A sensitive renovation of an 18th-century palazzino provides an example of thoughtful adaptive reuse and a lesson on how restoring and reusing historic structures can promote sustainable heritage. Intervening on a simple gem of Maltese architectural heritage, the project is based on a respectful dialogue between old and new and stands as a quiet act of resistance to the pressures of rapid urban development in the area.

A sculptural stone screen that provides privacy from a nearby apartment block forms an essential element in this project of adaptive reuse. This new intervention consists of a tall, folded stone wall that echoes the rhythm of solids and voids on the ground floor. Inspired by the romantic symbolism of castle battlements and operatic stagecraft—recalling scenes from Hamlet and Tosca—the screen shields the home from the direct gaze of its neighbours.

Built by local craftsmen using traditional techniques and Maltese softstone (franka), the structure is thoroughly contemporary in application. Its carefully angled fins create shifting shadows throughout the day, balancing privacy, light, and a continued respect for the site’s historic character.

Further interventions include reconfiguring the home’s internal spaces to better connect with the gardens, the historic stone walls, and Mediterranean fruit trees. A former loggia, originally used to shelter animals, has been transformed into the home’s central living space, seamlessly linked to the outdoor dining area and pool. Reclaimed materials—such as traditional stone floor slabs—have been reintegrated throughout, reinforcing the sustainable imperatives of a project of this nature and providing a sense of continuity with the region’s vernacular architecture.

“We love the idea of applying the principles of scenography to architecture – light, scale, perspective – to convey mood or feeling. This project was the ideal opportunity to exploit millennial forms for contemporary functions. What once shielded the user from the onslaught of enemy projectiles now shields the occupants from the undesirable gaze of the neighbours.”
— Konrad Buhagiar, Founding Partner of AP Valletta

“Working closely with our clients in the formation of their new home, addressing current requirements whilst being committed to preserving the property’s historic worth was at the forefront of the design team’s approach. The sculpted stone façade gives the property a modest elegance – functional and contemporary, yet respectful of the property’s architectural heritage. The vertical planes of the stone screen become sculpted horizontal planes of the outdoor dining and pool decks within the garden the screen shields.”
— Rosanne Asciak, Partner & Project Leader

Other finalists in the Architecture + Stone category include: Taller Ezequiel Aguilar Martinez (Mexico), Dong Lu Yuan (China), Dongqi Design (China), and Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects (USA). The winners will be announced in June, in New York.

This is a Popular Choice Award, and your vote can help Naxxar House win! Voting is open until 16 May, and you can vote once daily.

Vote for Naxxar House here: https://tinyurl.com/2m4y9tda
Architizer A+Awards finalists: https://awards.architizer.com/a/page/vote-now
Link to the Naxxar House Project: https://www.apvalletta.eu/work/naxxar-house