AN ARCHITECT AT SEA

Skipper interviews Ray De Micoli, an architect whose passion for the sea is felt and seen through his work.

What drove your passion for the sea?

I grew up in an environment where the sea was like the air we breathe. My father was passionate about the sea, and so was my grandfather. Although one of my first memories wasn’t a happy one, as I had nearly drowned in St Pauls Bay. However, the seed was planted.

Was it always your wish to become an architect?

Well, one evening, at the age of 13, my father asked what plans I had for a career, and since I sketched freely, he thought that it was an excellent skill for the architectural profession. It seemed to me like a natural progression. So, I went along with that.

How does the sea inspire your design?

The sea is all around us; it lies latent in an islander’s perception. I always felt it had a calming effect, freedom, and the light reflecting off it is beautiful. The most stunning cities in the world all coastal cities.

Have you taken part in any races? What was that like?

As a present for my O-levels, my father bought me an eleven-foot sailing dinghy class Heron. My brother Edward and I went out on it with a book on how to sail and off we went.

The following summer I sold the Heron and bought a clinker-built ‘International 14.’ We spent some amazing summer days with this boat. I used to keep her at Balluta Bay. Unfortunately, the vicious ‘grigal’ of 1968 wrecked it, and all I recovered was the stern and the bronze keel. Having raced extensively, I built a Mirror 14 kit and raced her regularly in Mellieħa and Birżebbuġa. I had also won the National Dinghy Championship in 1973.

After the dinghies, I moved to windsurf where I won the Hi Fly World Championship in Cebu, the Philippines in 1981. Having watched many Middle Sea Races, we were yearning to get into the yachting circuit. So, my brother Edward bought a 33 foot DB1 by Dehler racing yacht called Lilli. We raced her extensively, Middle Sea Races, ¾ on cup in Spain, and many more. As my family grew, I wanted to bestow on them the passion for the sea. So I purchased a 36- foot Beneteau First Class 10 yacht. We raced and cruised, winning many races including the Malta Syracuse, and other local races. In total, I took part in 10 Middle Sea Races. In 1995, a few friends of mine and myself decided to go to Antigua Sailing Week. This is the best regatta I have ever been to. Here, I was enamoured with catamarans. Later, we chartered a yacht for the King’s Cup in Phuket, Thailand. Again, a lot of yachting and parties.

What would be your ideal project to work on?

I was so lucky to be involved in the Portomaso project. The sensuality of the sea always

lured me, by our three cities where the sea bathed the skirts of buildings. Naturally, I was determined to make the marina the focal point, so I brought the sea right up to the Hilton hotel, which made all the difference to this project.In 2002 I took a sabbatical and joined my brotherin-law John Falzon in the Caribbean. There we cruised and fished. Always punctual in arriving in a harbour for the celebrated ‘sundowner’, a favourite tradition among yachties.

What do you feel Maltese architecture needs more of?

I feel that we should exploit this resource much more. Our major seaside towns are on the north-eastern side. We all know how the winds from this quarter are the worst. Seafront bars

and restaurants are the most popular as can be seen from places like St Julian’s Bay and the Menqa in Marsalforn or Marsaxlokk. I felt that we need to be doing more projects that carve the coast and create that yachting/fishing harbour environment.

How do you combine a touch of the sea with architecture? Any projects you can mention?

I consider the sea and my work as seamless. The Laguna in Portomaso was born from a yachting experience I had. We were cruising in ›

Portomaso

Corsica with my family when one evening we decided to barbecue fish on board.

Halfway through cooking, the wind changed direction. When I finished cooking, my entire body was smelling of king prawns. I went under the cat and thought to myself, wouldn’t it be great if we could have swimming pools below dwellings with glass floors and openings that create beautiful reflecting light patterns shimmering all over the apartment? I kept that thought at the back of my mind. Until three weeks later, George Fenech asked me to come up with a high-value design without obstructing the views of the apartments at the

Reflecting light paterns, the inspiration for the apartments

Misurata

back. I got that idea and developed it. Within five days, I presented the Laguna to him.

We have designed beautiful projects in Libya. One, in particular, was in Misurata. I had become fascinated by the formation of harbours and the maritime history of ancient times. The Romans and Carthaginians built the harbours behind existing reefs by excavating the land. That was going to be our solution for Misurata, but unfortunately, the project was never built.

Any projects in the offing you can tell us about?

Unfortunately, some of these projects are still ongoing, but it is my dream to build a village like Port Grimaud. Berthing a yacht opposite a residence is indeed an enviable lifestyle and highly sought after.

Laguna

Port Grimaud