Design brief
Barbajean is a new eatery in Malta, nestled in the heart of a quaint village along the western shore of the island. The brief for the space was to create an interior that provided an elevated eating experience, combining the pride of heritage with the excitement of contemporary design. The client for Barbajean had a vision for a versatile eatery that celebrated the rituals of dining out, challenging the team with creating a new destination for its village home – a landmark that respects its environment whilst injecting it with new life.

Design challenges
The greatest challenge on this project was striking a balance between championing heritage-driven design whilst creating a palpable feeling of contemporary luxury. The location of the eatery within a traditional village core meant Mizzi Studio was driven to inject vernacular solutions into its DNA. The team studied historic precedents with a focus on colour, materials and traditional functionality, assuring that new interventions were congruous with their surrounding village fabric.

Design results
The design concept for Barbajean took cues from the typical Maltese facade – its coloured timber doors; informal parapet steps; and mid-century terrazzo architrave tradition were all used as formal inspiration. Inside, Mizzi Studio carefully crafted a restaurant vocabulary that recalls the elegance of European Art-Deco bistros. Mizzi Studo custom designed the furniture, lighting and signage for Barbajean, introducing a medley of rich textures including brass, terrazzo, neon, and sumptuous velvet upholstery.

Team:
Architect: Mizzi Studio
Custom Print Artwork: Ed Dingli
Branding: Steves and Co
Photograher: Brian Grech

Material Used:
Facade cladding:  
1. Flooring: Halman Vella, Pink Terrazzo
2. Interior lighting: Brass Fabrication – Anvil and Forge
3. Joinery and Upholstery: Construct Furniture