Chris Briffa Architects’ remarkable 2020 project, Casa Bottega, has been nominated for an internationally respected Building of the Year award.

The award, operated by online architecture hub archdaily, is in its 13th consecutive year, and sees the hub’s readers and members vote on the project that are making the most impact in the architecture profession.

The remarkable project was something of a passion project for Chris Briffa and his studio.

Having lived next door to the “dilapidated, structurally unsafe and abandoned” 17th century Valletta property for eight years, he finally got the chance to make a move, and purchased it via court auction.

His studio devised a design for a building that would function as both architectural practise and domicile. Over five years, with myriad concept permutations, the structure was transformed for home and studio to co-exist, retaining distinct identities and addressing diverse needs, within the confines of an urban, historic neighbourhood.

Writing about the project, the architect said: “As an architect, designing your home is a labour of love, with all the permutations that love brings with it; obsessing, re-designing, evaluating possible solutions, costing, and realisation of vision.”

The firm was congratulated on the nomination by Malta-based online architecture guide Ruums.eu, which said: “From all of us at Ruums.eu, congratulations to Chris Briffa and his team at Chris Briffa Architects.”

Voting is now open for shortlisting, and readers can weigh in online.