Old Bakery Townhouse

Nestled within the urban fabric of Qormi, Malta, this townhouse carries centuries of history within its walls. For most of its lifetime, it served as a cherished local bakery—its thick stone walls, traditional methods of construction, and enduring bakery oven standing as testaments to the craftsmanship and community spirit of a bygone era. The space retains great architectural and cultural significance, where every arch and imperfection tell a story of time and adaptation.

Despite its inherent beauty, years of incremental alterations have created an unconventional spatial configuration, revealing traces of different interventions across multiple eras. The project aims to respectfully reinterpret the townhouse by preserving its significant structural and historic features while introducing new layers of function and comfort suited to contemporary life.

The redesign envisions two distinct residential units: a main residence where a couple will build their family and daily life, and a smaller independent dwelling. Within the primary residence, space is organized across two principal levels—the ground floor serving as a communal and semi-public area, and the first floor accommodating both shared and private experiences.

At its heart, this project is a dialogue between heritage and modernity. It seeks not only to maintain and reveal the townhouse’s historical character but to reimagine its use for present and future generations—celebrating continuity, adaptability, and the enduring life of place.