The Planning Authority has confirmed the protection of a Baroque townhouse situated in Bormla, as a Grade 2 scheduled building.

This comes after the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) turned down an appeal lodged against the PA for its protection status to be removed.

Instead, the EPRT confirmed the PA’s original decision for scheduling.

This townhouse is situated on Triq San Pawl, a road characterised by other Baroque or Neo-Classical townhouses from the 18th to the 20th century.

The main doorway is surrounded by highly intricate columns and two high-relief sculptures of Medusa and Pegasus, two personalities from Greek Mythology.

The columns rise to form the base and corbels for the bow-fronted closed timber balcony above it, which is impressive both aesthetically and artistically as it demonstrates great craftsmanship.

Other elements which make this façade worthy of protection through this scheduling are the oculus windows and French balconies, which continue to showcase Baroque architecture on this façade.

Internally, one can also find note-worthy elements typically found in a townhouse. These include high ceilings, traditional Maltese roofing systems, stone slabs and timber beams, skylights and a basement beneath the house.

This building has high architectural and aesthetic values, in fact, it is said to be one of the best examples of Baroque buildings on the island.

Moreover, its high-relief sculptures found above the doorway are unique. Apart from a few changes carried out throughout its existence and the extensive damage that has occurred in recent years, the townhouse is still very much a product of its time.

It is for the property’s architectural merits highlighted above, that the Planning Authority, in close collaboration with the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, scheduled this property back in August 2019.

What do you make of this decision?