Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544639
16 | Architecture & Design ones encountered on any other project. They are all offset by the positive feedback received from the first families calling Dar Tereza home, who are thriving and enjoying a better quality of life thanks to the support received by the fantastic staff at Richmond Foundation, in a safe space that supports personalisation, autonomy and growth. The Dar Tereza project received the Community Impact Award at the Premju Galizia 2024, received a Special Commendation at the Din l-Art Helwa Heritage Awards 2025 and was nominated for the EU Mies Van der Rohe Award for Architecture 2026. Beyond Dar Tereża, which project best represents your philosophy of architecture as a tool for social impact? We strive to apply the same philosophy in all the projects we work on. Much of our commissions are centred around themes of care, elderly, mental health and disabilities, however we also work on community and residential projects. Across different typologies the scope is always to create supportive, enabling spaces that are responsive to the needs of the users. Are there any upcoming or ongoing projects that continue to push the boundaries of inclusive or participatory design? Yes definitely, we have a couple of projects we have been working on which we look forward to launching over the coming weeks. These are principles we carry through all the projects we choose to embark on and regularly engage directly with participants and society at large at different scales. Are there particular places, people, or experiences that have deeply influenced the way you think about architecture? I like to think that every project brings new experiences, participants and encounters that affect the way I think about architecture and create spaces that work for that person or group. Looking ahead, how do you see the role of architects evolving in addressing mental health, ageing, and social equity? Architects who choose to operate within these realities are generally embracing the shift from specialist to curator, where the hierarchy is more horizontal and the participants enjoy an active role in shaping their own space. P h o t o g r a p h y : S e a n M a l l i a