Periti and industry professionals from Malta and beyond our shores gathered at Villa Bighi over the weekend for Premju Emanuele Luigi Galizia 2025 – a night designed to celebrate the best of the profession in Malta, highlighting projects and Periti that are striving for excellence in the built environment of our islands.
A week of events culminated in the awards night on Saturday 25th October that centred on a core premise – “What would Galizia do?”
“That is this year’s point of reflection – a question set as a kind of compass, helping us measure how our submissions align with Galizia’s values and his enduring standard of quality,” noted Joeaby Vassallo, the awards’ Artistic Director on behalf of I+A.
“We hold our esteem for Galizia mostly in hindsight. But what if he were among us today? And by the same measure, how will our own work, as a profession, be perceived 120 years from now?”
Shaping the Malta of tomorrow
Andre Pizzuto, President of the Kamra Tal-Periti, echoed the timeliness of this year’s chosen theme of legacy – “a fitting theme, because legacy is not only what we inherit – it is also what we leave behind. It is the measure of how our decisions today will shape the Malta of tomorrow.”
Perit Pizzuto highlighted the inspiring public presentations before the international jury, which demonstrated the passion and creativity within the profession.
“We saw works that embodied perseverance, innovation, and above all, purpose. They reminded us that architecture is an act of imagination as much as it is an act of service – an ongoing conversation between context, culture, and community.”
Khaled Elashry, Partner at Foster + Partners UK and a member of this year’s jury, notes he was inspired by the standard of entries for the awards. “They set a high benchmark, successfully navigating strict planning regulations while delivering architecture that is sensible to its context and is evident of a strong generation of architects.”
“I have also left with a newfound love for the Maltese limestone, recognising its essential role in anchoring these sensitive designs to the island’s heritage.”
On behalf of Zaha Hadid Architects, Associate Director Maurizio Meossi said the experience of serving on the jury for Premju Galizia has been deeply rewarding on several levels. “First, the quality of the submissions across all categories was truly exceptional,” he shares.
“Second, the diverse and international background of the jury fostered rich and stimulating dialogue throughout the evaluation process. And finally, the outstanding hospitality and impeccable organisation by the team, combined with the remarkable beauty of Malta, made this an especially memorable and inspiring occasion.”
The Winners of Premju Galizia 2025
Teatru Salesjan – Adaptive Renovation Award
Teatru Salesjan’s refurbishment project strived to achieve a balance between preserving historical integrity while meeting contemporary demands. The studio’s approach placed the building’s original architecture at the heart of the project, restoring significant features such as the ornate detailing, the Giuseppe Calí fresco, stage layout, and distinctive spatial configuration, while integrating modern interventions to ensure continued relevance and functionality – all installed with the intention of being totally reversible.
Dar iċ-Ċitru, Ħaż-Żebbug – Single Dwelling Design Award
Dar iċ-Ċitru reimagines a vernacular Maltese townhouse through subtle internal reconfiguration along with a contemporary addition. Set within the urban conservation area of Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Dar Iċ-Ċitru’s thoughtful approach strengthens the bond between interior and exterior, home and garden. The project transforms a once-disjointed dwelling into a cohesive, contemplative environment where heritage and landscape are placed at the centre of family life.
Architect’s Workshop, Marsa – Workplace Design Award
Architect’s Workshop, located in Marsa, won the Workplace Design Award for the transformation of a former carpenter’s warehouse in Marsa into an open-plan office that draws inspiration from Maltese vernacular architecture. The office is comprised of a large central room as the main office space, and three smaller rooms, all of which overlook the Mediterranean garden that runs the entire length of all these rooms. Hints of the building’s past were retained and celebrated, such as carpentry machinery that were given new life as furniture pieces.
VIP Terminal, Malta International Airport – Hospitality Design Award
The new VIP Terminal at the Malta International Airport transformed a previously detached building with two wings into a cohesive space for discerning travellers. The design was guided by two intentions: to create a strong sense of place, ensuring travellers recognise that they arrived in Malta, and to ensure the new building sits comfortably alongside the retained one, distinct yet complementary.
Sustainable Living Complex, University of Malta – Engineering Innovation Award
The Sustainable Living Complex (SLC) in Msida was conceived as a landmark for interdisciplinary collaboration, while integrating advanced structural systems, sustainable strategies, and research facilities into a cohesive whole. Positioned along the University Ring Road, SLC is a testbed for innovative technologies in resource efficiency, aviation, aerospace, and maritime studies.
EBEJER BONNICI – Emerging Practice Award
Karl Ebejer and Anthony Bonnici took home the Emerging Practice Award as founders of EBEJER BONNICI which they started in 2021 with a primary focus on discovering new potentials and worlds in architecture. With Bonnici’s experience leading international projects and Ebejer’s precision in navigating Malta’s challenging planning landscape, the studio is crafting an architecture that is both globally ambitious and locally resonant.
Forgotten Stories – Unbuilt Projects Award
A proposal for Evans Building in Valletta, Forgotten Stories, was selected as the winner for the Unbuilt Projects Award. The proposal, for a project that sought to convert the former University laboratories into a luxury hospitality resort, aimed at resuscitating parts of foregone structures that stood on the site but were destroyed during WWII – as if invoking memories of the architectural ghosts surrounding the site.
Simone Mizzi – Leadership Award
Vice President of Din L-Art Helwa Simone Mizzi was announced as the recipient of the Leadership Award in recognition of her decades of service to preserving Malta and Gozo’s heritage, volunteering countless hours and being actively involved in every aspect of the NGO’s operations, which was founded by her father Judge Maurice Caruana Curran in 1965.
Vince Cassar – Lifetime Achievement Award
Former Kamra Tal-Periti president Perit Vince Cassar was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Currently the Chairperson of the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and President of the Malta Industrial Heritage Association (MIHA), Perit Cassar previously served as Director General of Public Works, Chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and later as Chairman of the Planning Authority Board, as well as President of the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA).
Valentino Architects – President’s Award
The night’s final award, the President’s Award, was presented to Valentino Architects – a Valletta-based studio founded in 2015 by Peter and Sandro Valentino in recognition of the outstanding projects submitted for Premju Galizia and selected by the international jury, which consistently demonstrated design innovation, environmental responsibility, social inclusivity, and cultural significance.
Premju Galizia photography by Jean Marc Zerafa for Kamra tal-Periti
