disconnected from its neighbourhood. Inspired by the principles of New Urbanism, the design intervention focused on enhancing visibility and
accessibility, key factors in fostering a vibrant and secure urban realm. By eliminating high walls and awkwardly placed steps and introducing in-ground planters, the garden now benefits from natural surveillance, allowing residents and passersby to feel both welcome and safe. Main paths are derived from the public network and a square or ‘misraħ’ is created, allowing for eyes on the street, following up on Jane Jacobs’ principles.
A core objective was to prevent the space from being monopolised by specific groups, ensuring it remains adaptable for diverse users. The layout integrates interwoven paths and flexible zones that encourage movement and social interaction, whether for daily walkers, parents with young children, or teenagers meeting friends. This balance between openness and programmed activity supports a dynamic mix of users, reinforcing the social fabric of the neighbourhood.
More than just a recreational area, this project serves as a model for reactivating overlooked urban pockets. It demonstrates how small-scale interventions can contribute to a more cohesive public network, enriching community life while providing a distinct urban amenity. Structures and paths are nestled into the existing terrain and colours and intuitive playful elements are used to characterise different spaces for different activities. By prioritising openness, connectivity, and natural surveillance, the space fosters a sense of ownership and shared responsibility, ensuring its long-term success as a vibrant neighbourhood node.
Mosaic house is a collation of tangible constructs, materials, lighting, solids and voids; and of intangible aspects, diverse user identities, individual backgrounds, spatial experiences and social narratives and connections. It is a sanctuary space of introspection but also an institutional interface to the community, negotiating a mosaic of identities of the vulnerable LGBTQ societal group who finds collective shelter and an experience of self-growth under one roof. The project primarily serves a social agenda of a community centre with temporary residences for people in need, designed in a playful sense which evokes interest and introspection as one experiences the different spaces.
Mosaic House, San Ġwann Inguanez Architects
Msida Social Housing, Msida
Samuel Formosa
The Msida Social Housing Project is a strategically planned development aimed at enhancing the urban fabric of Msida Town Centre, specifically within the neighborhood of L-Għajn tal-Ħasselin. This initiative aligns with the Housing Authority’s regeneration strategy, addressing the need for modern, high-quality social housing while integrating seamlessly into the surrounding environment.
The project is a standalone development, detached from any other building with a footprint of approximately 2,500 square meters per floor, fronting four streets and rising five storeys high. Due to the site’s low-lying elevation near sea level, a basement level was not feasible, leading to a development that is elevated approximately 1.2 meters above Triq il-Wied to mitigate potential flooding issues.
The site was previously a detached vacant plot surrounded by Triq il-Wied ta’ l-Imsida and Triq Garcin. The previous permits on the same site, namely PA 4450/98, PA 1814/03, PA 3515/13 were granted for the demolition of the previous existing buildings since this area was considered as part of a slum clearance program implemented by the Housing Authority to redevelop and regenerate Valley Road which led to an improved local living environment. When the firm was commissioned with the project, the previous residential units had already been demolished and the site was a vacant plot of land.
The approved and constructed development comprises ten adjacent apartment blocks with approximately 102 apartments, three commercial outlets, a substation, and 22 garages located at ground floor level. Additionally, two sizable reservoirs are situated beneath the structure. Each apartment block has a separate entrance, including a stairwell and a lift, ensuring accessibility for all residents The architectural approach prioritises
harmonisation with the urban context, featuring attractive elevational treatment with distinctive architectural elements and built using dressed masonry in a ‘fuq il-fil’ finish along its Triq il-Wied façade. The project to date includes apartments which are spacious, well-lit, and designed in compliance with Planning Authority standards, offering functional openplan layouts with terraces overlooking Triq il-Wied and balconies facing the quieter Triq il-Garcin. The project’s design prioritizes resident well-being, creating a liveable, community-focused environment that integrates seamlessly into the heart of Msida village rather than being pushed to its outskirts.
The primary objective of this project is to deliver high-quality, affordable, and accessible social housing as a cornerstone of a broader urban regeneration strategy. Situated on a previously underutilised site, the development forms part of a larger slum clearance and rehabilitation initiative led by the Housing Authority. Beyond simply replacing inadequate housing, the project aims to redress long-standing spatial and socio-economic inequalities by prioritising dignified living conditions for historically marginalised and low-income communities. Anchored in principles of equity and inclusion, the project is designed to foster community integration, promote social cohesion, and ensure universal accessibility for people of all ages and abilities. In recognition of the growing impacts of climate change, the development incorporates resilient infrastructure and design features to mitigate flood risks and enhance longterm environmental sustainability.
Ultimately, the project envisions not just the provision of housing, but the creation of a just, inclusive, and thriving urban environment that supports the rights, well-being, and aspirations of its residents.
