SEMI
DETACHED
DUPLEX

For a young family eager to expand their home, the project explores vertical extension as a means to capture the island’s sweeping countryside, landmark, and coastal views. The design establishes a clear spatial hierarchy by relocating the primary living areas to the upper floor, allowing the private quarters below to remain calm and secluded.

A perforation in the existing roof slab introduces a dramatic double-height volume, anchored by a new staircase that visually and physically links both levels. A generous skylight crowns this space, drawing daylight deep into the home’s core. By recessing the upper floor at both ends, terraces open out toward Mellieħa Bay and Selmun Palace, framing unobstructed vistas and reinforcing the home’s dialogue with its surrounding landscape.