Team

Lead Perit/i: BORG BONACI ARCHITECTURE

Architectural Design: BORG BONACI ARCHITECTURE

Project Architecture: Andrea Borg

Planning Consulting: BORG BONACI ARCHITECTURE

Structural Engineering: Perit Robert Ellul Sciberras, Perit Andrew Farrugia

Conservation: BORG BONACI ARCHITECTURE

Electrical Engineering: Ing. Joseph Agius

Mechanical Engineering: Inġ Greta Attard

Drafting: Mohamed Shafeeq

Project Management: Tyrone Borg

Site Technical Officer: Ing. Joseph Agius

Established in 2020 by Perit Clive Borg Bonaci, Borg Bonaci Architecture is a design and architecture studio that works on a wide range of projects through interdisciplinary collaboration.

BBA is driven by the relationship between architecture, interior design, and the urban context, offering its services across all stages of development — from concept to completion. The studio engages with an extensive variety of projects, ranging from residential to commercial, and from private commissions to public interventions. Regardless of project type or scale, the studio’s mission remains consistent: to deliver thoughtful, contextually responsive architecture.

Project Summary

This project involved the restoration and rehabilitation of a traditional vernacular residence located within an Urban Conservation Area in Qormi, in the southern region of Malta. The proposal integrates a contemporary architectural intervention within the parameters of the new development scheme, on a site that spans two streets at either end of the plot.

Our studio was entrusted with the development of a design concept that merges old and new, respecting the values synonymous with Malta’s vernacular architecture. One of the key challenges was to create a functional programme that aligns with modern planning guidelines and policies, while remaining compatible with the structural characteristics of the original house

The solution was found in the introduction of a central core within the new part of the development, housing both a lift and a staircase. This vertical core serves as the primary circulation element and provides a seamless transition between the existing and proposed structures across multiple levels.

The vernacular façade of the existing structure was retained and meticulously restored, while a contemporary façade was introduced for the new part of the development. Although located within the designated development zone, this new façade sits adjacent to a 300-year-old monolithic structure built in traditional Maltese soft stone.

In our commitment to honour the heritage context, we proposed a second monolithic façade, using modern masonry techniques and the same local material. In order to limit the number of joints and contribute to the robustness of the monolithic facade, large globigerina limestone blocks, commonly referred to as ‘vażijiet’, with a thickness of 180mm, a height of 720mm, and varied widths, were used as the only facade material.

The architectural rhythm of the façade was based on the Fibonacci sequence, guiding the placement and proportions of the apertures. Massing was controlled through the use of terraces, which ease the transition between the contemporary proposal and the adjacent vernacular structure.

To achieve this architectural language, each limestone element was individually designed, forming a final composition that satisfies both structural and aesthetic requirements, resulting in an articulated and cohesive external envelope.

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Team

Client: AX Group

Lead Perit/i: C&K Architecture

Architectural Design: C&K Architecture

Planning Consulting: ADI

Geotechnical Engineering: SCE

Structural Engineering: SCE

Building Systems Engineering: E&M Engineering

Fire Engineering: Fabio Stivala

Mechanical & Electrical Engineering: E&M Engineering

Project Management: AX Group

Set within 2 very distinct contexts: the townscape at its rear which eventually fringes into the rural landscape beyond, the project responds accordingly.

It is conceived as a means of connecting the space between the urban fabric and the natural landscape almost like bridging the gap between “the earthly” (the town) and “the ethereal” (the divine). The final design offers a defined architectural expression drawing inspiration from the geological morphology of the Maltese Islands. Composed of three fragmented blocks, it transitions from a language of solidity and masculine articulation into an architecture of layered plates recalling the eroded strata so characteristic of the Maltese landscape. Excavated pockets within the volumes provide access to the common areas fostering architectural permeability and providing for public interface and community living.

The character and planimetric layouts of the apartments challenge expectations, not only in terms of spatial qualities and finishes, but also in terms of structural limitations where post tensioning technology has been introduced to achieve gravity defying large span cantilevered slabs. The result is a layered building – slabs which allow for the interplay between openness and privacy. It is distinguished by overhangs and terraces and setback living areas, light and shadow, as well as places of shelter and exposure. The slabs overlap in an unregulated and dynamic composition engaging in a playful choreography evoking a sense of architectural poetry and drama. They become the main principles defining the project: layers and terraces, interiors and exteriors, views and privacy, vegetation, and light and identity.

Light shafts typically used to illuminate deep plan buildings of this type have been entirely eliminated and re-interpreted. Instead these voids have been externalised as generous open spaces between the building blocks repurposed to foster community interaction and engagement.

A carefully designed perimeter element enhances privacy by preventing overlooking between terraces whilst also contributing to the project’s experiential quality. Light, be it natural or artificial, filters through these perforations creating a sense of magic and mysticism, adding further to the architectural elegance. Fine detailing and a concerted orchestration of quality materials produce a structure that is both efficient and luxurious.

The project sets a clear tone for the future – a desirable residential development that makes a statement in terms of contemporaneity and luxury yet rooted in contextuality. The design places users’ needs at the forefront, framing them as the central protagonists of the spatial experience. Apartment cores and shared areas converge into centralized open spaces that function not only as circulation nodes but as vibrant social condensers. With integrated amenities such as a café, gym, pool and more, these communal spaces are seamlessly woven into daily life, fostering both connection and well-being. The result is a built environment that unites architectural form and program to support an elevated model of living.

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