Given its status as a central government project, all construction, excavation, and finishing works were subject to public procurement and tendering procedures, ensuring quality, transparency, and efficiency in material selection and execution.
In conclusion, this project is a landmark initiative in urban redevelopment, delivering modern, spacious, and well-integrated housing solutions that enhance Msida’s built environment while addressing critical concerns such as flooding, accessibility, and social inclusion.
Multiplicity of Sacrality, St Julians
Federica Formosa
The Multiplicity of Sacrality redefines the spiritual landscape in Malta, challenging the notion that sacred spaces must adhere to religious traditions, fixed doctrines, or prescribed rituals. Instead, it explores the fluidity of the sacred, offering an architectural experience that is openended, introspective, and shaped by individual experience rather than institutionalised belief.
Situated at the threshold between urban density and natural coastline, this project carves out a sanctuary for reflection, transition, and transformation. It does not impose a singular ideology but invites users to construct their own meaning of sacrality, whether through solitude or collective experience.
With the help of subtraction, adaptation, and careful spatial sequencing, the design focuses on heightening awareness of presence, time, and self. Light and shadow, compression and release, sound and silence, all become tools to shape an experiential journey that resonates beyond the physical. The intervention does not erase the past but reveals its hidden potential, allowing existing structures to guide new spatial narratives.
This is not a space for doctrine. It is a space for questioning, searching, and evolving, a radical departure from traditional Maltese sacred spaces, where spirituality is no longer dictated but discovered.
National Theatre & School of Arts, Marsa
Abigail Debono
The main concept behind this project is twofold: Regenerating a derelict area primely located within the grand harbour, whilst at the same time creating a landmark cultural destination that is sorely needed in Malta. Its striking image, visible from multiple vantage points across the harbour, is a product of “form follows function” and the desire to create a link between the old and the new.
A key feature of this project is the ramp connecting the newly constructed national theatre to the school of arts housed in the repurposed Osbert Chadwick building, offering theatre-goers and users of the building unparalleled views of the grand harbour.
Besides hosting the new school of arts, the Osbert Chadwick building serves as the backyard to the national theatre building, which placed further importance on the natural fusion of these two buildings.
Oneonescandi, Sliema
Khamula Design Ltd
The OneOneScandi project embodies the concept of modern luxury living, designed for individuals who seek both comfort and timeless elegance. The design transcends fleeting trends, focusing instead on the enduring appeal of natural materials, functional spatial planning, and discreet luxury. Every element has been meticulously curated to create a harmonious balance between practicality and refinement, resulting in a living environment that feels serene, welcoming, and exclusive.
This project was conceived to offer residents a sense of privacy, tranquility, and sophisticated comfort, with spaces thoughtfully tailored to meet contemporary lifestyle needs. The interior layout optimises usability, incorporating multi-functional zones that provide flexibility without sacrificing aesthetic appeal. The use of high-quality, natural materials, combined with neutral tones, ensures that the space remains timeless while exuding quiet opulence.
OneOneO Scandi has been submitted in this category as it exemplifies the hallmarks of luxury residential design, emphasising timeless elegance, material authenticity, and enhanced livability. The project’s restrained yet luxurious design approach aligns with the growing definition of modern luxury, where comfort, sustainability, and thoughtful design take precedence. It is a living space that celebrates understated luxury, making it a strong contender for recognition in this award category.
The intention of the project is to provide a comfortable and exciting bridge between the indoor and outdoor environment in conjunction with the existing lanscaping and the differenet levels present in the fields adjacent to the Facutly of the Built Environment in the University of Malta. Our concept aimed to create an active community within the university campus which draws inspiration from the natural elements and varying topography of the site. We made use of the oragami Barrel Vault fold for the various strucures, using different configurations of the fold for each structure.
Palazzo Lucia, Valletta AX Development
Palazzo Lucia, a distinguished 17th-century palazzo located at the intersection of Merchants Street and St. Lucia’s Street in Valletta, has undergone extensive rehabilitation that restores its historic fabric while adapting it into a contemporary workplace. The intervention carefully balances a sensitive conservation approach pulse functional upgrades, ensuring that the existing fabric remains the protagonist in the intervention.
The main addition, decisively contemporary in its execution, connects each of the existing floors through the existing courtyard. It terminates at roof level to form a ventilated skylight, preserving the original spatial legibility of this core element while enhancing natural light, making the courtyard and circulation spaces useable year-round, and contributing to the passive cooling effect of the courtyard.
Sustainable practices were incorporated throughout, including the restoration and repurposing of existing cisterns for water collection and the internal insulation of exposed facades and roofs to improve energy efficiency.
