Located in the locality of Naxxar, known for its rich architectural heritage, Naxxar House by AP Valletta involves the refurbishment and extension of an 18th-century palazzino. The property lies just outside the boundary of the designated Urban Conservation Area, making it susceptible to the recent rise of higher apartment blocks in its vicinity. These developments now overshadow the low-rise residence and overlook its garden.
The proposed interventions respond to the family’s functional needs while demonstrating a careful sensitivity to the house's historic memory and its surrounding context. The brief called for the design of a screen wall on the façade to ensure privacy for the terrace behind it and the garden below, which will feature a pool. Additionally, the project includes reconfiguring the existing rooms within the main house and improving their connection to the gardens.
Originally a farm structure used to shelter animals, the single-storey loggia adjacent to the main garden has been transformed into the primary living space, establishing a seamless connection between the main house, an outdoor dining area, a seating area, and the pool. Meanwhile, a secondary garden room has been converted into a guest studio.
A defining feature of the intervention is the fixed stone privacy screen, designed as a contemporary addition to the existing façade. It unifies with the original fabric through the use of a common material—Maltese softstone (franka). Traditional construction methods were employed to sculpt the undulating fins of the screen, creating an engaging design that bridges past and future. Over time, the screen will develop its own patina, reinforcing its connection to the historic structure. The changing angles and spacing of the fins ensure privacy from neighboring developments while allowing light and shadow to interact with the façade, maintaining the legibility of the building’s volume.
The pool garden, framed by old stone walls and Mediterranean fruit trees, has been reimagined as an elegant, multi-tiered landscape. Horizontal and vertical stone planes appear to emerge organically from the existing garden, harmonizing with the privacy screen to create a cohesive contemporary architectural language. This delicate yet innovative intervention respects and complements the traditional Mediterranean character of the residence.
