Architecture & Design

Architecture & Design | 25 A ngie the Architect is what we would refer to as a space-visionary. Her approach to her work over the years has gained her a strong reputation for delivering unique, award-winning concepts for both businesses and individuals. She leads a small team that focuses on designing space that can be enjoyed, used, loved and admired. For Angie design interpretation isn't about delivering more of the same just because it's safe. New ideas, materials, colours, techniques and concepts are brought together for best-in-class project delivery. And above all it's the integration of a client's personality and brand that truly influences her process. That and a good portion of the ever- important customisation! We've seen the photos and fallen in love. How did this residential project in Rabat start? Yes, it is a lovely design concept and execution that has been well received by so many people, especially the homeowners themselves! A few years back I was approached by a young couple, an accountant with a love for classic cars and a lawyer who is a keen book lover, who purchased this residential property in Rabat. They wanted to transform it from its 1980s building and design concept into something more modern and fitting their needs. I started my usual design process. Sitting down and getting a good brief about their dreams for space today and tomorrow and then the project took off from there. Is that hard to do? When you have multiple decision makers in the process, how can you please everyone? I've always found that architecture has a little psychology entwined within it as well. You need to establish harmony between infrastructure, function, form and beauty. And you need to do that whilst trying to ensure the design lives up to the aspirations of all the people who will live or work within it. It's not easy, but by actively listening and looking at the space objectively it's possible. Rather than stipulating what the design should be, I absorb their ideas and attach them to my experience and expertise. The result, like for this property in Rabat, is something truly unique. I know! That staircase is simply stunning. What made you give it this bold treatment? The staircase was really the heart of where the design concept began. It is the centre of the home, visible from every room on both the lower and upstairs floors and the main entrance. It had this natural presence and grandeur. It demanded to be the centre of attention and I didn't want to reject that feeling but explore it further to see where it might lead the design. You'll see that it had very unusual angles which gave the space an almost sculptured feel. We decided to give it a customised treatment by creating a banister out of sprayed mdf. The form was cut on site to ensure a perfect fit all the way up and so we could see the angles in place, before finishing off site and then brought back for installation. By using a very specific tone of black, solid but with just a little shine, we allowed natural light to play off the finish. It feels and looks sculptured. Whilst it's bold, it really reflects the energy of the home itself – strong, future focused, DESIGNING A LOVE STORY IN RABAT A r c h i t e c t u r e & D e s i g n m a g a z i n e s i t s d o w n w i t h a r c h i t e c t a n d i n t e r i o r d e s i g n e r A n g i e S c i b e r r a s , o w n e r o f t h e h i g h l y s u c c e s s f u l ' A n g i e t h e A r c h i t e c t ' s t u d i o , t o c h a t a b o u t o n e o f h e r l a t e s t p r o j e c t s t h a t h a s g a i n e d a l o t o f a t t e n t i o n i n t h e i n t e r i o r d e s i g n a n d a r c h i t e c t u r e s c e n e i n M a l t a .

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