Preserving Villa Overhills Through Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse, Birzebbuga Design & Technical Resources Ltd
Villa Overhills is a prime example of how historic buildings can be revitalized to serve modern needs while preserving their original character. This project, by prioritising conservation over new construction minimises environmental impact and carefully balances restoration with adaptive reuse, transforming the villa into a multifunctional space that respects its architectural heritage.
Located in the culturally rich town of Birżebbuġa, Villa Overhills carries deep historical and architectural significance. Its transformation from a disused estate into a vibrant community hub ensures its continued relevance and lasting legacy. The project follows best practices in heritage conservation, maintaining the villa’s original structure while incorporating reversible modern interventions. These thoughtful additions enhance functionality without compromising authenticity, allowing future generations to appreciate and adapt the space as needed. Through this approach, Villa Overhills remains a living testament to the seamless integration of past and present.
Designed with versatility at its core, the Villa Overhills multi-purpose hall adapts dynamically to a wide array of cultural and social functions, including exhibitions, performances, and community events. Modular and reversible architectural elements ensure that spaces remain flexible, while lightweight pavilions and extensions maintain an architectural dialogue with the existing villa. The interventions respect and enhance the Maltese architectural heritage, harmonising with the villa’s
limestone structure and the surrounding landscape. The use of reversible steel structures and glass establishes a contemporary contrast that remains visually coherent with the historical environment, ensuring a sensitive yet striking juxtaposition.
The villa’s exceptional outdoor spaces and gardens further elevate the project’s cultural and environmental value. Thoughtfully designed to enhance spatial connectivity, these spaces feature shaded walkways, landscaped terraces, and a semi-enclosed pavilion that fosters a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. From within the extended pavilion, visitors enjoy framed views of the lush gardens, while those outside maintain a direct visual connection to the hall’s interior. This fluid integration of space blurs traditional boundaries, reinforcing the relationship between built heritage and nature.
Villa Overhills is a distinguished model of architectural stewardship, proving that historical rehabilitation can be both innovative and respectful. By successfully merging conservation with contemporary design, this project preserves the cultural identity of the site while securing its functional future.
Reactivating the Creek: Adaptive Bridge –A Dynamic Response to Coastal Sea Level Rise,
Msida Isaac Briffa
This project aims to tackle the urgent issue of rising sea levels, particularly impacting coastal communities like Pietà, Malta. By 2050, the majority of major cities will face significant challenges due to climate change. The intervention at Msida Creek involves constructing an adaptive bridge that raises awareness of environmental issues and promotes sustainable urban development. This bridge, which dynamically submerges and emerges based on pedestrian use, with new spaces emerging or submerging each time, serves as both an awareness tool and a practical solution for pedestrian connectivity. Currently, the creek is not being utilised by the community.
The project enhances Pietà’s coastal edge by transforming it into a fully pedestrianised area, fostering community engagement and environmental consciousness. The concept intention is to reconnect the urban fabric with the waterfront, encouraging a harmonious and resilient relationship with the environment. This is achieved through the use of historical insights, sustainable materials, and innovative design. The purpose of the project is to raise awareness about rising sea levels, promote sustainable urban development, and create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly area that enhances the quality of life for the community.
The spatial layout of the project prioritises pedestrian connectivity and community engagement. The adaptive bridge, strategically located in Msida Creek, channels pedestrian traffic in a way that raises awareness of rising sea levels. The design transforms Pietà’s coastal edge into a fully pedestrianised zone, reducing travel distance from nearly one kilometer to less than 130 meters, significantly enhancing accessibility. The layout mirrors the urban environment and adopts an irregular shape, intentionally designed to stand out rather than blend in. This deliberate lack of seamlessness creates a striking visual impact, serving to raise awareness of the environmental issues addressed by the project.
The project utilises sustainable and resilient materials that reflect the environmental focus of the design. Key materials include resin-bonded recycled brick, which is non-porous and highly durable, and steel edge restraints that provide structural integrity. The choice of materials not only ensures longevity but also aligns with the project’s commitment to sustainability. These materials are chosen for their ability to withstand the dynamic coastal environment while reducing the environmental impact of construction.
The detail in this project is evident in the bridge’s adaptive design features. The bridge submerges and emerges in response to pedestrian use, symbolising the fluctuating impacts of climate change. Lighting elements are incorporated to indicate sea level changes at night and this is shown on a conceptual level in the paste up showing the fashion event taking place. This is to enhance both
functionality and awareness at night time. The scope of this design is to foster a deeper connection between the users and the sea and make them aware of the coastal sea level rise.
