A series of tall, folded walls replicating the rhythm of solid and void on the ground floor, was constructed in stone, adding a romantic twist to the existing one storey wing. In the same way that a castle’s battlements served to shield the defenders from enemy arrows, the new wall, conceived as a scenographic element reminiscent of scenes from Hamlet and Tosca, provides protection to the new owners from the direct gaze of their neighbours. The wall is built by craftsmen utilizing locally sourced Maltese softstone and traditional construction techniques, but the application is contemporary.

The screen is crafted to create specific shadows by changing the angles and spacing of the fins to allow light and shadow to interact playfully with the façade and to guarantee the balance of privacy, light and the historic character of the site. The project includes reconfiguring the rooms of the house and improving their connection to the gardens, historic stone walls and Mediterranean fruit trees. The loggia, originally a farm structure used to shelter animals, is transformed into the central living area, connected with the outdoor dining space and pool.

Several reclaimed materials, including stone floor slabs are reintegrated throughout the structure, reinforcing the continuity between the renewed building and the region’s vernacular architecture.