In architecture, Rosanne Asciak found a profession that brought together two divergent aspects of her personality: her creative side and her pragmatic side. It also satiated her desire to do something that, in the end, is there for one thing: to serve people.
“The demands placed on architecture will always exist and evolve due to social, economic, contextual, cultural factors or constraints that might change,” says Rosanne, Partner at AP Valletta as part of StudioTalks, our interview series with Malta’s architects, designers and creatives.
“But if you focus on human-centric design and don’t lose sight of the fact that it’s for people, then I think that is where you can come up with an architecture which will last the test of time.”
A natural progression
Her entry into the world of architecture isn’t defined by a particular moment, experience or legacy, but rather a decision she decribes as a natural progression that satisfied her search for a line of work that embodies creativity, problem-solving and logic. “Architecture is a way of finding solutions, but it can also be an object of beauty.”
And since joining AP Valletta in 2008, not long after starting her career in architecure in 2005, Rosanne has put that into practice while embarking on a journey defined by constant learning.
“My time at AP has contributed a lot to my growth as an architect as well as my personal growth. There have been ups and downs, moments of frustration and self-doubt, but also a lot of learning,” she notes.
“I’ve been privileged to be surrounded by people who have mentored, inspired and supported me, and hopefully I can inspire the people I work with today in the same way. As a partner, it’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.”
Building for longevity
Rosanne defines good design in architecture as very subjective, but to her, it is also marked by a focus on the user experience within the architecture, enhancing that experience and connecting people to place.
“Obviously, architecture is like a machine in that for it to work, the rational side of it has to address the brief requirements, it must be functional and adaptable but also crafted in workmanship, so that it’s a building that lasts.”
Augmenting this is a design approach Rosanne strongly believes should be a starting point for every new build: passive design first, followed by green technology and not the other way around.
“This encapsulates basic principles from building orientation and natural daylight versus shade to keeping buildings insulated and cool that can easily be integrated in new projects,” she states.
“We also have a responsibility as architects to question whether the better solution may be not to build a new building, but perhaps adapt and repurpose existing building stock. It’s a limited resource, both in terms of materials and land.”
Unique projects and lessons learned
Early on during her time at AP, Rosanne was involved in a project that not only marks a career highlight for her, but reamains a source of gratification years on.
“The Barrakka lift was a unique project – not only did it have to navigate the requirements of the brief, which was to move large volumes of people from the Valletta waterfront up through a height of 50 to 60 metres through the city as fast and efficiently as possible, but it is also within a highly, highly sensitive historic setting,” says Rosanne.
The experience threw her into the heart of AP and what it does. “It had a big influence on how my approach to projects formed along the line. It was also about 18 months of climbing scaffolding, but I learned a lot!”
Equally rewarding but perhaps the most challenging was a palazzo in Saint Ursula Street, Valletta that Rosanne spent many years working on.
“The client was very much part of the design process and the end result was a series of beautiful sculpted spaces that had this play of light and shade, solid and void,” says the architect.
The project featured ample bespoke pieces, a number of them challenging to manufacture, and the process was long drawn out. “It was a little painful on site, even dealing with the logistics of Saint Ursula Street and unhappy neighbours, but I learned a lot, particularly on how to navigate unexpected decisions. It remains a beautiful project which is really close to my heart.”
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Portrait by Jake Bellizzi
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