The intended purpose of this project is to raise awareness about coastal sea level rise by inviting users to walk onto the adaptive bridge, extending the urban fabric. This experience aims to highlight the current state of Malta’s infrastructure system, which unfortunately prioritises vehicles over pedestrians and offers only temporary solutions. The increasing number of cars exacerbates environmental issues. Therefore, the project seeks to convey the urgent need to rethink Malta’s urban infrastructure, which contributes to global warming due to the heavy reliance on fossil fuel vehicles, ultimately affecting global coastal sea levels.
Nestled within the Burmarrad-Naxxar Industrial Estate, the project site is strategically positioned at the downstream end of Wied il-Għasel, a valley with significant ecological and cultural value. Historically, this area has been closely tied to agricultural activities, with nearby quarries and industrial operations shaping the landscape over time. The planned restoration of Wied Filep presents a unique opportunity for the project to align with broader efforts to regenerate the region, ensuring that industrial development coexists harmoniously with environmental conservation.
Agricultural sustainability in Malta is at a crossroads, with mounting challenges stemming from water scarcity, environmental degradation, and economic vulnerability. Farmers are increasingly burdened by the rising costs of synthetic fertilizers and the diminishing quality of groundwater reserves, while illegal slurry disposal continues to pose severe ecological risks. As global climate patterns shift and local water resources come under further pressure, there is an urgent need for a transformative approach to waste management, resource recovery, and circular agricultural practices. This project envisions a new model for agricultural wastewater treatment, one that not only mitigates pollution but also converts waste into valuable resources.
By repurposing manure slurry into organic fertilisers, clean irrigation water, and biogas energy, the facility directly addresses Malta’s pressing environmental and economic concerns. Farmers will gain access to affordable, locally produced fertilizers, reducing dependence on expensive imports while improving soil health and crop yields. The treated water, safe for irrigation, will offer a sustainable alternative to desalinated and groundwater sources, easing pressure on the island’s fragile aquifers. Additionally, the biogas plant will harness energy from organic waste, feeding renewable power back into the industrial estate and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Situated close to Burmarrad, the facility is uniquely positioned to serve Malta’s agricultural heartland, creating a direct pipeline between farm waste, resource recovery, and farm productivity. Beyond its immediate benefits, the project aims to reshape the narrative around waste, demonstrating how even the most challenging by-products of farming can be transformed into assets that support a more self-sufficient, resilient agricultural sector.
At its core, this project represents a shift towards a more resilient, resource-efficient future for Maltese agriculture. By turning waste into opportunity, it provides a viable alternative to outdated agricultural practices, offering tangible benefits for farmers, local communities, and the environment alike. More than just a treatment plant, this initiative stands as a testament to how innovative design, engineering, and environmental responsibility can converge to create a better, more sustainable Malta.
Revitalising the Community of FguraAquaponics Education Nucleus, Fgura
Miriana Giordimaina
The project aims to revitalise the local community of Fgura through a network of accessible, active public places designed to provide the opportunity for encounter and exchange of knowledge, values and practices amongst locals. The programme intends to generate awareness and education about food security.
I have focused on the central education nucleus located at a central intersection in the locality, activating a dilapidated farmhouse and apartment block. The central node lays the foundation for a three-phased network strategy of open spaces in Fgura, therefore, considering the macro, meso and micro scale from initial design phases was critical.
Preliminary design phases included obtaining data through observations and photographs across the locality and capturing the locals’ perspective through an online questionnaire. This information identified the needs and issues regarding the physical and social fabric of the locality, from which I developed the network strategy, as well as principal design concepts. The design of the educational nucleus was driven by site analysis, the programme, key urban design principles and sensorial design guidelines such as the ASPECTSS design guidelines. The activated public place is designed through a phenomenological approach that brings sensorial accessibility to the forefront.
Key urban design principles adopted include legibility, ensuring that spatial arrangements create a sense of agency for users by intuitively guiding movement. Orientation and navigation are carefully considered through the alignment of primary axes, establishing strong visual connections to key nodes and framing important views to enhance spatial awareness. Sensory zoning plays a crucial role in balancing areas of high stimulus, such as central gathering spaces, with quieter “escapescapes” where individuals can retreat and recentre in a more relaxed setting. Visual permeability is emphasised to encourage interaction and engagement by providing clear horizontal and vertical sightlines into different programme functions. Additionally, maximising daylight across all levels enhances the comfort, sustainability, and overall experience of the space. These principles collectively shape an inclusive, dynamic, and navigable public place that caters to diverse user needs.
Reviving Farming – A Step Towards SelfSufficiency, Ta’ Qali
Zea Falzon
This project was designed with the intention to give space back to the community while also contributing to the shift towards a self-sufficient Malta when it comes to the production of food.
