Stroll down any residential street across the islands and you’ll see peeling wooden doors set in eroded stone next to a crisply painted garages, and the frontages of apartment blocks that give no hint of what you’d find inside. Unlike in many other countries where a glance at a person’s home gives an accurate indication of the wealth of the residents, this isn’t the case here in Malta. Our churches are grand and imposing, but Maltese homes typically have a humble exterior. Step inside, and you’ll often be surprised. And this is the case with this week’s Times2 choice of Exceptional Home which can be found on an everyday street, Triq Gorgio Borg Olivier, in the commercial centre of Victoria.
Victoria may not be a giant metropolis but, as Gozo’s heart, there’s always plenty of hustle and bustle, from the cars queued down Republic Street to the tourists ambling through the medieval lanes. The town offers delightful city living in miniature, Gozo-style, with all the pleasures that brings: a great selection of restaurants just five minutes from home, town parades or the latest films on show within half a mile, the ability to get the ingredients for dinner or an emergency battery at short notice, with Green’s opening hours handily stretching from 7am-midnight. And the buses are on hand to take you anywhere else you’d like to go.
For most residents in a town centre, however, this convenience comes at a price: there’s no view. And so for this second property in our Exceptional Homes series, we explore a stylish modern penthouse with a large L-shaped terrace complete with panoramic vista. You can sit in the bubbles of a hot tub and watch the sun go down, casting its peach dusk light over the citadel’s iconic silhouette and the dome of St George’s to your left. It’s the perfect spot for an Aperol Spritz!
The terrace is large enough to include a dining area for six, and a corner sofa on which you can all kick back and relaxing as well as an intimate two-seat patio table and chair beside a potted olive tree for your quiet morning coffee. Yes, quiet! Because the apartment’s on the top floor, you’re high above any jostling and intrigue on the streets below. There’s also a smart built in BBQ so you can cook your burgers with an ‘Esprit Bartlett’ view over the rooftops fascinating, and an outdoor shower. It’s the perfect spot for great outdoor living in the centre of town!
Indoors, this three-bedroom three-bathroom terraced apartment is stylishly kitted out in popular elegant greys, sleek black, white marble with accents of wood. It has been thoughtfully designed as a smart home, from the keyless entry to the fully integrated control of lighting and climate; and the space balances emotional warmth with modern, intuitive living.
Unexpectedly, built into the kitchen there’s a bespoke games machine which serves as a lovely reminder that even in the most straightforward of apartments, however large or small, and whatever your outlook from the balcony or conceptually, you can always be playful with the interior décor.
This apartment was recently renovated by Gozo’s Darren Xerri, who works for Frank Salt in Victoria. “When I first stepped into the space and saw the view, I knew this apartment could be something really special!” he smiles. “I’m really proud of how it has worked out.”
In the living room, the décor includes a funky line-up of framed handprints. “I got the idea from the famous club in Victoria, KU Club, which is closed nowadays, but I spent my youth in there,” Darren smiles.
The club’s walls were full of imprints. The imprints in the apartment are made from concrete and fibre and record the efforts of the people who came together to finish the unit – from the electrician and the painter to the aluminum man, Darren explains.
“This apartment is more than architecture,” he continues. “It’s a canvas of memories, emotions and the shared passion of an incredible team. Together with my uncle, who was part owner at the time, we set out to create a space that was both contemporary and deeply personal. From the Arcade machine reminiscent of our childhoods to the feature wall inspired by a disco club we once frequented, every detail reflects moments that shaped us. The terrace with its the tantalizing views echoes countless summer evenings spent barbecuing under the stars!”
“To honour the spirit of memory and personal storytelling that shaped this home, we intentionally left space for any future homeowners to leave their own mark; because a true home doesn’t merely echo the past; it lives in the present and evolves with the future.”
This extraordinary home is not on the market. We’ve shared it with you because everyone loves to dream!
See a previous Exceptional Home.
If you have an extraordinary home you’d like to share, because the house has a history, becasue you have taken an unusual or bold approach to you apartment’s interior decor, you are proud of your modern renovation, or for another reason, get in touch via x2@timesofmalta.com.
