In this project by AP Valletta, a renovated coach house is presented at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2018. The architectural firm undertook a challenging renovation for “The Coach House” in Balzan, Malta. The renovated building was also nominated in the “New & Old – Completed Buildings” category. The former carriage house is located in the historic heart of the city, on the edge of the urban nature reserve. There is little historical information about the property. Of these, it is believed that it always served as a service building and was connected to the neighboring Palazzo Bosio.
Carriage shed renovated with style and design
The palazzo was built in the 18th century for Vincenzo Bosio, the commander of the knights, as his own residential area. The carriage house refers to an external building in the immediate vicinity of the palazzo, probably before the construction of the main palace. The project's program is focused on the need to maintain the functional character of the existing building while taking into account the requirements of the new owners.
Such a new building usually also responds to the pressure of the construction site. This happens both through the adjacent buildings and, in this case, through the historical connection with the Palazzo Bosio. The original property was in a dilapidated state with most openings missing. The stone walls were devoid of mortar and joints, while climbing plants and moss grew on the walls due to the damp environment resulting from lack of use and maintenance.
Restructured minimalist shapes
So to turn a renovated carriage shed into a home from what was once a one-story service building, a house extension was designed. The architects grafted these onto the peripheral wall of the existing structure. The clearly defined approach to the project was primarily to restore the structure of this modest but historic and valuable cultural building.
The team carried out all extensions and their structural interventions in such a way as to ensure the protection of the existing building and the reversibility of new extensions where possible. In fact, the volume of the main extension is exactly the same size as the existing building. The architects have built a new staircase, an independent sculptural structure that is self-supporting and made of solid steel plates, as a connection between the old and the new and the different levels.
