Uniting Style and Mood at Doma: A Stone House in Malta
Discover an adventure in style and mood at Doma, a stunning stone house located in Valletta, Malta. Designed in 2022 by Chris Briffa Architects, this owner-architect townhouse boasts eight diverse rooms spread over four floors, each with its own identity, yet united by a common, sober concept.
From the oldest masonry ground floor to the newly built Nordic-inspired upper floors facing a sunny terrace, this house is a masterpiece of design and creativity.
About Doma
Exploring Style and Mood in a Townhouse
Housed in eight distinctive rooms spanning four floors, this owner-architect townhouse offers a captivating exploration of style and mood. With a common, sober concept underlying each space, the house reveals a unique adventure.
The Ground Floor: Balmy Guest Suite
The masonry ground floor is the oldest part of the house. Here, restored arches and cast-in-situ concrete walls evoke a balmy guest suite atmosphere.
The First Floor: Retro-Inspired Bathroom
On the first floor, the bedroom welcomes with warmth and colour. The bathroom, in particular, delights with its retro-inspired style, featuring recovered 70s tiles and a reflecting ceiling.
The Second Floor: Family Room
The second floor showcases the largest room in the house: the family room. Filled with an informal arrangement of Bulthaup B2 kitchen workbench (2.44m) and pantry cupboards, this space also features a Mondrianesque library.
The Master Bedroom: An Asian-Inspired Outdoor Space
The lack of space in the master bedroom inspired the architect to create a bridge over the courtyard, connecting it to the bathroom. Inside the bright, glass box, a steel-marble vanity creates a spa-like atmosphere reminiscent of an Asian-inspired outdoor space. Adding to the drama, the clear-glass floor offers a visual connection between the public courtyard and the most private space of the house.
The Upper Floors: Nordic-Inspired Rooms
The upper floors, constructed from recycled masonry removed from lower floors during renovation, face the sunny terrace. Here, Nordic-inspired, sunny spaces house a bath, a hidden laundry room and the architect’s art studio. The studio’s ceiling features a series of curvilinear shapes playing with the proportions of the room. These were painstakingly fixed onto the formwork by the architect and his father on a windy February morning.
Memorable Moments and Experiences
After living in this house for 8 years, Briffa fondly remembers the more memorable and intimate experiences that occurred in the more experimental spaces. These range from the mirrored reflection of his son’s bathroom’s ceiling to the awkward greetings through the main bathroom floor. The house also features multi-functional roof spaces that carefully mix leisure areas with concealed building services, including a roof-top whirlpool.
Photography by Aldo Amoretti
Visit Chris Briffa Architects
- by Matt Watts
