Malta-based architectural firm AP Valletta, renowned for its focus on sustainable heritage, has won the Popular Choice Award in the 13th Annual Architizer A+Awards – a global architecture competition organised by Architizer, a New York-based platform serving as a portfolio database, media hub, and search engine for architectural manufacturers.

This marks the second consecutive year that AP Valletta has been recognised by Architizer, having previously received the Popular Choice Award in the Best Adaptive Reuse and Renovation Firm category.

This year’s winning project is the restoration and adaptation of an 18th-century palazzino located near Villa Arrigo and St Paul’s Chapel in San Pawl tat-Tarġa, Naxxar.

The firm’s design sought to respond to modern pressures, particularly the encroachment of new, taller apartment buildings in the vicinity, while preserving the character and dignity of the historic residence.

In a statement shared on social media, AP Valletta described how the project confronted these challenges with sensitivity. Though the residence lies just outside a designated Urban Conservation Area (UCA), the architects prioritized a design approach that would honour the architectural heritage and maintain contextual continuity.

One of the key interventions was a carefully designed fixed stone privacy screen on the façade of the lower building. This feature was conceived to shield the property’s terrace and garden from overlooking neighbors while maintaining visual coherence with the building’s historical aesthetic.

Now in its 13th edition, the Architizer A+Awards received over 4,000 entries from more than 80 countries. In addition to the Popular Choice Awards, the competition also honours Jury Winners, Finalists, and Special Mentions.