Old meets new. Classical meets contemporary. To call their house a mere abode would be a gross understatement in fact. From the location and positioning of their home, to the pastel colours chosen for the facade, accentuated by bright red geraniums you can easily tell that this is definitely not the run of the mill when it comes to Maltese houses.

The house, just to put you in the picture, is called Il-Palazz tal-Kontessa (The palace of the countess), and a palace it is. But not in the sense of the oft garish and overly ornate baroque and rococo ambiences generally associated with palaces.

This is a place which oozes with contemporary grandeur. Actually the word which comes to mind is taste, with more than a touch of class too. These people obviously know what they’re doing, they are A-class strategists at planning any space to the most minute of details.

Inside is another matter. If you had any shred of a doubt concerning what these home-owners did for a living, stepping into their front door would confirm any initial speculation or suspicion.

The first two rooms to greet visitors are the working studios. Here functionality and fun meet and literally embrace. The ceiling lights double up as potent fans; the skirting along the walls serves not as a decorative feature, but has rather been devised in such a way to hide all the wiring of the rooms. Books, sketches, swatches of paper and assorted paraphernalia just help give the added feel that this is where the ‘magic’ happens. Moving into the heart of their home, the eye quickly travels along a spacious corridor and settles on an open space with thick transparent glass flooring. This beautifully roofed courtyard is a quasi cloister which doubles up as a mini art-gallery. Interestingly, this space transforms into a modest dancing-floor, which can sustain the weight of some 60 people. And should anyone suffer from vertigo, a faux turf carpet is stashed away and “on call” should the need arise to hide the glass flooring.

Natural light abounds, yet it is suffused by the UV-filtering skylight, and one can only imagine the gorgeous atmosphere this place possesses at night. Needless to say, the place is pointedly punctuated with several design prototypes from their various enterprises; these eye-catching pieces often free-standing, dominate the individual spaces, and could easily be mistaken for contemporary sculptures or installations.

The eye travels further and is met by a lush green garden, complete with a green mosaic swimming-pool, just the right garden furniture and standing lamps – all of which merge perfectly into the natural surroundings whilst simultaneously complementing the overall ambience.

The house is moreover divided into segments, the formal entertaining part on the ground floor comprises a gorgeous wet bar/small sitting room alongside a formal dining room, off of which a children’s room was planned for their ‘younger’ guests. Upstairs however, a much larger sitting room and adjacent library clad with antiques and contemporary pieces alike, establish a true note of excellence the likes of which are only seen in historic house museums.

The kitchen on the other hand, is a spectacle – a haven for any gadget or electric appliance connoisseur. Although it is the room where function prevails, form has definitely not been compromised or sacrificed – even a top chef would have a fieldtrip given the run of such a space.

Their home also boasts an elevator, an ample basement, a sauna, a wine-cellar, a meditation room, walk-in closets and a wonderfully tranquil conservatory-cum-dining area.

All the while the A to Z of the household ensures complete security, child friendliness, and energy efficiency, without compromising on the entertainment, fun, style and cutting-edge design.

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Posted By: Peter Rabitz