Casa Ellul

Valletta, Malta

In 2010, two brothers walked into the studio wanting to revive a dilapidated, Victorian townhouse passed down over generations. At the time, Valletta was an office-based rental market but nonetheless, they were enthused by the novel typology proposed: Valletta’s first boutique hotel.

To preserve the authenticity of the house, and in contrast to the contemporary spaces designed in the courtyard, bathrooms and rooftop additions, few alterations were made to the original structure.

Each of the 8 suites is distinct, with a sense of home rather than hotel, enhanced by the scale of the property. Views of architectural details of the church’s façade are framed within the suites, with bathtubs and terraces placed so as to reveal the scale and proximity of the church’s cornices and its colossal, UFO-esque dome.

Photographer Ritty Tacsum re-interpreted the Ellul family tree through a photo collage in the breakfast area, together with works depicting Valletta’s streetscapes and skyline in each bedroom.

Photos by Alan Carville