Currently, there is a heavy reliance on external sources for food products. Taking the recent event of the Covid-19 pandemic, the act of importing and exporting goods became a major issue due to the spreading pandemic. Luckily, the food supply to Malta was never cut off completely, however there is no way to safely say that will never be an issue of concern in the future. If the food supply were to be cut off, Malta would go through a crisis. I therefore took these concerns and used them as the backbone of this project.
Initially, the idea was to create an indoor vertical farm which would be used for year-round production of crops. However, I found this idea to be too intense of a project. By simply creating a large structure to house a vertical farm, this would not be laying the proper foundations for a successful future of self-sufficiency within Malta but rather be plunging headfirst into new technology and farming techniques without knowing if it would be worth it in the long run. Therefore, for my project to achieve resilient and sustainable outcomes, the concept shifted into creating a stepping stone between traditional farming and newer techniques aimed at education, research, and inclusion. In this way, the focus would be on a humancentred design which involves both farmers and the general public.
The project aims at achieving this by creating a space for the people to learn and practice farming, both traditional and with new technologies. This is done by creating three main areas, mimicking the gradient between traditional farming and modern farming. The project is designed to;
• Provide space for traditional farming so as to help give the profession a small boost.
• Provide the public with the tools and opportunities needed to cultivate an appreciation for food production and learn new skills.
• Provide an area for research and education.
• Act as a stepping stone towards better self-sufficiency.
The proposed development is part of a broader initiative by Infrastructure Malta and Transport Malta to upgrade and expand ferry landing sites across the Maltese islands. This project aims to enhance existing ferry terminals, establish new landing locations, and improve Malta’s sea public transport system by promoting alternative transportation, encouraging a modal shift, and integrating different transport modes.
This development enhances public marine transport by improving comfort, safety, and reliability. It provides better facilities, integrates with real-time multi-modal transport systems, and offers faster connections to various locations. Additionally, it brings significant benefits to the Sliema area, one of Malta’s busiest and most visited locations. A permanent ferry terminal has improved accessibility without increasing road traffic, making the system more robust and attractive. This aligns with the objective of enhancing public transport, as outlined in SECTION NHTR06 of the NHLP. Key benefits include:
• Enhanced comfort and safety for ferry passengers.
• Improved mooring facilities for berthing.
• Increased reliability and resilience of waterborne transport.
• Quick and easy connections to other transport modes.
This landing site is designed to serve the public by offering a valuable and accessible transport service. It qualifies under the commercial and public buildings category due to its contribution to the community. Architecturally, the terminal complements its surroundings with a clean, minimalist design that serves as a distinct and functional space for commuters. Future landing sites will follow similar architectural elements to maintain consistency across developments.
Sliema Landing Ferry, Sliema Infrastructure Malta
Located on Malta’s most renowned street for nightlife and evening entertainment, this building is designed to make an elegant and silent statement. It stands out amidst the vibrant surroundings, creating a bold architectural experience that merges form, colour, and light. The interplay of artificial illumination enhances its presence, leaving a lasting impression on onlookers.
Unlike traditional applications of colour through painted façades, this design takes a more innovative approach. A dramatic, singular architectural gesture, a carved-out volumetric recess within the façade disrupts the monolithic solidity of the structure, introducing an experiential pause that redefines the relationship between built form and its urban context accentuated further with a change in material and specialised lighting.
In the words of the famous Swiss architect Mario Botta, “The first gesture of an architect is to draw a perimeter; in other words, to separate the microclimate from the macro space outside. This in itself is a sacred act.
Architecture in itself conveys this idea of limiting space. It’s a limit between the finite and the infinite”. Contrary to local general expectations and concepts of maximisation of space where the architect is expected to embody the full site extents as his usable perimeter in defining the finite, a very bold and unconventional gesture has been applied here that of deliberately receding the perimeter commencing at human level and carving out a void which runs through the building and cuts through the internal volume like a parasitic form.
Just like moments of “rest / pause” in a wellcomposed piece of music, this moment of “emptiness” within the building, also gives time for the visitor to understand. It plays on his memory just like the beautiful music score would do to its listener. The void extends all the way into a dramatic “oasis, like atrium” offering a moment of peace away from the urban madness. The space bursts in colour and transforms into a dynamic interplay of natural light, shadow, form, and illumination creating a truly immersive architectural experience.
The project provides connectivity between Birgu Waterfront and St Angelo Peninsula by means of two bridges for pedestrians and vehicles respectively. The twobridges approach enabled the realisation of the project while successfully addressing the various constraints. The pedestrian bridge was built first to provide pedestrian connectivity during the time of removal of the historic bridge and building of the vehicular bridge.
