Pretty Bay, Birzebbuga

What do you think Malta needs?

Street Life

Thresholds

boathouses that open right onto the seaside. no step, no shelter, no transition from inside to outside. you walk out and you are in the hot sun, by the sea, immediately.

a townhouse in Rabat. Layered space from inside to outside, making for a slow transition from the road to the hallway. The front door can be left open yet privacy kept. But when are you invading someone's space? Is it when you look inside or when you are inside? and how can 'inside' be defined? Surely when the resident sits out on the pavement, the pavement becomes an extension of the inside?

shopfront in Valletta. the shopfront sits under the balcony; the balcony leans over the shop entrance. the pavement is kept free.

Valletta. shelters. hiding spaces. spying spaces.


Rabat. the elevated street.

shopfront Rabat. A slow subtle transition from pavement through threshold into shop.

Summer Houses

An example of Contemporary Maltese Architecture

There is a little shoe shop in Valletta called 'SHU', designed by Chris Briffa Architects, it is possibly the best example of contemporary architecture bearing a Maltese identity, achieved by mixing inventive new designs with traditional motifs.
The small space is cleverly maximised by turning the whole shop into a series of wooden staircases that act as display, storage and seating. Alongside the sharp wooden staircases traditional wrought iron railings are used. It is a lovely little illustration of what can be done, and a hint of the potential in Maltese architecture that we haven't yet completely uncovered.

Imagine the same intent applied to a bigger scale, with bigger ambitions... What would it be?


photo credits: www.chrisbriffa.com

An Island in the Sea

In a crit it was said that Malta has a very strong identity, that of being an island surrounded by sea. The identity of the rock, the land, that is so recognizable. The fact of having very definite borders, that are not shared with other countries.
These are things that are often taken so for granted.