Dar It-Tarag Residence

English description provided by the architects.

Organised around a central courtyard and divided into three wings, the property retained significant heritage features, stone slab ceilings, timber beams, xulliel walls, arches, and a large mill room, but its fragmentation and poor condition made it unsuitable for modern family life.

DESIGN CONCEPT

The vision was to unify the separate wings into one cohesive residence while preserving the spirit of the original architecture.

Conservation best practices guided every step: restoring walls and beams, retaining important spaces, and introducing new interventions that are legible and reversible.

Skylights were added to bring natural light deep into the interiors, complementing the property's southward orientation, which maximises winter solar gains.

The result is a home that honours its past while offering clear circulation, outdoor connections, and contemporary comfort.

More than a connector between floors, it links the two upper wings and serves as a bold architectural statement and freeing previously used space in the courtyard. Its contemporary form deliberately contrasts with the traditional shell, highlighting the dialogue between past and present.

Attention to detail was crucial where historic and new elements meet. Local stone, restored timber, and original masonry sit comfortably alongside plastered concrete, glass, and clean finishes.

OUTCOME

The re-imagined courtyard functions as a daily threshold, integrating outdoor space into everyday family routines.

The staircase, encountered repeatedly throughout the day, becomes both a sculptural anchor and a lived experience. The family now enjoys a home that feels traditional yet practical, historic yet comfortable.

Beyond the client, the project contributes to the wider conversation on conservation in Malta, demonstrating how vernacular properties can be revitalised for modern life while preserving their cultural significance.

CONCLUSIONS AND THOUGHTS

What makes this project extraordinary is the balance it achieves: rigorous conservation paired with inventive design.

This farmhouse demonstrates how Malta's architectural heritage can be conserved while being reshaped for contemporary domestic living. By merging careful restoration with spatial invention and thoughtful design, it sets a benchmark for adaptive reuse and reaffirms the role of architecture in shaping lived experience.