Design
T
aking on this project of redesign-
ing the minuscule Photocity out-
let in Valletta’s South Street would
have given anyone the shivers but
then these two young mothers – and profes-
sional periti – were not daunted. Perhaps it’s a
gift mothers instinctively have, knowing how to
juggle their lives and time around their chil-
dren and family responsibilities. Perhaps it
comes from simply being female, with more
than a dose of drive to achieve. But these two
periti have embarked on a partnership that
will undoubtedly lead to other successes in the
coming years. And they’ve called themselves
“Unfold Architects”, a new brand which they
want to make synonymous with the philosophy
that every place has potential – “and we try to
extract the story and unfold it from the space,”
as Alexia put it.
When they set eyes on this small shop space
they immediately realised that the premises
extended upstairs through a spiral staircase –
our famous garigor – and there the area availa-
ble was at least 6 times that of downstairs. The
creative challenge was to think bigger than what
was available downstairs, to try and see how the
garigor could be removed, remove a good part of
the ceiling in the process and instead create a
winding – and inviting – staircase which would
also entice clients to view other of the compa-
ny’s products and services upstairs.
“The major advantage we had” explained
Sarah, “is that our client was completely open
to our ideas, no matter how challenging they
may have seemed to him at first. When he
saw our initial designs he was surprised with
what could be achieved in such a small space.”
This relationship between client and designer
fostered a good means of communication
between them and through it they were able
to think big yet within the budget and the
constraints of the 5m x 2m available. Alexia
then added that “all these constraints push you
to think on how you can really make it work.”
60
Q 2 , 2017
DESIGN&BUILD