A HAPPY SPACE

A contemporary emphasis on light and space, exquisitely coupled with old-world elegance and character, is what greets you the moment you enter Ariadne Massa’s tastefully converted apartment, housed within a historic block overlooking a prominent square in Sliema. She takesSarah Muscat Azzopardi through the story of its recent conversion.

PHOTOS BY ALAN CARVILLE

“This whole block took a direct hit during the war, so it was re-built right after, in 1947.”

Media expert Ariadne Massa’s love of entertaining, reading, food and wine are all beautifully represented in the unique design and layout of her Sliema apartment which, despite incorporating all the comforts of modern living (and then some), marry synonymously with the building’s notable history.

“This whole block took a direct hit during the war, so it was re-built right after, in 1947,” Ariadne begins, emphasising specific features within the style of the property that reflect this, including high ceilings and period features like coving and columns.

One of the biggest attractions of the place, however, was its layout, and its well-sized, mature garden which is a rarity in similar spaces, particularly in the area. Detailing her thoughts when she first came across it, Ariadne reveals, “when I was looking for a property, a lot of them could have been ‘copy and paste’. The plans and layouts were

“I wanted to achieve a happy space, to make the most of the light, and respect the character of the building.”

very similar, so when I came here, the garden and the layout were a major deciding factor.”

Another rare asset of the apartment, in fact, is an internal courtyard, which brings in a lot of light, despite its position on the ground floor.

Showcasing the garden in the best way, however, necessitated a major decision: flipping the format of the property entirely. Describing what went into this, Ariadne explains that the area which now houses the apartment’s stunning living space was originally made up of three bedrooms, with the original kitchen and living room located at the front of the apartment, where the bedrooms are now housed.

Looking back on that state of the apartment when she first purchased it, Ariadne is quick to admit that it was in a relatively good condition, and “if I hadn’t come up with the mad idea to turn everything around, it was actually liveable, though obviously not to modern standards, as it still had all the old wiring and plumbing which needed to be

“What I love about the architects is that they really respect the spirit of the place while optimising space at the same time.”

modernised. It also had a rising damp issue, so there were some extra costs in dealing with that.”

Detailing what she wanted out of the conversion – apart from modernising and altering the layout – she says, “I wanted to achieve a happy space, to make the most of the light, and respect the character of the building. I love to read, and wanted to create these little corners – including in the garden – where I could curl up with a good book or just enjoy the atmosphere.”

In the open-plan kitchen and living area, she continues, the main scope was entertainment, and everything revolves around that, including the layout of the kitchen, from which she can easily socialise with guests. It’s also the space that brings together her love for books and wine, featuring a handsome library area and bar counter overlooking a plush seating area.

Behind a door subtly hidden within wall panelling towards the front of the apartment, the main bedroom suite features elegant built-in wardrobes and a glass-walled ensuite, framed around a show-stopping desk, which also doubles up as a headboard. The fireplace in this room is original to the building, clad in travertine while leaving little ‘peek-a-boo’ sections which showcase the old fleurde-lys tiles.

Both bedrooms are self-contained, each having its own bathroom and workspace, in keeping with Ariadne’s wish for comfort and convenience, but it is the second, smaller bedroom that’s her favourite, featuring a bespoke wooden platform that incorporates a king-sized bed, desk and shelving area. “The second bedroom makes you feel so safe and protected. We’ve nicknamed it ‘the cave’,” she says.

As a whole, the apartment makes for an inspiring mix of authentic elegance and minimal style – with a couple of exceptions in keeping with Ariadne’s personality, she jokes. “I guess you can’t really call yellow or pink bathrooms minimal! I really wanted to put myself into it.”

The project took three years to complete, and as ever, didn’t come without its challenges – including COVIDrelated delays – but each challenge was steadfastly overcome thanks to a team of passionate individuals that Ariadne is immensely grateful to.

Among these are Valentino Architects, who were instrumental in making the new layout work. “They were ingenious in creating a plan for the space, taking a bit of the courtyard to create room for the second bedroom in the spot where the former kitchen used to be. It had never even crossed my mind to do that,” Ariadne smiles. “What I love about the architects is that they really respect the spirit of the place while optimising space at the same time,” she says, adding that Peter Valentino also helped with some of the choices of colour and finish. “I wanted every room to make a statement, and he helped me to balance my madness!”

She also makes a special mention of project manager Annaliese Mizzi, who Ariadne describes as “invaluable”, asserting that, “I find it difficult to trust that people will do things how I’d like them to be done, and Annaliese knew exactly what I wanted and made sure that it was delivered.”

“I’ve been really lucky to have worked with people on whom my passion for this project really rubbed off,” she smiles, adding that she loved celebrating the completion of different stages of it with those involved, like Annaliese, the turnkey contractor, and the carpenter, who was responsible for the custom furniture. “Each person took pride in what they did, and they shared in the excitement. It’s rare to find, and that’s what really makes it special.”