Architecture & Design

Architecture & Design | 15 " " WHAT ASPECTS OF MALTESE ARCHITECTURE DO YOU FIND MOST INSPIRING, AND HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE THESE ELEMENTS INTO YOUR PROJECTS? SR: I consider stone to be the most defining and recognisable aspect of Maltese architecture. The various architectural styles that have been manifested locally all have stone in common and this is what makes them unique and sensitive to place. However, the scale of the construction industry is not proportionate to the availability of this resource so we are also mindful about the negative impact quarrying has on the environment and prefer to consider sustainable alternatives such as repurposed stonework, reconstituted limestone or even stone colour renders when this aesthetic is desirable. PR: I naturally gravitate towards vernacular architecture in its ability to fit seamlessly within its environment whilst being tailored to the climatic context. I believe that if we could revert to this natural, effortless approach we would be looking at a more sustainable built environment. CAN YOU SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT STATE OF MALTESE ARCHITECTURE, AND HOW DO YOU ENVISION ITS FUTURE? Malta is a land of missed opportunity. We have inherited a rich architectural legacy which until the early 20th Century could easily have been the envy of any other country but we keep demolishing beautiful buildings and replacing them with mundane apartment blocks. The construction industry has always been considered and still remains a strong pillar to the local economy and as long as we build solely for profits and ignore the long-term repercussions of poor development, quality architecture will not have a prominent place in the local context. Having said that, there are a few forward-thinking developers and talented architects who against all odds still manage to challenge the narrative to create meaningful architecture which we can be proud of. ARE THERE ANY EMERGING TRENDS YOU FIND EXCITING? Sustainable practices in architecture are certainly picking up pace and getting more recognition than ever before. Whether trying to achieve a zero- energy home, repurposing existing materials which would otherwise go to waste or considering the use of reconstituted materials for new construction, Architecture is about creating spaces rather than building volumes. Architecture and interiors are linked in the same way that form follows function - the two are indispensable to each other. It is for this reason that to us the most successful projects are those where one vision follows through from architecture to interior design and detailing.

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