With a width of just five metres, the challenge of this long house was overcoming the restrictions that a narrow space brings. This architect Rebecca Zammit has done beautifully, creating a home for herself and her husband that is so stylish and comfortable that the lack of width is barely noticed. Key was taking advantage of the elongated nature of the plot, some 35 metres or so, to extend the house lengthways, but an inspiring way with materials and smart design features also play their part. The project took two years and commenced with the demolition of part of the traditional Maltese townhouse that was here before. ‘The front of the townhouse had the typical arch and Maltese tiles but the back rooms of the house were quite random and cut off from the garden and with only one small window there was little light,’ says Rebecca. ‘The front part of the house had the most architectural value and was true to the character of traditional townhouses, so we decided to keep the front part only.’ The result is that the entrance to the home is a cool space of Maltese-tiled floors and white walls which lead both visually and physically to the contemporary open-plan living space of dining, kitchen and living room. Here Maltese tiles give way to flooring of engineered wood, a warm contrast to the ceiling of exposed concrete and long storage walls clad in either black or concrete grey. Light is in abundance, flowing in from the floor-to-ceiling doors that lead to the garden and also from the first floor via the skylight which forms part of the bedroom floor above. ‘It gives the ground floor an open feel, and from the bedroom makes it possible to see the living area from a different perspective,’ says Rebecca. ‘It also allows a visual connection between the two spaces, without losing any floor space.’ The skylight has also been carefully positioned in relation to the sun. ‘In winter, the sun reaches the skylight so we can take advantage of it,’ says Rebecca. ‘In summer, however, the sun is so high that the rays do not come in and so we get light without heat.’ The placement of the kitchen led the demarcation of the different living zones on the ground floor. ‘We are often in the kitchen at the end of the day, or while entertaining, so I wanted it to be the focus,’ she says. ‘Also, the sofa close to the garden allows us to enjoy the outside even when seated inside.’ Opposite the black cabinets in the kitchen is a wall of further storage, this time clad in concrete grey. ‘You can never have too much storage!’ says Rebecca. ‘But both the grey units and black ones also conceal structural pillars that needed to be built.’ Upstairs the couple’s bedroom is also full of light thanks to more floor-to-ceiling windows that also allow for a stunning view over the countryside to the sea. Another smaller window looks out onto an internal courtyard which provides cross ventilation as well as giving another green perspective. By this window, the bathtub has been strategically placed, open-plan in the room. ‘I didn’t want a bath in a small dark room with no outlook,’ says Rebecca. ‘I wanted to be able to relax with a view.’ Outside in the back garden, decking leads onto lawn, and trees and other shrubs add both the freshness of green and the softness of nature. ‘We wanted to be able to use the garden, not just look at it,’ says Rebecca. This the couple did when they moved in last July. ‘We have really enjoyed living in the house for the past year,’ says Rebecca. ‘We get to see how the house changes with every season, and how light and nature really have an impact on the interior spaces, making us feel closer to nature.’
The main living area on the
ground-floor is open-plan but the mix of materials creates character as well as zoning each section of it. Part of the ceiling is of exposed concrete which gives texture as well as injecting an interesting industrial vibe. Above
the kitchen is a plastered ceiling that allows for task lighting to be neatly installed. The engineered wood floor adds warmth; beneath it, to tackle the problems caused by humidity, is an aerated flooring system that allows air to circulate beneath the wood. In the lounge area, a large sofa from Form holds the space. Situated by the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, it is possible to enjoy a garden view when seated inside. Sheer linen curtains add the warmth and soft texture but are also practical - in summer they also protect against insects flying into the house
Kitchen
In dramatic black, the kitchen makes a great design statement. Both the units and the island are made of wood that has been layered with Fenix (fenixforinteriors.com), a relatively new acrylic resin material that is heat resistant, water-repellent and anti bacterial. Available in large sizes, it allows for a seamless surface. Opposite are floor-to-ceiling cabinets for general storage; in pale concrete grey, they don’t overwhelm the narrow space. Both sides of storage hide structural pillars
Entrance Hallway
The start of the house is in the
original Maltese townhouse and here the original tiles have been kept. A staircase on one side leads to the first floor. On the other, the eye is drawn down through the original arch to the modern rooms beyond
Dining Area
Walking from the hallway, the first area in the new section of the house contains the dining table which was custom-made with a Carrera marble top and metal legs. The chairs were sourced in the UK. The Tom Dixon lights are from Eclecticist
Kitchen and Living space
Living Space
The main living area on the ground-floor is open-plan but the mix of materials creates character. Part of the ceiling is of exposed concrete which gives texture as well as injecting an interesting industrial vibe. Above the kitchen is a plastered ceiling that allows for task lighting to be neatly installed. The engineered wood floor adds warmth; beneath it, to tackle the problems caused by humidity, is an aerated flooring system that allows air to circulate beneath the wood. In the lounge area, a large sofa from Form holds the space. Situated by the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, it is possible to enjoy a garden view when seated inside. Sheer linen curtains add the warmth and soft texture but are also practical - in summer they also protect against insects flying into the house
Living Space
The main living area on the ground-floor is open-plan but the mix of materials creates character. Part of the ceiling is of exposed concrete which gives texture as well as injecting an interesting industrial vibe. Above the kitchen is a plastered ceiling that allows for task lighting to be neatly installed. The engineered wood floor adds warmth; beneath it, to tackle the problems caused by humidity, is an aerated flooring system that allows air to circulate beneath the wood. In the lounge area, a large sofa from Form holds the space. Situated by the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, it is possible to enjoy a garden view when seated inside. Sheer linen curtains add the warmth and soft texture but are also practical - in summer they also protect against insects flying into the house
Living space
Skylight
As well as forming part of the living space ceiling, the skylight is also a section of floor of the upstairs bedroom. The metal shelving continues for a seamless
look when seen from above or below, giving the impression
that it is all one installation
Skylight
As well as forming part of the living space ceiling, the skylight is also a section of floor of the upstairs bedroom. The metal shelving continues for a seamless
look when seen from above or below, giving the impression
that it is all one installation
Main Bedroom
The first floor is dominated by the main bedroom where floor-to-ceiling windows ensure it is a light-filled room. Here, the skylight, made of toughened glass, makes up part of the floor, giving a different perspective on the living room
Bathing Space
The bathtub placed by the window onto the internal plant-filled courtyard allows for views on either side. The tap, hung from above, ingeniously resembles a light. Mirrored storage helps make the narrowest part of the room seem wider and also reflect
Bathroom
Rebecca kept the walls free of tiles so the room did not feel
cold. The hexagonal floor and wall tiles are from S&S Bathrooms
Home Office
Rebecca’s office which is within the old part of the house and where, again, there is plenty of chic storage