In order to build the pedestrian bridge, it was necessary to construct this over water and in turn this necessitated an extension of the existing quay on the St Angelo side to provide a suitable landing platform. The bridge design was inspired by the historical context of the site as the main port during the times of the Knights, the backdrop of the Birgu fortifications and historical buildings as well as the contemporary use as a modern marina. Therefore, the design of the pedestrian bridge took inspiration from the keel and frame structure of a traditional ship’s hull. The profile of the bridge consists of a central beam (keel) connected with purlins to smaller lateral beams to provide
So City Hotel, St Julians C and K Architecture
St Angelo Pedestrian and Vehicular Bridges, Birgu Infrastructure Malta
the main structure and support for the non-slip composite decking planks. Curved stanchions are fixed at 1 meter intervals on each side of the bridge which are connected at the top by timber handrails. Fall protection between the stanchions is provided by SS wires to achieve a seethrough effect.
In order to overcome the offsetting of the bridge over water and the headroom needed underneath for the passage of small vessels in and out of the St Angelo Menqa, the bridge is curved in plan and has a camber in elevation. While this proved challenging to construct the end result is aesthetically pleasing moreso with the choice of strip lighting and spot lighting in the timber handrail that accentuate the structural features of the bridge when lit at night.
The vehicular bridge was designed to be more utilitarian and capable of taking the loads of modern heavy vehicles. It’s shape is similar to the previous bridge which has been restored and will be installed for display in a public space on the St Angelo peninsula. Surviving historical brass lanterns were restored and supplemented where missing to achieve a 4-lantern arrangement similar to before.
The weathered steel colour scheme of the steel elements of the bridges was agreed with the SCH to provide harmony with the historic context of the site.
St Michael Hospice, Santa Venera
Arch-con Atelier
The St. Michael Hospice project focuses on the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the historic Adelaide Cini Institute in Santa Venera, transforming it into Malta’s first dedicated palliative care complex. The design respects the architectural integrity of the existing structure while integrating modern healthcare facilities. The purpose of this project is to enhance the quality of palliative care services in Malta by providing in-patient care, day therapy services, out-patient clinics, and educational spaces for professionals in the field. The submission for this category highlights the project’s commitment to architectural conservation while repurposing a historically significant structure to serve a crucial contemporary function.
Step Forward, San Ġwann Sean Bonnici & Luca Borg Bartolo
This project rethinks urban open spaces by focusing on sustainable and inclusive design strategies that enhance public engagement and environmental well-being. It aims to transform underutilised areas into vibrant, functional, and accessible community hubs.
The objective is to create adaptable urban landscapes that cater to diverse social and ecological needs. By integrating green infrastructure and community-driven design, the project seeks to improve urban resilience, foster social interaction, and promote a healthier living environment.
Tal-Għarix Research & Education Centre, Qrendi
Brandon Francis Caruana
The Research & Education Centre is designed as an innovative hub addressing global and local challenges, including social unrest, energy crises, and the brain drain in science and sustainable industries. Inspired by recent global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, the project underscores the need for self-sufficiency, green spaces, and social unity. It integrates multiple interactive spaces including a virtual scientific hub, an interactive cinema, conference facilities, and a social area fostering an environment where knowledge, innovation, and sustainability intersect.
A key aspect of the design is sustainable energy innovation, incorporating solar panels on the roof and a compression ring that serves as a natural ventilation system, reducing energy dependency and operational costs. Additionally, the project prioritises environmental education, encouraging young students to engage in scientific research through interactive experiences. The architectural approach emphasizes sustainability, utilising natural lighting, green landscaping, and energy-efficient materials to enhance user experience while minimising environmental impact.
This project aims to redefine the role of education in shaping a resilient and self-sufficient society, addressing key questions such as:
1. What are the requirements for sustainable energy research?
2. How can interactive education inspire careers in science and agriculture?
3. What design elements best support environmental and scientific learning?
4. Through its innovative and holistic design, can the Research & Education Centre aspire to be a catalyst for social cohesion, scientific exploration, and sustainable development?
Tapestry; The Third Age Space, Valletta
Julia De Bono
The project 'Tapestry: The Third Age Space' envisions a transformative approach to elderly care by creating a space that celebrates aging while fostering inclusivity, community, and ease of living. It aims to redefine the traditional concept of elderly homes, breaking away from the institutionalised perception and instead offering a vibrant, communal environment where older adults can thrive. Designed as a prototype, this space serves as a framework for similar developments across different neighborhoods, ensuring that elderly individuals can age in place while remaining connected to their communities.
The project's primary intention is to address the growing aging population in Malta and the associated challenges of isolation, displacement, and lack of diverse elderly spaces. By integrating various living arrangements including night shelters, assisted living, residential units, and dementia care all housed under one roof, the project ensures that residents can transition smoothly between different levels of care without uprooting their social ties. Furthermore, the inclusion of communal spaces, gardens, and cultural facilities aims to combat loneliness, enhance social engagement, and create an intergenerational community. The intervention is particularly significant in Valletta, a city facing rapid commercialisation and gentrification, ensuring that its elderly residents are not marginalised but rather supported within an accessible, dignified, and well-integrated urban environment.
