Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544639
Architecture & Design | 19 A r c h i t e c t u r e . i n t e r i o r a r c h i t e c t u r e & s t r u c t u r a l d e s i g n : A R C H I T E C T U R E T H R E E S I X T Y P h o t o g r a p h y : A l e x a n d r a P a c e S t u d i o T erraced houses are often synonymous with long, linear layouts and limited access to natural light. This once typical dark and narrow terraced house has been transformed into a luminous family home defined by openness, material richness and a carefully choreographed relationship between interior and exterior. Here, extensive internal alterations radically restructured the home's organisation. The pivotal move was the creation of a central courtyard, an architectural void that acts as both a light well and a spatial anchor. The main staircase wraps around this open core, turning what would traditionally be a purely functional element into a sculptural feature and a daily encounter with sky, greenery and shifting light. As one moves through the house, the architectural experience reveals itself in fragments. A slim skylight traces the upper circulation, drawing daylight along a newly cast bridge that connects the main bedroom suite to the spare bedrooms. The bridge, minimal and precise, floats across the void, reinforcing the sense of vertical continuity. Light filters down the pale walls and reflects off glass balustrades, softening the solidity of the surrounding structure. The result is a home that feels porous and layered rather than enclosed. At ground level, the spatial experience expands into the large family room, a generous, open-plan environment designed for gathering and retreat in equal measure. Full-height glazing frames views of the outdoor area, dissolving the boundary between inside and out. Beyond, a pool stretches along the rear of the plot, amplifying light and introducing movement and reflection into the interiors. A TERRACED HOUSE TRANSFORMED INTO A QUIET UTOPIA