Architecture & Design

14 | Architecture & Design STUDJURBAN has received considerable recognition, including several awards, honourable mentions and commendations in recent years. What does that recognition mean to you and the team, and how important are awards in an architect's career? Recognition is always encouraging, especially because architecture is a collaborative effort and any award reflects the entire team's contribution. It is gratifying to know that our projects are resonating with the right audiences and that the ideas behind them are embraced. That said, I have never seen awards as the primary measure of a practice's success. They can provide useful affirmation and open opportunities for dialogue, but the more important test is whether a project withstands the test of time, validates our philosophy and contributes positively to its context. Ultimately, the lasting value of architecture lies in how a building or place is experienced and remains relevant over time. Does a house support the way its occupants live? Is a square welcoming and accessible? Does the work age well, and can it be maintained? Those questions remain long after the award ceremony. For the team, recognition should give us confidence to keep developing our work while also remaining open to criticism and learning. Of all the projects you have worked on, is there one that is particularly close to your heart or that you feel best represents your approach to architecture and design? Why? I would choose two projects, for different reasons. In urban design, Birgu's Living Piazza is my favourite and, in my view, one of STUDJURBAN's strongest projects. I see it very much as an achievement of the office. My involvement focused on the initial design and concept development through to planning permission. Perit Dorianne Cachia was the Lead Architect, and she and Perit Shannon Farrugia then took the project forward through further detailing and site implementation. Dorianne's leadership and Shannon's extensive work deserve particular recognition for bringing that vision to fruition. The square brings together much of what we value as a practice – sensitivity to heritage, accessibility and a careful understanding of how people use public space. Reclaiming more of it for pedestrians created opportunities for everyday community life within an exceptional historic setting. It is a project that represents the office's collective approach and the quality of its work. I am proud of all the international recognition we have received to date – the Local Cultural Contributor Gold Award at the Malta Business Awards 2025, the BIG SEE Architecture Award 2026, the Architizer A+ Awards 2026 Special Mention, the 2026 Architecture MasterPrize Honorable Mention, and shortlisted as finalists in the SHARE Architecture Awards 2026, the Architecture Hunter Awards 2026 and the Archello Awards 2026 Longlist in the Public Space of the Year and Architecture & Stone Award categories. Architecturally, designing my own home would be another contender and remains one of my favourite projects. I invested a great deal of attention, love and care in it, down to the smallest details. Environmental performance was central to the design, with daylight, ventilation and thermal comfort considered alongside the spaces and materials. Living in the house also gave me a continuing opportunity to experience those decisions and understand how they work in daily life. It was also a recipient of the BIG SEE Architecture Award in 2024. A S Y M P H O N Y O F L I G H T P H O T O C R E D I T: B R I A N G R E C H

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