Tapestry: The Third Age Space redefines elderly care by creating an inclusive, community-centered environment that promotes aging in place, aging in community, and easy living.
Textile EcoHub, Marsa
Anna Marie Meilak & Jerome Ciantar
The Textile Ecohub: A Circular Economy Model for 2050 reimagines sustainable urban development by addressing the urgent issue of textile waste through innovative architectural and environmental strategies. Developed under the thesis theme of creating positive turbulence in construction, the Ecohub responds to the alarming 92 million tonnes of textile waste generated annually, much of which ends up in landfills, contributing to pollution and resource depletion. Rooted in the shift away from the harmful “take-make-dispose” linear production model, the Textile Ecohub embodies a circular economy, focusing on waste reduction and resource conservation. The project is anchored by three interconnected buildings within a family-oriented park: the Textile Sorting Facility, where clothing is categorised and either upcycled or reused; the Textile Upcycling Institute, a research-driven space where students reimagine waste as fashion innovation; and the Textile Market, a vibrant hub for selling upcycled garments, promoting sustainable consumption. The surrounding park amplifies the project’s impact, serving as a green lung that enhances air quality, provides interactive educational features like kiosks and a maze, and fosters community engagement. Strategically located in Marsa, Malta, the site was selected for its potential to drive urban regeneration by transforming a degraded area into a center of ecological and social activity.
The design process integrated topographical and climatic analysis, passive energy strategies, low-carbon materials, and strong community involvement to ensure a functional and impactful outcome. By merging ecological resilience, educational empowerment, and economic sustainability, the Textile Ecohub becomes more than just a building complex it is a blueprint for future cities. It offers a replicable model for turning waste into opportunity and architecture into a force for environmental healing and collective transformation, shaping a regenerative future for generations to come.
Kirkop Student Housing, Kirkop Matthew Cachia Fearne
The project began with a period of exploration, drawing inspiration from case studies and insights shared by Erasmus students regarding their experiences of living in Malta. Their feedback revealed common challenges, particularly in securing affordable housing that meets the specific needs of students. This dialogue, supported by extensive research, informed the development of a brief focused on contextual relevance, affordability, and a student-centric approach. Unlike typical rental apartments often relied upon by students, the design directly addresses the demands of student life while reflecting Malta’s distinctive character. Key considerations include the creation of a sense of community, the provision of adaptable spaces, and a variety of room types at different price points to ensure affordability.
Community is placed at the heart of the design. Central circulation spaces, paired with external corridors that also function as balconies, encourage interaction and togetherness. This arrangement fosters a welcoming atmosphere and strengthens students’ sense of belonging.
For The Love Of Detail, Naxxar
Daniel Scerri
This project, designed by DSP in its first collaboration with JB Architects, was an integration of over 2 decades of finishing skills acquired through experience on designing villas, and a wide set of resources available to both offices and client.
The design concept intended to give the client a private home with a calm sense of architectural delight, using natural raw materials and plain architectural planes and volumes, complimented by the use of ephemeral elements, lightweight and raw, with the intention of creating a complete balanced palette and layering of detail.
We had the opportunity to follow through on finishes and interiors detailing. The love for detail, the availability of high quality craftsmanship, and specific client requests led to a high degree of customisation of most elements down to the ironmongery, in certain cases.
A labour of love [with some exceptions!] and a degree of complexity in execution that led us to submit the project in this category.
Villa Cantilena, Swieqi AP Valletta
Villa Cantilena occupies a site on the top of a hill in a quiet residential neighbourhood within Victoria Gardens. A playful yet sophisticated combination of materials, limestone, wood and concrete, balances the vernacular and modern soul of the villa by creating a subtle contrast between voids and volumes, opacity and transparency, the organic and the man-made.
A Concrete Cathedral dedicated to the research and production of hydroponically grown crops, sits in a manmade lake, which provides nutrients for irrigation as a byproduct of aquaculture systems. Geographically isolated by the precipitous quarry walls, ideas flow by boat. All its constituent materials and elements are realized to their full potential in tandem with the individuals that occupy it. Whilst the layout allows for the constant alternation between testing, analysis, and production, with the aim of transforming the fragile local agricultural industry into a resilient one, ultimately creating a new home for the farmer.
