One of the finest and most unique examples of Art Nouveau

Initial restoration works have commenced on Roseville, a unique house in Attard that showcases one of the finest and earliest examples of Art Nouveau in Malta. The works that are being carried out by the applicant are the result of a close working collaboration between MEPA and the applicant to ensure that this distinctive architectural building is safeguarded, restored and re-used in a sustainable manner.

In January 2000, MEPA issued an Emergency Conservation Order as the first measure to protect this building. This 20th century architectural building, before this time, was not much appreciated in Malta, but MEPA considered this building as unique, owing to its architecture, especially its polychromed facade, the wrought iron railings and several other external and internal details.

A plan for the restoration of Roseville was submitted together with an application that included the construction of an old people’s home adjacent and on the rear of the property. The property was earmarked to house the administrative quarters of the Home. A permit was issued in April 2004, together with an approved restoration method statement, conditions for monitoring of the restoration works by MEPA and a €23,256 (LM10,000) bank guarantee to ensure compliance and restoration. Furthermore MEPA scheduled Roseville as a Grade 2 building in June 2006.

It is expected that the full restoration of the scheduled building will be undertaken after completion of preparatory works around the building, following which the construction of the old people’s home will commence.

The Authority remains committed to the conservation of the Island’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations.

Additional Information:

Roseville is an early 20th century house built as a summer residence by the proprietor Dr. W. Briffa. The house was built in two phases; the ground floor was built in 1912 by architect Alessandro Manara and the first floor was added in 1921 by architect Emanuele Borg in the same architectural grammar of the ground floor.

This house is complete and authentic in all its elements such as the architectural fabric, the decorations, including its fixtures and fittings. The type of Art Nouveau motifs of this building indicate a French or North Italian stylistic influence. Apart from the stylised organic motifs on the façade, this is the only building in Malta where polycromy was used on the façade, such that the recessed panels are painted red, while the motifs were picked out in other colours, thus accentuating the relief and creating contrast.

This property is important because of the following: –

· the aesthetic qualities of the architectural features and style,

· it is unique in design and an authentic representation of the period,

· it is still in a very good state of preservation,

· it is a point of reference in the urban texture and contributes greatly to the townscape,

· historically it is the only building in the Maltese Islands in this architectural grammar,

· it represents the influx of foreign artistic influence successfully adapted to integrate the local vernacular in the early nineteenth century,

· it is also important within a context as it forms part of a series of villas and traditional period town houses in the old urban fabric of Attard.

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