Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546390
Architecture & Design | 7 A rchitecture is never simply about buildings. It is about the way we live in them, the stories they carry, and the choices we make about what deserves to be preserved, transformed or reimagined. This issue explores that relationship through some of the people and places shaping Malta's architectural landscape today. On our cover is Casa Bonavita in Attard, a remarkable seven- year restoration that has transformed a historic family home into a 17-bedroom retreat. Rather than erasing the character of the original house, the project embraces its history, allowing architecture, interiors and gardens to evolve together. It is a fitting example of how restoration can give an old building a new life without losing its sense of place. Our main interview takes us deeper into these questions with architect Gaston Camilleri, whose career has bridged contemporary architecture, structural design and heritage conservation. From his work on significant historic buildings to his role as a founding partner of Offset Architecture Studio, Camilleri offers a thoughtful perspective on what it means to build responsibly in an island where the old and new increasingly compete for space. He speaks about Maltese limestone, modernist buildings, conservation, adaptive reuse and the pressures created by Malta's construction boom. Above all, he argues for something that feels increasingly important: taking the time to look, understand and think beyond the immediate. That idea runs throughout this issue. Whether we are considering a restored home, a historic landmark or a contemporary intervention, good architecture asks us to pay attention to context, and to consider what we leave behind. In a rapidly changing Malta, perhaps that is the conversation we need most. PUBLISHED BY MediaToday Co Ltd PUBLISHER AND REGISTERED EDITOR Saviour Balzan DISTRIBUTION Free with the MaltaToday HEAD OF SALES Adriana Farrugia afarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt +356 2138 2741 EDITOR Philippa Bugeja REGISTERED ADDRESS MediaToday Co Ltd Vjal ir-Riħan San Gwann, Malta CONTACT pbugeja@mediatoday.com.mt COVER Casa Bonavita, Attard Photo Credit: Julian Vassallo