Vertical Farm in a quarry, San Lawrenz, Gozo Staines Spiteri
Wilġa Street Hotel, Paceville C and
K Architecture
In an architecturally fatigued neighbourhood having a social fabric on the brink of decadence, this hotel building rises from the shadows of urban decay as another symbolic beacon for architectural hope and regeneration for the area, an emblem of possibility and renewal. By day the structure’s simple lines and colour are catalythical, invoking a sense of urban cleanliness, whereas when illuminated it is suggestive of the celestial skies, evoking a sense of mysticism amidst all the adversity.
The typology is a small urban hotel built over a third party ground floor. Indeed, the building doesn’t merely stand as a solitary monument but enhances the notion of urban contextuality and integration in a re-developing area. The verticality of the design is not a deliberate gesture but is indeed stemmed from the regulatory conditions for hospitality buildings benefitting from additional height. The planimetric scheme is extremely functional and efficient. It includes a public program at the bottom and topmost floors of the building in the form of a reception bar and rooftop restaurant / pool, offering a natural balance between accessibility and exclusivity, whereas all the mid floors comprise guest rooms.
The choice of concrete as the primary material invokes a sense of raw honesty and strength suggesting a grounded resilience but yet an aesthetical sophistication as evidenced by the meticulous detail. Colour is intrinsic to the materials applied. Exposed, cast in situ concrete is used for the reception bar identified by a large circular façade aperture, almost like a metabolic capsule. The rooftop volume is envisioned as a separate pod also in precast exposed concrete and identified by its uniquely diverse colour and texture, bringing warmth and depth to an otherwise industrial material. A large arched aperture crowns this volume atop the vertical extrusion. The guest rooms are identified by a patterned precast concrete façade in contrast to the bleak, utilitarian aesthetics of the
surrounding area. This is also designed to wrap around the side walls giving 3 dimensionality to an otherwise 2 dimensional approach.
Overall, this project serves as a manifestation of architectural hope, a transformative force, both in design and in purpose, that reflects the aspirations of a community on the brink of revitalization. In the words of a famous architect, “architecture, when designed with both heart and purpose, can really be an agent of change”.
Xemxija Heirtage Trail, Whiterocks,
Pembroke
Cornish Spiteri Delia Grima
The Xemxija Heritage Trail, with the many sites it has in it, seems to currently exist primarily to the benefit of history buffs, tourists willing to go the extra mile, and hikers. However, its sites are currently in isolation with no evident link to the surrounding wealth that the island has to offer. When developing the narrative to be created, this was placed at centre stage, and the site is to be transformed into a centre of learning through “pilgrimage” and “hiking” in a way which is not isolated from other historical and agricultural sites within the Xemxija Heritage Trail and its surroundings.
More specifically, this concept is being implemented through the creation of six trails all passing through focal points within the Xemxija trail. Each trail represents some crucial aspects on site, and also important sectors of Maltese history.
The project envisages that the site would become a hub which attracts a diverse range of visitors ranging from war hobbyists or history buffs to spiritual groups and Christians from various denominations as well as leisure hikers and conservationists. The capitalization of different interests of people, coming together at one site allows users to learn about other aspects of Malta and the Xemxija Heritage Trail which may be out of their current field of interest, expanding the horizons for users. Targeted user groups were contacted and actively involved in the exploration process when creating the trails. Major sites of interest around Malta were planned out which were all linked to the historical sites present in the Xemxija site.
These trails come together at the rich Xemxija Heritage Trail … a hub in the North of Malta
Wembley
Business Centre, Msida DeMicoli & Associates
The Wembley Business Centre is a seven-storey contemporary commercial building with four basement parking levels. The project pays tribute to the historic Wembley Ice Cream Factory, which previously occupied the site.
The Wembley Ice Cream Factory was Malta’s first producer of pasteurized and prepacked ice creams, known for its distinctive Art Deco façade. This industrial building was designed by architect Antonio Grech Dimech and completed in 1937.
The factory remained operational for over 70 years, evolving into a key commercial hub. Over time, the factory ceased operations, and the need for urban regeneration led to plans for its redevelopment into a modern office complex.
Given the architectural and aesthetic value of the existing façade, the project required a careful balance between heritage preservation and contemporary urban needs.
A challenging and time-consuming aspect of the project was the careful dismantling, restoring and reerection of the historic façade. The approach received strong backing from the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage (SCH), supporting its relocation to the centre of the new façade of the building.
This decision ensured the preservation of its historical integrity while introducing modern functionality and allowing for a bold and contemporary architectural statement. By retaining and repositioning the iconic façade, the Wembley Business Centre successfully integrates the site’s heritage within a forward-looking commercial space, contributing to Msida and Gzira’s economic growth and evolving cityscape while respecting its architectural past.
Directory of Participants
AP Valletta
4 Sapper Street Valletta VLT 1320 21243981 info@apvalletta.eu
