17/05/2025
FOR THE LOVE OF DETAIL – [Semi-Detached Villa]
This project, designed by DSP in its first collaboration with JB Architects JB Architects, was an integration of over 2 decades of finishing skills acquired through experience on designing villas, and a wide set of resources available to both offices and client.
The design concept intended to give the client a private home with a calm sense of architectural delight, using natural raw materials and plain architectural planes and volumes, complimented by the use of ephemeral elements, lightweight and raw, with the intention of creating a complete balanced palette and layering of detail.
We had the opportunity to follow through on finishes and interiors detailing. The love for detail, the availability of high quality craftsmanship, and specific client requests led to a high degree of customisation of most elements down to the ironmongery, in certain cases.
A large courtyard, complete with a quiet yoga/meditation space, was designed towards the rear part of the plot, opening the house towards the East, South and West, such that sunshine and daylight can be brought into the inner living spaces, and giving a calm sense of contained outdoor space, playing on the effect of light, shade and shadows, with a graded light effect on the vertical louvers.
This space provides a tranquil setting for the soul to find its home, hidden from the hustle and bustle of our everyday life. It is a place where one can restore their energy.
Landscaping was designed and located to enhance and compliment the architecture. The organic shadows of greenery contrast the orthogonality of the building planes and volumes. It provides privacy where required and adds life and seasonal variation to the ambient experience.
The external materials palette is a mix of raw and refined materials placed to enhance the architectural volumes.
The Interiors material palette throughout the house balances warm and cold surfaces, raw and refined, matte and smooth materials.
The requirement for a cosy home required that internally, insulation was added all around, including floors, walls, ceilings and apertures; underfloor heating was included in the insulation build-up for extra comfort.
One of the main project considerations was energy wastage.
The design was therefore aimed primarily at minimising unintentional heat gains and heat losses. The house was therefore insulated all around.
• The raised flooring, walls and roof were ventilated as well as abundantly insulated.
• All apertures include thermal break frames and double glazing with thicker laminated glass of varying thicknesses, for both thermal and sound proofing.
• A second rainwater storage and supply system provides water for irrigation, flushings and pool topping-up.
• Internal cross ventilation was studied and given priority; utilising specific size & orientation of apertures along the facades and central courtyard.
• Passive solar gain in winter works very well with sunshine deep into the centre of the building, due to the location of the courtyard.
• The South-facing facade is designed to be more solid, with intermittent large apertures that utilise large lightweight louvers structures to protect from the harsh sunlight, create an effect of shadows on the interior spaces, and protect the main door from the prevailing localised wind-driven rain.
• The front is provided with a deck with a large porch adjoining the kitchen and dining rooms. It provides a shaded space for an outdoor dining and living area, adjacent to the shaded outdoor kitchen area, sun deck area, and outdoor bathroom. The outdoor front garden is designed for entertaining as well as daily family use.
• Underfloor Heating was used throughout. Aerated concrete was used below to reduce dust and excess weight created by loose aggregate [torba].
Of particular interest, for example, are the natural hardstone strips defining the entrance from street level, cut to two specific heights and saw-cut patterns to create a play of shadows, emphasizing the horizontal bands, ‘rustication’ and texture to the ground floor base.
Pietra Lavica was treated and supplied in three different finishes, one of which experimented specifically for this project, and used throughout the interiors and exterior.
PROJECT TEAM:
ARCHITECTURE: Perit Daniel Scerri [DSP], Perit Rebecca Zammit [DSP], JeanKarl Bondin [JB Architects]
INTERIOR DESIGN: Perit Daniel Scerri, Ruth Vella, JeanKarl Bondin
FINISHES: Perit Daniel Scerri, Perit Joseph Bondin, JeanKarl Bondin
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: JB Architects: Perit Reuben Muscat, Perit Joseph Bondin
Other Credits:
Photography: Alan Carville Alan Carville
Building Contractors: Jimmy Gatt, Marlon Baldacchino Marlon Baldacchino
Finishing Contractors: Hal Mann Vella Halmann Vella, Framegrip Ltd. Framegrip Industries Limited, Climaflow, SGT 1183 Woodworks, etc.
![FOR THE LOVE OF DETAIL – [Semi-Detached Villa]This project, designed by DSP in its first collaboration with JB Architect...](https://img5.homeimprove1.com/383/642/1213196373836428.jpg)
